Penza, 13 June 2015. PenzaNews. The head of the Penza city administration Yuri Krivov sent the director of “Tarkhany” Lermontov State Museum-Reserve a letter of congratulation for her becoming a laureate of the 2014 state prize of Russia in literature and arts.

“Dear Tamara Mikhaylovna! Please receive my most heartfelt gratitude with your highly deserved reward. The state prize you received from the President himself is a recognition of your immense contribution to preservation and development of the cultural potential of our country. ‘Tarkhany’ and Lermontov are the sacred words for every one of us known from their childhood. Your selfless work is an example of serving to your beloved craft, to your Little Motherland, your native country, your land’s culture,” the mayor wrote.

He wished Tamara Melnikova to stay in good health, be happy and achieve more and greater successes in her work of preserving the culture and history of the Penza region.

“May your life be happy! We love you, and we are proud of you!” the press service of the Penza city administration quotes Yuri Krivov.

Tamara (Mikhaylovna) Melnikova was born in the village of Yarmolintsy in the Kamenets-Podolsk region of the Ukrainian SSR on November 15, 1940.

She is the director of “Tarkhany” Lermontov State Museum-Reserve located in the Penza region. In 1986, she was awarded the status of the Distinguished Worker of Arts of the Russian SFSR.

Thanks to the years of work by Tamara Melnikova, “Tarkhany” became of the most notable museum complexes in the country and went up into the list of the most important objects of cultural heritage. Her strategy to seek out local resources and use reconstructive technologies helped restore the cultural landscape and improve the surrounding area.