A meeting of the Youth Council of the Russian Ministry of Culture took place at the National Centre RUSSIA

An inaugural meeting of the Youth Council of the Russian Ministry of Culture was held at the National Centre RUSSIA from February 19 to 20. The event brought together government officials, young specialists from institutions under the Ministry of Culture of Russia, members of the Tavrida Art Cluster, the all-Russian volunteer movement in the field of culture "Volunteers of Culture," the social state movement for children and youth "Movement of the First," the Centre for Military-Sports Training and Patriotic Education of Youth "WARRIOR" ("VOIN"), as well as representatives of creative universities in Russia.

"The Youth Council of the Ministry of Culture has undergone an update, and currently, it consists of 46 members from 15 regions of Russia. The Council has ambitious goals for 2025 aimed at popularizing the industry and careers in the cultural sphere. One of them is the active involvement of young people in decision-making processes. We will work to ensure that the voice of youth is heard at all levels, from local initiatives to federal programs. In the future, we plan for Youth Councils to be established within the regional specialized Ministries of all 89 regions of Russia, as well as in 80 subordinate organizations of the Ministry of Culture of Russia," noted the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Olga Lyubimova.

Photo: Sergey Baranov / Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

As part of the educational program, participants explored the role of the Youth Council in the cultural sphere, learned about the opportunities offered by the Tavrida Art Cluster, and developed mechanisms for interaction with government structures in the regions. The event provided a platform for experience exchange and fostered close cooperation between young cultural figures from different parts of Russia.

"The cultural field has recently become noticeably younger, both among creators and managers. Our Youth Council is composed of representatives from various areas of the industry, which is a significant advantage. It is difficult to influence the entire sector at once, but identifying common challenges firsthand from direct participants in creative processes and then formulating proposals for leadership is within our power. The foundation has been laid, the direction the Youth Council will follow has already been determined, working groups have been formed, and, importantly, at the very start of our work, we had a meeting with the head of the federal Ministry, Olga Lyubimova," noted artist, resident of the Tavrida Art Cluster, leader of the Creative Youth Community of Contemporary Music, and member of the Youth Council of the Russian Ministry of Culture, Vladimir Babenko.

Photo: Sergey Baranov / Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

On the second day of the program, the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Olga Lyubimova, met with young cultural figures. The participants discussed opportunities for young professionals in the cultural sphere in Russia, the interaction between the Russian Ministry of Culture and the All-Russian Public Movement of Volunteers in the Cultural Sphere "Volunteers of Culture," as well as the implementation of the "Collection of Russian Museums" project within the Tavrida Art Cluster.

Following the meeting, members of the Youth Council proposed the creation of an annual report for the Russian Ministry of Culture on how young people perceive the state of the industry, as well as on work with children and youth in the cultural sector. The head of the Ministry noted that the Youth Council’s report is an important tool for systematizing efforts to develop culture among young people and strengthening their role in the country's cultural life.

The report will focus on addressing staffing issues in the cultural sector, information work and the quality of media content in creative industries, measures for systematic support of youth initiatives, as well as the spiritual and moral education of children and youth.