Event digest: the week’s highlights at the National Centre RUSSIA

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The Board meeting of the Council for the Development and Promotion of a new Russian Style, the International Food Quality Food Safety Conference, the "Russian Creative Week" and other significant events at the National Centre RUSSIA are in our traditional digest.

Board meeting of the Council for the Development and Promotion of the new Russian Style

On 23 September, the Board meeting of the Council for the Development and Promotion of a new Russian Style in Public Space was held at the National Centre RUSSIA. The participants summed up the work over the past period and discussed the launch of new large-scale projects in the field of public visual communication.

The meeting was opened by Yelena Yampolskaya, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, and Chairman of the Council. According to her, the Council should be a platform where ideas in the field of visual communications and public spaces are transformed into real projects, being based on national artistic traditions and clear to every citizen.

"Thanks to the hospitality of the National Centre RUSSIA, we are meeting here for the third time in a row, and it is nice to see that a large number of professionals are interested in the Council's activities. We have initially agreed, and keep on insisting that the Council should be as open as possible to anyone who wants to enter and participate in our work. The only obstacle to admission is lack of professionalism. The main thing is that the result of our activities should be the actual bringing creative ideas to life. Then we must see everything we are talking about here, on the streets of cities and towns, at airports, and in public spaces. It is fundamentally important that all ideas correspond to national artistic traditions. If we are talking about how the state interacts with its citizens through visual communications, then this dialogue should be high-quality, modern, and clear to every citizen," Yelena Yampolskaya said.

Alexei Zharich, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation for Public Projects, emphasized:

"World practice shows that the development of unified systems of state visual communications has become a global trend. Thus, in August 2025, US President Donald Trump signed decrees on the creation of a National Design Studio and the mandatory use of classical architecture for federal buildings. In this context, Russia is currently setting trends in the field of state visual communications. Government regulation of visual code is a common and necessary practice for sovereign states. Without proper legal support and regulatory framework, we will not be able to effectively coordinate the efforts of various departments and ensure a systematic approach to the state visual communications. Therefore, the Council's work is more relevant than ever."

Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, participated in the event. She spoke about the first successes of the first regional branch of the National Centre RUSSIA located in the Primorye region.

"By order of our President, the National Centre is establishing branches in the Russian regions. The first one opened in the Primorye region. Thanks to the support of the Russian Government and the Governor's team, we managed not only to give the building a new look and assemble an exposition inside, but also to create an urban space where residents and guests of Primorye spend time with their whole families, walk, fall in love with their region and country, get inspired and dream. During the first two weeks of operation, the branch was visited by more than 5,000 people," Natalia Virtuozova said.

During the meeting, the heads of the working groups and the project teams leaders presented reports on the work done. Andrei Melentyev, Head of the Department for State Visual Communications at the National Centre RUSSIA, Secretary of the Council, and Head of the working group "Socially Significant Design", presented the overall results of the activities.

"The National Centre RUSSIA continues its systematic work on the development of state visual communications. We have been building a direct dialogue with the governors, engaging regional design teams and creative communities, and establishing relationships with business representatives. The first projects have already been launched. We are actively working with state-owned companies and airports to introduce modern solutions in the field of public visual communication. We invite all interested parties, from federal agencies to regional creative associations, to join the work of the council," Andrei Melentyev said.

The meeting was attended by representatives of federal authorities, regional administrations, leading educational institutions, the business community and professional associations in the field of design and architecture.

The Council of the National Centre RUSSIA for the Development and Promotion of a new Russian style in public space keeps on working on the development of a nationally oriented visual environment, resisting the excessive latinization of urban space and promoting traditional values through visual language. The Board of the Council is a permanent body that manages the day-to-day activities of the Council.

Forum-festival "Russian Creative Week-2025"

From 25 to 27 September, the VI Federal Forum-festival "Russian Creative Week", a main event in the field of the creative economy of Russia, was held at the National Centre RUSSIA. The Forum is a visionary platform where laws are born, trends are shaped, and strategies for the years ahead are written. The event was attended by architects, urbanists, designers, IT leaders, and representatives of government and industry.

The creative economy consists of 16 legally recognized industries, such as IT, design, architecture, advertising, gastronomy, fashion, cinema, music, and literature. They all have one thing in common: their product is not raw materials, but intelligence. These industries are growing four times faster.  By 2030, the goal is that the creative industries' input into each region's GRP should be around 6%. This is a strategy that is being formed by the Government, approved by order, and implemented locally.

This year, the "Russian Creative Week" has become even bigger. The Forum has expanded its geography — now it is held in two capitals: first in Moscow, and then, on 28-29 September, in St. Petersburg.

The main plenary session "The Visionary State: A New Philosophy of Intellectual and Creative Leadership in Russia" became the central event of the forum. There, the philosophy of the new Russian model: an economy in which the main capital is meanings, and the main resource is talent found in any part of the country, was established. It was discussed how creativity becomes the basis of sovereign development, and the creative class becomes a partner of the state in building a future based on our values, our rules, and our territories.

Another top event was the session "New Development Scenarios for the Territories in the Era of the Creative Economy." Providing new, value-oriented and creative approaches to the transformation of vast Russian spaces is an extra credit question today, given that the renewal of territories will eventually improve people's quality of life and provide an impetus for economic growth.

The programme was divided into three key blocks: "A value-based economy until the year 2035," "Spatial Development: from Megacity to Small Town," and "A Creative Person is the Foundation of the Economy of the Future."

The centre of attraction was EXPO, a conceptual space where the regions of Russia showed how creative industries are changing cities, economies and people's lives. Showers from nine regions of the country presented their achievements at more than 80 art objects, from author's nesting dolls to aluminum sculptures.

International Scientific Conference Food Quality Food Safety

The International Scientific Conference Food Quality Food Safety, which brought together leading experts, scientists and business representatives from more than 35 countries, was held at the National Centre RUSSIA from 23 to 24 September. The event is traditionally aimed at discussing topical issues of food quality and safety, exchanging scientific developments, innovative technologies and developing joint strategies for international cooperation in the field of food security.

The conference became a platform for discussing current tasks, challenges and scientific developments in the field of food safety, innovative technologies in the development of international cooperation, the formation of strategic partnerships between the scientific community, government agencies and business. 

The programme included a plenary discussion, scientific sections, and international round tables "Russia — BRICS: Global Food Security", "Russia — SCO: Cooperation for Sustainable Development", "Russia — Africa: Challenges to Food Security".

The event was attended by delegates from more than 35 countries, including Russia, China, Iran, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Angola, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Pakistan. The experts were leading Russian and foreign specialists, representatives of educational organizations, relevant ministries and departments, interested business structures, public organizations, young scientists and specialists. 

The Governor of the Amur region presented the key directions of the region's development

Vasily Orlov, Governor of the Amur region, presented the integrated development of the region at the National Centre RUSSIA within the framework of the project "Platform of the Future: Region-2030. 100 steps". The meeting with the governor at the National Centre RUSSIA opened the Days of the Amur Region, which took place from 23 to 28 September.

The Governor noted that the region has approved a development strategy until the year 2035, and while making a presentation, he focused on three key areas: space, gas-to-chemicals, and integrated cooperation with China. The Vostochny cosmodrome serves as the foundation for the development of the space industry in the region. The modern cosmodrome helps to attract highly qualified specialists from all over the country and opens up prospects for Amur youth.

Vasily Orlov emphasized that the Amur region is not only the most promising region in the Far East, but also one of the best places in the country for young people's successful start and career growth.

Student Community Festival"Razgon"

On 21 September, the "Razgon" Student Community Festival was held at the National Centre RUSSIA. It brought together young leaders, creators and activists from all over Russia.

The "Razgon" community, created by the initiative of "Innopraktika" with the support of Gazprombank, a general partner of the project, in just three years has united thousands of students and schoolchildren from different regions of Russia. It has become a launching pad for dozens of youth projects, from science and art to the agricultural industry and space.

Launch of a virtual tour of the exposition "Journey Across Russia"

A digital project — a virtual tour of the exposition "Journey Across Russia", was launched on the official website of the National Centre RUSSIA. Now millions of users around the world have an opportunity to go on an immersive tour of our country from the comfort of their homes. The project was implemented using 360-degree panoramic photography technology, which creates the effect of complete immersion in the atmosphere of each of the eight federal districts of Russia.

The launch of the virtual tour is an important step in the mission of the National Centre RUSSIA to preserve and promote the cultural, historical and economic potential of the country. The geography of the exposition's visitors in person is already quite wide, but now literally everyone having Internet access can learn about the history, achievements, culture and sights of Russia. This is important for our compatriots living abroad.

The interactive tour "Journey Across Russia" allows people to examine in detail the key showpieces which showcase the features, industrial and scientific development, culture, traditions and natural resources of all corners of Russia — from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka. Users can freely move around the halls, zoom in on objects of interest, and view additional information materials.

The virtual format does not replace a personal visit, but becomes an addition to it, allowing people to plan a route in advance, or relive the impressions of what they have seen. In addition, the project provides new opportunities in the field of education and enlightenment, being a convenient tool for teachers, students and anyone who wants to broaden their outlook.

The 5000th visitor attended the National Centre RUSSIA in Primorye

The branch of the National Centre RUSSIA in the Primorye region was visited by the 5000th guest at the end of last week. The staff of the National Centre personally congratulated Mark — that is the name of the guest, and presented him with memorable gifts.

Mark was pleasantly surprised by such attention. As a gift, he received a T-shirt with a tiger printed on it — an animal symbol of the branch, books about the Primorye region, and souvenirs. The guest said that he was impressed by the expositions of the National Centre in Primorye. Most of all, his attention was attracted by Rosatom's interactive display, where he got acquainted with information about nuclear energy.

Literary evening dedicated to the 130th birth anniversary of Sergei Yesenin

The traditional meeting of the literary club "What to read?!" with Head of the Scientific Council of the Centre for Political Conjuncture, Professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, and author of the Telegram channel "Chesnakov.Library" Alexei Chesnakov was held on 23 September at the National Centre RUSSIA. The event was dedicated to the works of the great Russian poet Sergei Yesenin, whose birthday marks 130 years on 3 October.

"This is a significant date, and, of course, it is impossible not to celebrate it at the National Centre RUSSIA. Because you can't imagine Russia without Yesenin, and Yesenin without Russia. This may sound pretentious, but many of those who lived outside the Soviet Union or in its republics learned about Russia, how beautiful and great it is, precisely from the works of Sergei Alexandrovich. And his attitude to his land, to the events that took place in those years, most fully characterize the soul of a Russian person: a native of Ryazan land, a resident of Moscow and Leningrad, a man who traveled the world a lot and continued to love Russia," Alexei Chesnakov said.

In the format of a literary lounge, the experts talked about Yesenin's life and work, recalled their first "meetings" with the classic, analyzed the key themes of his works, and discussed the significance of Yesenin's personality and talent from the point of view of the history of Russian poetry.

"The GMIRLI collection contains manuscripts, books, portraits, photographs, personal belongings, and even a recording of Yesenin's voice — everything that can be presented in a literary display. Time after time, a text about the poet intended for the display is a new interpretation of the sources, which means that Yesenin appears anew in the cultural space, being relevant to the modern viewer," Larisa Alekseyeva, head of the Department "Museum of the History of Literature of the XX Century" at the V.I. Dal State Museum of the History of Russian Literature, Candidate of Historical Sciences, said.

Experts noted that Yesenin's work, on the one hand, became the epitome of the era in which he lived, and on the other, his image as a poet and a person does not lose relevance today.

"Yesenin himself perceived his poetry as a single whole. Therefore, it seems to me that we should all follow his advice — to perceive his entire work as extremely relevant for today. Especially considering that, in fact, since the first decades of the 20th century, the Yesenin type of person, so to speak, has developed in the history of Russia -- largely reckless, doing things that seemed absolutely unthinkable to a rational mind. He absolutely fitted the time in which he lived. His image in all its manifestations was the image of the time of the rupture, the era of the turning point, the fateful world rift. This is how he has remained in our memory," Sergei Kunyaev, Director General of "Nash Sovremennik" magazine, critic, literary historian, and one of the authors of the book "Sergei Yesenin" from the cycle of books "The Lives of Wonderful People," concluded.

The evening traditionally ended with a conversation with the audience. Those who asked the best questions received the book "Sergei Yesenin" as a gift.