Irkutsk's Leonid Gaidai Museum May Not Open by 2027
The creation of Russia«s first Leonid Gaidai museum, to be located on Uritsky Street in Irkutsk, may face significant delays. While an opening was planned for 2027, timed for the director»s 105th anniversary in January 2028, it remains unclear if the building can be prepared in time.
The head of the Gaidai Center, Yuri Yashnikov, is cautious about the projected opening date. Here«s what he told an IrCity journalist.
«We would, of course, like to make it by 2027, but the probability that we will manage the repairs that quickly is low. In reality, we are only conducting a survey of the building right now. The designers are just beginning to create specific drawings and cost estimates. Documents for the roof repair are partially ready,» said Yuri Yashnikov.
He added that the final major renovation project for the entire building will most likely be ready closer to the end of 2026. The approximate cost of the upcoming repairs will also become known then, after which the project team will continue seeking sponsors for the building«s restoration.
«There are already those who support us. We won funds for the building survey in a competition from the Potanin Foundation. Last year, »Novy Gorod« helped us tremendously; we were able to hold two Gaidai-subbotniks [community clean-up days themed »We must, Fedya, we must!«], which bring us closer to the repair,» added Yuri Yashnikov.
Meanwhile, the Gaidai Center«s press service has shown what the monument to Leonid Iovich will look like, which they want to install at the entrance to the future Gaidai museum. The idea belongs to Irkutsk film director Oksana Tsepilova, who was inspired by the book »Gaidai. Irkutsk Pages« by Vladimir Berezin. The author recalls how the young Gaidai loved going to the cinema, but his family lacked the money.
«Back then, after a show ended, Lenya would lie down between the rows of seats to remain unnoticed by the ticket collector, and as soon as a new show began, he would get up and again, with bated breath, watch how Irkutsk residents laughed at the absurd situations the funny guy on screen got into,» the release quotes Yuri Yashnikov.
By the way, the sculpture is to be created by Alexander Mironov, the same artist who made the sculpture of Gaidai and his characters near the circus.
Recall that the Gaidai Center tried for a long time to open the museum on Kasyanova Street, where Leonid Gaidai lived, but that did not work out. In the spring of 2022, in an interview with IrCity, the organization«s head, director Yuri Yashnikov said the museum would be in a different location. And in early 2023, an online museum of Leonid Gaidai opened, a project implemented with funds from a presidential grant.
This is not the only initiative proposed to immortalize the legendary director«s name. In early 2025, the Gaidai Center proposed creating a Leonid Gaidai street in the city. In March, the administration conducted a survey on renaming 4th Zheleznodorozhnaya Street, but survey participants voted against it. Later it became known that Leonid Gaidai Street will appear in the future interuniversity campus in the Sverdlovsk district.
