But the building has been criticised by some prominent cultural figures like Hermitage director Mikhail Piotrovsky and film-maker Alexander Sokurov, while others have dubbed it the Mariinsky Mall, not in keeping among the other 19th-Century buildings in the city.

BBC: Mariinsky Theatre unveils new ballet and opera house

At the end of the meeting the Director-General paid a visit to the Director of the State Hermitage Museum, Mr. Mikhail Piotrovsky on further strengthening the ongoing cooperation between the Museum and UNESCO for the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Museum in 2013, as well as for regional capacity-building of museum professionals in Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

UNESCO: Building the Wealth of Nations