Applications open for the "Family Values Lab" programme
Content creators and event organisers who want to develop contemporary educational and cultural projects focused on family life are invited to apply for the "Family Values Lab" programme. Participants from across Russia will receive training from leading experts and have the opportunity to bring their initiatives to life with the support of the programme's partners. The programme is implemented with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.
The idea of establishing the programme at the National Centre RUSSIA was put forward by Yury and Anna Yezhov, participants in the First All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts". After their wedding, they began organising outdoor gatherings for parents and children. Over time, these meetings grew into a genuine family camp, where participants relax together, make new friends, take part in a variety of activities and create lasting memories. Working with these communities, Yury and Anna realised that many families were eager to launch their own community and media projects but lacked the necessary knowledge and professional support. This inspired them to create a dedicated educational programme.
"It is important to create spaces where families can share their experiences, inspire one another, receive support and work together on projects that strengthen family values. To us, family is not about a picture-perfect image but about everyday life: travelling together, discovering new places, caring for one another and creating moments that become cherished memories. It is through these simple experiences that true values are formed. That is why we believe it is so important to see more projects today that bring families together. When people can share their experiences, draw inspiration from others' stories, find like-minded people and create something meaningful together, they begin to see how family life can be lived in many different ways, yet always with the same sincerity. Projects like these create more positive stories and encourage more people to value the time they spend together," the project's initiators said.
The programme is open to married couples who already run blogs, organise family-focused events or are planning to develop in these areas. Following an expert selection process, the strongest applicants will gather at the National Centre RUSSIA, where they will develop their own initiatives under the guidance of experienced mentors, including executives from leading media platforms, bloggers and content creators. The most successful projects will receive support from the partners of the "Family Values Lab" programme. Applications are open until 24 August.
Yelena Olenina opened the creative programme of the exposition project "Legacy. Theatre. The Greats", dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia.
