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

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Launch of the III National Award "Smart City" for contribution to development of urban economy, the II BRICS Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum, presentations of regional gastronomy festivals and other events of the week — all in our digest.

May 13. The third module of the federal educational programme "Event Management Workshop" took place

The large‑scale strategy session, practical workshop and mini‑lectures at the National Centre RUSSIA brought together organisers and directors of socially significant and creative events from across the country, selected by the project team from more than 3 000 applications. Experts for the third training module were representatives of the Directorate of the National Centre RUSSIA.

Using flagship events of the International RUSSIA EXPO and the National Centre RUSSIA as examples, Deputy Director General of the Centre, Anastasia Zvyagina, explained how cultural and public projects can attract media attention, revealed the main sources of inspiration for staging bright and memorable events, underlined the importance of balancing a creative approach with adherence to regulations, and shared the secrets of organising "dream events." She also stressed that the essence of any event lies in the genuine emotions of its visitors.

"If the emotion is alive and genuine, every generation will understand it. The living emotions of people are the main source of inspiration for the National Centre RUSSIA team. When, after an event, someone comes up and says: ‘That moved me to tears,’ you cannot help but seek new formats and new meanings. We strive to grow, to develop and to do everything possible to ensure our guests find it interesting here — so that they are inspired, dream, feel proud and with each passing day fall more deeply in love with their country," concluded Anastasia Zvyagina.

In her talk "The Visual Code of Events," Olga Pilyavskaya‑Binda, Adviser to the Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, explained how the visual code of the RUSSIA EXPO was created, what meanings are embedded in the National Centre RUSSIA logo, how to achieve a unified visual style, and what message should be conveyed so that the design appeals to everyone. Timur Gezikov, Deputy Head of Protocol at the National Centre RUSSIA, delivered a mini‑lecture, "An Event at the Highest Level." Together with Alexander Molchanov, Deputy Director General for Development and External Relations of the National Centre RUSSIA, the programme participants analysed the success of the International Symposium "Inventing the Future" — the Centre’s first and one of its most significant events.

"Event Management Workshop" is a federal educational programme run by the "New Media Workshop" and the Polylog consultancy group. The project’s key objective is to teach producers, NGO representatives and specialists in youth and cultural policy how to create high‑quality events that promote domestic culture and traditional Russian values.

The final event within the original project "Open School: Presentation of Best Practices" has taken place

The project was among the first to be launched in the National Centre RUSSIA. Throughout the series, leading educational methods used in academic institutions were presented, together with the practical results achieved by pupils. Participants learned about innovative teaching techniques, cultural and sporting projects, and discussed potential avenues for further co‑operation and exchange of experience.

May 13. The team from Moscow School No. 1409 shared its experience and achievements in pedagogy and educational organisation. The school presented the concept of an educational complex that combines pre‑school, general‑school and vocational education.

"We are grateful to the National Centre RUSSIA for the invitation — it is a unique venue. We present to you a school where children study from the age of three up to Year 11. This is a unique educational complex that shapes the future of education and combines innovation, mentoring and respect for each pupil’s individuality. The concept was developed 20 years ago and was awarded the prize of the President of the Russian Federation. Some call our school a Universe, others a place of happiness, but to me it is an entire country within a single educational quarter of School 1409," said the school’s principal, Irina Ilyicheva.

Participants discovered the school’s pre‑professional classes — engineering, IT, media, entrepreneurial and medical — as well as its specialised streams, sports, cultural and international projects. The event also featured performances by Moscow artists and creative ensembles.

May 14. The III National Award for contribution to development of urban economy "Smart City" has been launched

The future of the "Smart City" and the regions’ best practices were presented at the National Centre RUSSIA to mark the start of the III National Award for contribution to development of urban economy "Smart City." The event became a platform for dialogue and exchange of experience among dedicated participants striving to improve life in Russian cities through new technologies and innovative solutions.

The National Centre RUSSIA welcomed about one thousand guests — representatives of government, experts and businesspeople. The award programme opened with the plenary session "The Smart City within the framework of national projects." Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Grigorenko addressed the participants in a welcoming speech.

"Today more than 16 billion devices worldwide are connected to the Internet. That is twice the planet’s population. Devices transmit signals and exchange information. We are moving towards an infrastructure that learns to think, makes the world safer, modernises transport approaches and cares for the environment. And you are the ones leading this movement," Dmitry Grigorenko told the experts in his video message.

Speakers discussed key trends in the digital transformation of urban management, founded on Russia’s technological sovereignty. Russians’ digital quality of life today begins with the smart home. Technologies are being introduced into apartment blocks and are widely used by housing and utilities specialists, while the scale of domestic digital platforms continues to grow.

The programme of the III National Award for contribution to development of urban economy "Smart City" continued with plenary and strategic sessions, where experts analysed not only current trends but also the strategies being developed for the further evolution of smart cities in Russia. A showcase of cutting‑edge solutions was also held, giving participants access to information on advanced engineering and digital developments that will help them introduce best practices in their regions.

May 15. The official opening of the "Youth and Children in the Space of Opportunities" venue

The opening ceremony and tour of the new venue were attended by Sergei Novikov, Head of the Presidential Directorate for Social Projects of the Russian Federation; Grigory Gurov, Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh); Hero of Russia and participant in the "Time of Heroes" programme, Chair of the Board of the Movement of the First, Artur Orlov; Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, Anastasia Zvyagina; and members of the Movement of the First.

"I congratulate the Movement of the First and all the young people of our country on the opening of the Space of Opportunities. Today content is the main driving force of learning, development and entertainment for young people. The whole life of the younger generation unfolds in a space connected with content creation. We adults say that we must communicate with young people in their own language, and here the technical tools of that language have been brought together in one place. I sincerely hope that in the National Centre RUSSIA, within the Movement of the First space, a huge amount of educational and useful content for social media will be produced: videos, photographs, blogs and podcasts, radio and television formats," said Sergei Novikov.

In the "Space of Opportunities," every child and young person will be able to develop media literacy, digital culture, patriotism and creative potential through practice, new technologies and inspiring interaction.

"The National Centre RUSSIA was created by our President first and foremost for children, for young people, for our future. It is important that the Media House has opened precisely within our space. Events devoted to Russia and its achievements — cultural, educational and youth‑focused — take place here every day, and now young people will be able to create their own content from here. I would like to thank our partners — Rosmolodezh, the Movement of the First, the Russian society Znanie, the Presidential platform 'Russia — Land of Opportunity', and the 'New Media Workshop' — for making it possible to open such a unique venue in our space," said Anastasia Zvyagina.

The venue was created jointly by the country’s largest public organisations — the Movement of the First, Rosmolodezh, the Presidential platform "Russia — Land of Opportunity," the Russian society Znanie and the National Centre RUSSIA.

II BRICS Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum

A landmark business event — the II BRICS Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum in Moscow — brought together 1 400 delegates from 50 countries. The forum’s key theme was the development of regional co‑operation between BRICS and the countries of the Asia‑Pacific region, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and the CIS. The agenda also covered the creation of a barrier‑free environment for women’s entrepreneurship, the exchange of experience and technology, the development of special economic zones, support for the creative industries, and projects in energy, sustainable development and healthcare.

The participants were welcomed in a video address by Sergei Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

"Expanding comprehensive co‑operation in the BRICS format is among our unqualified foreign‑policy priorities. At the same time, we pay particular attention to supporting new ideas and initiative in the economy, sustainable finance, digitalisation and transport connectivity. Women’s entrepreneurship is one of the key factors for achieving progress in these and other areas. Your determination, innovative approaches and leadership qualities create additional prospects and in general open new horizons for the development of our countries’ economies and social spheres. Today’s forum is an excellent opportunity to exchange best practices, establish and strengthen business contacts and agree specific projects for practical co‑operation. The initiatives generated here will certainly be taken into account in the preparations for the XVII BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 6 – 7 July and will make their contribution to the common piggy bank of our association," Sergei Lavrov said, concluding by wishing the participants fruitful discussions.

Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maxim Reshetnikov, in a welcoming video address to the forum participants, noted that 6.5 million women in Russia — more than 40 percent of all sole proprietors and self‑employed people — are running their own businesses today.

Chair of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko underlined that the economic, investment and technological potential of the BRICS countries is truly inexhaustible, and that the initiatives of women entrepreneurs can give additional momentum to the bloc’s practical agenda.

For his part, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergei Ryabkov added that BRICS co‑operation is aimed at creating favourable conditions for the development of trade and investment ties.

May 16. Presentation of the Far‑Eastern pollock festival "O!Mega Taste"

Visitors to the National Centre RUSSIA’s Gastronomy Rows learned about the benefits of this important commercial species, attended culinary workshops and sampled pollock dishes now on the Gastronomy Rows’ menu.

"At the National Centre RUSSIA we are bringing together in one place an extensive library of domestic produce, wild‑harvested foods, regional gastronomy and national dishes from all over the country, of which we are proud. The opportunity to taste unique regional products and specialities right where they are grown or harvested is an integral part of travel. A series of festivals dedicated to the achievements of Russian agriculture, harvesting, processing and food production begins on May 16 and 17," said Yekaterina Shapovalova, author of the project’s gastronomic programme "Journey Across Russia. Food" and creator and head of the federal project "Gastronomic Map of Russia."

The "O!Mega Taste" pollock festival was born in Vladivostok and will be held this year for the third time. At the National Centre RUSSIA the project was presented by its organisers and partners. The festival’s main idea is to restore pollock to the dietary culture of Russians of all ages.

Numerous workshops and tastings were held for visitors to the National Centre RUSSIA. Guests learned that pollock must not only be chosen and cooked correctly, but even eaten properly. In the Gastronomy Rows space of the Centre they sampled pollock patties and forcemeat, pollock‑roe sugudai, and an ingenious fish soup, "From the Far East to the Arctic," whose ingredients, alongside Far‑Eastern pollock, included Murmansk cod, sockeye salmon, Commander squid, Magadan shrimp, Kamchatka crab and kelp.

May 17. Guests of the National Centre RUSSIA were introduced to the Asparagus Gastronomy Festival

The start of the asparagus season in Russia was celebrated with a presentation of the Asparagus Festival from Vladikavkaz. Visitors to the Centre enjoyed a unique opportunity to taste refined dishes made from this prized vegetable, brought to Moscow straight from the garden by the country’s leading producers.

Brand chef of the "South" and "West" corners Rafael Yakupov, brand chef of the "East" corner Svetlana Bokova, head chef of the "North" corner Andrei Vinogradov and chef of the Moscow producer "Ossetian Pies by Madina Chipirova" Madina Kulayeva demonstrated how a modest spear can become the star of haute cuisine. Guests discovered how to select and cook asparagus correctly, what varieties exist, its health benefits and how it pairs with other foods and ingredients.

Gastronomy shows, tastings and other educational events in the Gastronomy Rows of the National Centre RUSSIA are free of charge. To avoid missing new culinary surprises from the "Library of Russia’s Flavours" and to be pioneers of a new gastronomic culture, follow the updates in the "Events" section on the Russia.ru website