Project presentations conclude the "Family Values Laboratory" programme at the National Centre RUSSIA
On 25 September, the "Family Values Laboratory"
concluded at the National Centre RUSSIA — a large-scale programme for those
working with family-related topics in the media. Over four days, family project
creators, content producers and event organisers from different regions of
Russia took part in educational and practical activities, learned how to turn
media projects into recognisable brands and communicate with their audiences in
a shared language. The programme concluded with presentations of 30 family
projects to experts and a jury.
"The main idea of the project reflects the meaning behind all events at
the National Centre RUSSIA — the idea that our country, Russia, is love itself:
love for our country, our family, our children, our parents, our city and, of
course, our nature. All of you are our ambassadors, all of you are the first,
and together with us you will tell people about family and its values, drawing
on the experience and skills you have gained during this intensive programme. I
would like to thank the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives, the
New Media Workshop, and all our friends and partners who are creating this
project together with us for the first time," said Anastasia Zvyagina,
Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA.
Jury member Pavel Sklyanchuk, co-founder of the All-Russian public organisation "Union of Fathers" and one of the initiators of establishing the All-Russian holiday Father's Day, noted that the "Family Values Laboratory" continues state policy supporting the family and traditional values. According to him, the National Centre RUSSIA has become a focal point for civil society and a true place of strength for those promoting the family agenda.
"Today's project is a continuation of state policy supporting the family as a traditional value. Promoting these values requires professionals and activists, and this is where family bloggers play an especially important role. For example, I was one of the founders of the 'Union of Fathers': we worked to establish Father's Day in Russia. And now that it has been introduced, we see touching content from bloggers about their fathers — and this connection with holidays is very important because it gives them meaning. The National Centre RUSSIA has become a focal point for civil society and literally a place of strength for the family-oriented community. And it seems to me that the most important thing about the 'Family Values Laboratory' project is that bloggers get to know one another: experienced creators share their expertise, newcomers bring something new, and the family agenda online is a community that needs to stick together," noted Pavel Sklyanchuk.
Another member of the expert jury, Yelena Kapura, Director General of the ArtMasters Academy, emphasised that family is the most important value for people of any age and that projects teaching people how to build relationships within the family are especially relevant today.
"We are taught at school and university, but no one teaches us what it means to be a family or how to build relationships. Yet family is the most important value for everyone, regardless of age. It is a team and a lifelong project, so people need to be taught and supported in this, especially young families. Over these four days, participants with different levels of experience and at different stages of developing their projects have gained what will make it easier for them to build relationships with partners, children and colleagues — those very soft skills. How can a content creator turn the subject of family into a modern project? The right presentation and an understanding of your audience are important marketing tools that no project can do without," said Yelena Kapura.
Participants in the project presentations were formally awarded certificates confirming completion of the programme. Ten of the best projects received separate awards and will receive advisory support from experts. In addition, the authors of two projects selected by experts from the New Media Workshop will receive certificates for training in the Workshop's programmes.
The "Family Values Laboratory" — a four-day programme for those
working with family-related topics in the media — was held at the National
Centre RUSSIA from 22 to 25 September. Participants from different regions of
Russia learned how to work with audiences, create modern content about family
and traditional values, develop promotion strategies and present their projects
to experts. The programme is implemented with the support of the Presidential
Foundation for Cultural Initiatives.
The Forum is organised by the Nika Charitable Foundation for Homeless Animals and the Centre for the Study of Animal Nutrition and Welfare.
A family blog is not a race to keep up with trends or an attempt to present a perfect life.
The exposition is held under the motto "Union of Happy People" and is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Theatre Union of Russia.
