Discover and love even more: "Family Values Laboratory" participants visit the "Journey Across Russia" exposition
Travel to Altai, see whales in Kamchatka or plan a trip to Grozny — the main thing is always to travel as a family. These were some of the ideas that came to participants in the "Family Values Laboratory" after visiting the "Journey Across Russia" exposition. The interactive exposition at the National Centre RUSSIA introduced families to the cultural, historical and natural diversity of the country's regions.
Yana and Mikhail Alekhin noted the scale and atmosphere of the exposition, which vividly reveals Russia's multinational character.
"The exposition is amazing. It is difficult to say straight away what I liked most because it is simply magical. I saw the Tyumen Region on the map, where I am from. I saw Saint Petersburg, where I live. It is represented beautifully," shared Yana Alekhina.
Her husband Mikhail drew attention to the format of the exposition and the work of the guides: "Everything is designed in a very modern way: there are lots of interactive elements that engage visitors and make discovering the regions feel truly vivid. I would also especially like to mention the guides — they make the tour interesting and bring a great deal of energy to it."
After visiting the exposition, the couple wanted to discover new travel routes for themselves. Among the destinations that particularly interested the family were Grozny, Lake Baikal and Kaliningrad.
Dmitry and Yevgenia Gribkov paid close attention to the details as they explored the exposition: they were impressed by the national costumes, candles with Altai fragrances and technological installations. According to Yevgenia, the exposition gives families the opportunity to discuss what they have seen together, recall familiar facts and discover new chapters in the country's history. Her husband Dmitry Gribkov emphasised that the exposition helps visitors feel Russia's cultural code through the distinctive features of its regions and peoples: "This is a great and beautiful history lesson that shows the most important thing: unity in our diversity. Here you can see the distinctive features of the regions and the traditions of different peoples and understand just how rich and multifaceted the country is. It is impossible to truly love something you do not know, and projects like this help people discover Russia more deeply — and love it even more. It would be wonderful if branches of the National Centre RUSSIA opened in every region."
Another participant in the "Family Values Laboratory", Patrick Ronald Ejacha Achekva from Cameroon, is already well acquainted with Russia's regions. He lived in Krasnoyarsk, travelled around Siberia and Khakassia, and has visited Lake Baikal and Irkutsk. However, the exposition also introduced him to new destinations: Patrick now wants to visit Altai and the Urals.
"The exposition really looks very impressive, with lots of interactive elements. I especially liked the lift where we went underground as if we were miners — it is very striking. Overall, it feels like a real journey: everything feels alive and authentic," shared Patrick Ejacha.
For him, travel is also connected with his own family project. Patrick and his wife have three young children, and he wants to show other parents that travelling as a family is not only possible but also interesting. According to him, Russia has the necessary infrastructure for this, while people in different regions are always ready to help travellers.
The four-day intensive programme for married couples is being held at the National Centre RUSSIA as part of the "Family Values Laboratory" programme — a project designed to help develop the ideas and initiatives of those who create family-themed content or organise family-focused events. Following expert selection, 40 participants from 17 Russian regions advanced to the in-person stage. At the National Centre RUSSIA, they are working on their projects under the guidance of federal-level experts. The idea came from participants in the I All-Russian Wedding Festival "Russia. Uniting Hearts" and is being implemented with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives. The partners of the "Family Values Laboratory" are the AST.Nonfiction publishing house and the "New Media Workshop". The general media partner is 1MI Holding.
The International Ethnographic Triennial (IET) is a project that reinterprets Russia's cultural legacy.
Among the theatrical works worthy of the audience's attention and the highest praise are student projects.
Visitors can see the unique shoe lasts and discover the secrets of the theatrical backstage world at the exposition at the National Centre RUSSIA until 25 September.
