Literature that matches the scale of the era: the "Grand Style" conference held at the National Centre RUSSIA

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On 16 October, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted the opening of the All-Russian Conference of Literary Critics and Scholars "Grand Style". The event was organised by the Union of Writers of Russia in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Russian Book Union, the Russian State Library, INION RAS, the Russian society Znanie, as well as the Moscow State Institute of Culture and the Maxim Gorky Literary Institute.

The "Grand Style" conference became a platform for reflecting on and shaping a literary process that corresponds to the scale of the modern era. The "grand style" in culture is characterised by a focus on profound meanings and values, an epic scope, and philosophical depth.

Aide to the President of the Russian Federation and First Secretary of the Union of Writers of Russia Vladimir Medinsky noted that the "Grand Style" conference brought together 150 writers, literary scholars, critics, and academics from 33 regions of Russia.

"Not long ago, an extraordinary congress of the Union of Writers of Russia was held, where a course was set for the unification of different unions and the consolidation of the best part of our literary community under the Union of Writers of Russia. When we speak of writers, we mean everyone who works with the word — literary critics, faculty members of literary institutes, screenwriters, and playwrights. This process is now under way, though it is not a simple one," explained Vladimir Medinsky.

Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Sergei Pershin stressed that the experiences of living writers and poets, who today share their country’s path, can serve as the basis for new literary works.

"The Ministry of Culture is now actively building cooperation with the creative community — with the country’s leading creative unions. One of the most dynamic of them is the Union of Writers of Russia, a vibrant and active association," he noted.

Sergei Pershin also spoke about new initiatives of the Ministry of Culture. This year, the Ministry established a special award — the Alexander Tvardovsky Medal, named after the outstanding Soviet writer. The Tvardovsky Medal will be presented to authors who risk their lives alongside soldiers and record ongoing events in words.

In addition, the Ministry of Culture has decided to create a special working group that will unite the heads of the country’s leading creative unions. Sergei Pershin emphasised that this step is necessary to ensure more coordinated and structured progress among those who are committed to further cultural development in Russia.

President of the Russian Book Union Sergei Stepashin raised an important issue related to children’s literature. He suggested that experts consider how to make these books truly engaging for the younger generation.

"The Russian Book Union and the Union of Writers of Russia are actively involved in children’s literature. Unfortunately, many talented Russian authors remain almost unknown, even though we are among the global leaders in the number of children under 12 who read. That is a remarkable indicator. It is important to think about what our children read and what they take with them into adult life," said Sergei Stepashin.

This idea was supported by Director General of the Russian society Znanie Maxim Dreval. He emphasised that literature is a powerful tool for shaping personality, and that the Union of Writers of Russia plays an invaluable role in the development of national literature.

"It is essential to work with the younger generation — to strengthen the role of literature in society, to nurture a love for reading and for the Russian language, and to preserve its beauty and richness. Following the instruction of President Vladimir Putin, the Russian society Znanie has launched the revival of reading programmes. Literary clubs are being established in schools across the country, hosting poetry evenings, discussions, and meetings with cultural figures," said Maxim Dreval.

Director General of the Russian State Library Vadim Duda believes that not only reading programmes but also the country’s library network can help bring quality literature to readers.

"There are about 42,000 public libraries In Russia. This is a vast network giving our readers access to great books. We would very much like every library to have titles that reflect the state’s priorities and key objectives. This is absolutely essential," he emphasised.

As part of the "Grand Style" conference, a panel discussion titled "Russia’s Major Themes: 2025" was held. It focused on the catalogue of the same name published by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation on the basis of proposals from federal government bodies and Russia’s regions concerning high-demand themes, significant dates, and the stories of people and events. The stories collected in the catalogue can inspire writers, musicians, artists, film directors and other creatives to produce new works.

"This is a kind of bridge between the state and those who, even in difficult circumstances, are ready to work alongside it on the conceptual and ideological front. We put together this compendium to answer a few simple questions: what should writers be writing about today? Which themes should creators be exploring? Where can these themes be found, and how can we be sure they are what is truly needed right now? We collected 1,353 ideas from 46 federal authorities, with all 89 regions of Russia taking part. It weighs about 1.5 kilograms and contains 550 pages," explained Sergei Pershin.

The catalogue brings together 420 themes covering a wide range of issues — from preserving cultural legacy and developing the regions to improving quality of life. It also presents more than 400 stories and events: biographies of cultural figures, veterans of the Great Patriotic War and heroes of the special military operation. In addition, the catalogue includes 520 important dates — anniversaries of notable people and significant cities, anniversaries marking the establishment of regions and institutions, key historical events, and holidays dedicated to the people’s feats.

A key topic of the "Russia’s Major Themes: 2025" discussion was the development of the National Literary Award "Slovo" ("Word"). Sergei Stepashin invited everyone present to discuss potential nominees for the award.

"To be frank, there is currently no clear consensus on who deserves this award in our country. Let us think about it together," proposed the President of the Russian Book Union.

The National Literary Award "Slovo" was established by the Union of Writers of Russia and the Russian Book Union with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. The aim of the award is to support Russian writers, stimulate new literary exploration and strengthen traditional spiritual and moral values reflected in contemporary prose and poetry.

At the end of 2025, the award will be presented in seven categories: prose, poetry, non-fiction, children’s and family reading, drama, literary criticism, and translation (from the languages of Russia’s peoples into Russian). The winners will be announced by 1 February 2026.