The National Centre RUSSIA celebrates its second anniversary
Exactly two years ago, on 4 November, the National Centre RUSSIA first opened its doors on Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment in Moscow. It is no coincidence that this date coincides with National Unity Day, as the National Centre RUSSIA is a place where everyone can proudly feel part of our great multinational Motherland. Over the past two years, the National Centre RUSSIA has become a place where families come together, bringing their children and friends, and where cultures, traditions and generations meet. And with each passing year, this space grows warmer, closer and more familiar.
The history of the National Centre RUSSIA began with the International RUSSIA EXPO, which was opened by decision of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin — also on National Unity Day. It was on the President's instructions that this ambitious and vibrant project was continued through the National Centre RUSSIA, with the aim of preserving the legacy of the RUSSIA EXPO, showcasing the achievements of the country and its people on an ongoing basis, and developing the professional skills of children and young people.
Visitors have made their personal discoveries at the "Birth of Scale" and "Geography Lessons" expositions, explored folk legends at the "Book of Fairy Tales" exposition, sampled local culinary specialities at the Gastronomic Rows, and purchased products from the best regional brands at the Department Store RUSSIA. They have been inspired by the achievements of Russian athletes at the "Walk of Fame", gained a fresh perspective on familiar words at the "Great and Mighty Russian Language" exposition and, of course, embarked on a fascinating hour-and-a-half journey from Vladivostok to Kaliningrad at the "Journey Across Russia" exposition.
But the National Centre RUSSIA is much more than a place for unique displays and expositions. Life here is vibrant and multifaceted: over the past two years, the Centre has hosted more than 1,500 events of all kinds, at both federal and international level. At the Literary Club "What to Read?!", experts and audiences discuss books and the ideas behind them, while the Lecture Halls which address the issues of the future invite participants to envision the world of tomorrow. Participants in initiatives designed to strengthen the unity of the country's peoples explore the values that bring us together. Multigenre performances featuring stars of the theatre world attract full houses, while the All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts" has welcomed hundreds of couples in love from different regions, becoming a special place where new families — the foundation of the country's future — are born.
The National Centre RUSSIA's original projects are focused on tomorrow, which is why many of them are aimed at young people. They help children and young adults acquire knowledge and skills while remaining grounded in spiritual and moral values, patriotism and civic awareness. More than 25,000 schoolchildren and university students have taken part in the Young Journalists School, the Young Tour Guides School of Russia, the "Speaking Russia" podcast, the volunteer programme and other initiatives. The National Centre RUSSIA is also home to the "Space of Opportunities" for children and young people — an infrastructure introduced by the Movement of the First, Rosmolodezh, the Russia — Land of Opportunity platform and the Russian society Znanie, and offering unique digital solutions to help young people discover their talents and turn bold ideas into reality. The country's major youth events, including the Movement of the First Congress, the #WEARETOGETHER and SHUM awards, and the Creators Forum, have brought more than 32,000 young people to the National Centre RUSSIA.
The National Centre RUSSIA is also a space for global dialogue. Among its flagship original projects are the International Symposium "Inventing the Future", where experts from different countries work together to develop positive scenarios for the world's future, and the Open Dialogue, a platform for equal discussion of the future of the global economy and society.
The National Centre RUSSIA also takes part in events beyond the country's borders. Its flagship project, the Department Store RUSSIA, has been successfully presented at INNOPROM trade fairs in Uzbekistan and India, as well as at the Russia–China EXPO in Harbin. The National Centre RUSSIA also took part in the CIS National Cuisine Festival in Turkmenistan.
On the instructions of the President, the National Centre RUSSIA is actively developing a network of regional spaces. Today, alongside Moscow, its branches in Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk, Khanty-Mansiysk and Ryazan are celebrating the Centre's anniversary. Soon, spaces that inspire pride will appear in every region of the country, each contributing to this shared mission in its own territory through local expositions, events and projects. Important ideas and values are becoming closer to people in every corner of the country. This is what makes the National Centre RUSSIA truly nationwide: friendly, united and multinational. Proud of its past, respectful of the present and confident in the future.
Happy birthday, National Centre RUSSIA! Two years is only the beginning. May the voices of Russia's many peoples continue to ring out in this flagship space that inspires pride; may new families and projects take shape here, and may every visitor feel at home!
