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