The Vladimir Potanin Foundation received the 5th Anniversary Award of the Art Newspaper Russia for achievements in the arts in the Personal Contribution category. Together with art collectors and artists, the Foundation received the award for a joint project with the Pompidou Center in Paris: 'KOLLEKTSIA!' Contemporary Art in the USSR and Russia 1950–2000. A Major Donation.

Under the initiative, more than 250 artworks by Russian artists were added to the Russian art collection at the Pompidou Center. The project brought together 40 art donors, including the Vladimir Potanin Foundation, Vladimir and Ekaterina Semenikhin, the Tsukanov Family Foundation, and other art collectors, artists, and their families. The exhibition of the donated artworks opened at the Pompidou Center in September 2016 and will remain on view until April 2, 2017. A large number of public events have been held in conjunction with the exhibition, including meet-the-artist programs, film showings, and moderated public discussions.

Larisa Zelkova, Vladimir Potanin Foundation President

«This project brought together many people: art donors, artists, and art collectors. This is the first time that this award has been given to such a large group of people. What was of the utmost importance to us was to create a story that could be told in whole or in part, and that we could be proud of. We are convinced that we must all be generous with what we have. This project is a story of generosity, a story of love for national art and of sharing that love with others.»

Milena Orlova, editor-in-chief of the Russian publication:

«Our newspaper traditionally pays a lot of attention to private initiatives in the arts and to international projects that help place Russian art in the international context, while also letting our Russian viewers see works by the best artists from abroad.»

In November 2016 'KOLLEKTSIA!' was also recognized as the best philanthropic project by the international Corporate Art Awards, held under the aegis of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism of Italy. In February 2017 the project was included in the short list for the Silver Ray national award for the development of public relations in the Best International Communications Project category.