Events digest: weekly highlights at the National Centre RUSSIA

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The annual international meeting of high representatives for security issues, results of the I All-Russian video essay contest "Dreams of the Future," architectural workshops for children and other events of the week — in our digest.

May 29. The annual international meeting of high representatives for security issues concluded

The annual international meeting of high representatives overseeing security issues concluded at the National Centre RUSSIA on May 29. The three-day international dialogue chaired by Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu was joined by 126 delegations from 105 countries belonging to BRICS, SCO, ASEAN, CIS, the Arab League, the African Union, CSTO and other international organisations.

During the plenary session, 60 reports were delivered, the Russian delegation held more than 80 bilateral meetings. Four multilateral meetings also took place in the format "BRICS countries, CIS, SCO, and Russia — ASEAN." Foreign partners held over 40 bilateral meetings amongst themselves at the National Centre RUSSIA.

"The level of participants and the number of represented states clearly demonstrated the relevance and demand for holding such events, which we will continue to do. Once again, we dispelled the myth of our isolation. Conference guests unanimously noted that our meeting took place in an atmosphere of mutual trust, and the discussions were substantive and productive. Naturally, the main theme was the Global South and East. United and indivisible security for all, which essentially provides for the already created, emerging multipolar world. And where everyone's security is valuable," emphasised Sergei Shoigu following the meeting.

A separate block of the meeting was devoted to the topic of cybersecurity at both regional and interstate levels. Representatives of practically all delegations addressed issues of information stability and the influence of cutting-edge technologies on security.

Throughout all three days of work for high representatives of states and international organisations at the National Centre RUSSIA, an exposition dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War was operating.

Key programme points of the meeting included a round table on international information security, a briefing for heads of African country delegations on current issues of cooperation between Russia and continental states. Additionally, a symposium on current issues of international politics took place with participation of leading representatives of the scientific and expert community.

May 30. A workshop "Apartment Planning Through a Child's Eyes" took place at"The Birth of Scale" exposition

At the practical workshop conducted by Anna Butova, lecturer at the HSE Art and Design School, children created an image of what they considered the ideal flat, bringing their boldest fantasies to life. Participants mastered the basics of planning and modelling, learnt to work with space and scale, and created miniature interiors with their own hands.

"My goal is for children to find their creative side and understand which direction they want to move in. At our workshop, each child first built their building from wooden blocks, then transferred it to paper as a three-dimensional model. The next stage was planning the rooms," explained teacher Anna Butova.

Participation in such workshops is free. To participate, one needs to register on the russia.ru website in the "Events" section.

A declaration on creating the International Association of Children's Organisations (IACO) was signed

The event took place in the new space of the National Centre RUSSIA — "Space of Opportunities." The IACO idea was proposed by participants of the children's programme of the World Youth Festival 2024 and received support at the highest level.

"This is an event that will go down in history. Together we are laying the foundation for developing friendly and partnership relations between children's and youth organisations of different countries. IACO is that very space of equal partnership, a platform for developing joint initiatives in the spheres of science, education, culture, sport, tourism and, of course, volunteering. The young people are leaders of their countries. Their friendly relations will become the guarantee of friendship between countries and peoples. Together we will make the world better," emphasised Arthur Orlov, Chairman of the Board of the Movement of the First.

The event was attended by representatives of 12 international children's organisations from Russia, Algeria, Malaysia, Indonesia, Venezuela, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, India, Belarus, Morocco and South Africa.

Leaders of children's and youth organisations signed a document officially confirming the creation of IACO. This moment became a symbolic step towards uniting children from around the world to implement joint projects.

Russia is part of world civilisation with unique characteristics: interim results of architectural dialogue were summarised

The lecture "Russian Architecture in Global Context" became the seventh event within the cycle of educational lectures about our country's architecture. The continuation of the cycle and new meetings await guests in June.

Art scholar and architecture historian Yelizaveta Likhacheva served as moderator, with Professor of the International Academy of Architecture (IAA), Head of Architecture at HSE University and President of the Yakov Chernikhov Foundation Andrei Chernikhov as speaker, who is also curator of "The Birth of Scale" exposition at the National Centre RUSSIA.

Experts emphasised that Russian architecture is part of intercultural dialogue and also discussed the contribution of domestic architects to the development of world architecture.

"This was a conversation about the place Russia occupies in world architecture, what it has given to the world and absorbed from outside. Architecture is an international art. Ideas that emerge in certain epochs in certain countries push it forward, architects from all countries look at each other, know who is doing what," noted Andrei Chernikhov.

Yelizaveta Likhacheva summarised the interim results of the architectural lecture series.

"Excellent experts, architects, and architecture historians participated in our lectures. The response from people is positive, so we decided to continue our meetings. We will return with new ideas and topics very soon. More than 35 thousand people have watched our lectures on the National Centre RUSSIA website. And more than a thousand guests have attended the events in person," emphasised Yelizaveta Likhacheva.

According to her, at the lectures experts showed that Russia is part of world culture and world civilisation with its own unique characteristics.

May 31. Guests of the architectural workshop tried their hand at being industrial designers

Young participants of the workshop "Model Making — Prototype with Your Own Hands" became industrial designers of cat houses. The event continued the children's educational programme within the architectural exposition "The Birth of Scale."

"At this workshop, children briefly became industrial designers and went through an express journey from conceiving an idea to implementing it in material that we, adult designers, work with ourselves. We worked with cardboard, glued with a glue gun, that is, we performed everything that adults also often do in their work. Well, cats are a win-win theme, because children either have pets or they love them, so it's easy to show empathy towards them and think of something. Very interesting projects emerge, and some children even come to our course after such workshops," said Pyotr Drozdov, lecturer at the HSE Art and Design School, industrial designer at Artemy Lebedev Studio, co-founder of drozd.design workshop.

Thanks to children's imagination, not just cat houses were born in the exposition's architectural class, but entire residential complexes: with designer entrance groups, comfortable bedrooms, active recreation zones and separate feeding areas for guests.

June 1. Results of the I All-Russian video essay contest "Dreams of the Future" were announced

The ceremonial awards ceremony for finalists of the I All-Russian video essay contest "Dreams of the Future" took place at the National Centre RUSSIA on International Children's Day.

The competition is a companion to the International Symposium "Inventing the Future" and aims to support interest in designing the future by involving children and youth in this process.

"Our competition 'Dreams of the Future' is precisely a conversation about the future of our Motherland and the entire world. Its participants, together with their peers, sought an answer to the question 'What will tomorrow be like?'. I want to wish all the children on this wonderful holiday of childhood to always dream and fear nothing," said Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA.

The video essay contest "Dreams of the Future" was held for the first time and united about 4,000 children from across the country. The project became a platform for the young generation's reflections about tomorrow. 100 finalists came to the awards ceremony at the National Centre RUSSIA together with curators — participants of 20 teams from all federal districts.

Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, announced that the contest will become annual, and the number of nominations will be increased.

The contest "Dreams of the Future" aims to inspire youth to reflect on the future and introduce them to the work of science fiction writers. Participants' task was to create a video essay beginning with the words: "We want to create such a future where...", with mandatory reference to science fiction works from the recommended list.

A presentation of new children's merchandise with National Centre RUSSIA symbols took place

The National Centre RUSSIA marked International Children's Day with a presentation of new children's merchandise and a vibrant celebration for young guests. Products with the National Centre RUSSIA's branded symbols, made specially for little visitors, can now be purchased in the new Department Store space located on the first floor of Pavilion No. 3, in the Gastronomic Rows.

The collection, presented in the children's goods zone of the Department Store space, includes bright printed t-shirts, hoodies with thermal printing that preserves colours even after multiple washes, stylish caps with adjustable fasteners and other items for children aged 5 to 12.