Pushkinskaya 10

This legendary locale is a required stop for anyone who is interested in the contemporary art and music scene in St Petersburg. The former apartment block – affectionately called by its former street address – contains studio and gallery space, as well as the cool music clubs Fish Fabrique and Experimental Sound Gallery (GEZ-21) and an assortment of other shops. It offers a unique opportunity to hang out with local musicians and artists, who are always eager to talk about their work. The story of Pushkinskaya 10 goes back to 1988, when a group of artists/squatters took over the condemned apartment block. The decrepit building became ‘underground central’, as artists and musicians moved in to set up studios, others stopped by to hang out with them, and outsiders became curious about the creative activity going on inside. These days, the art centre is a registered nonprofit organisation (officially the Free Culture Society) that is completely on the up-and-up. Some would argue that the place has lost its edge, and the tension between culture and commercial is apparent. But the creative atmosphere here is unparalleled, and the centre is unbeatable as a place to witness art and music being created. The main galleries, the Museum of Non-Conformist Art and the New Academy of Fine Arts Museum, are on the 4th floor. Smaller galleries are scattered throughout the building, and the artists often open their studios to visitors, especially on Saturday afternoons. A highlight is the Temple of Love, Peace & Music. Collector Kolya Vasin (Russia’s most famous Beatles’ fan) has an amazing array of John Lennon paraphernalia, which he shares with other fans on designated days. The centre commonly goes by the name ‘Pushkinskaya 10’, but note that the entrance is through the archway at Ligovsky pr 53.