The 5th International Children's Cultural Forum brought together over 1,800 participants from 17 countriesBezrukov, Zapashny, Druzhinin, and Babkina: two days of master classes and discussions on Vorobyovy Gory

On 20 and 21 August, the 5th International Children’s Cultural Forum was held at the Moscow Palace of Pioneers on Vorobyovy Gory (Sparrow Hills). Young musicians, actors, artists, dancers, filmmakers, and writers from across Russia and 17 countries met with renowned cultural figures, participated in master classes, and presented their own projects.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Tatyana Golikova welcomed the participants at the opening ceremony. She was also a member of the jury for the Children’s Initiatives Competition. Four projects were chosen as winners: Songs of the Peoples of Siberia. A New Breath (Grigory Shabunin, Tomsk Region), From Pestryad (traditional yarn-dyed fabric) to the Catwalk: the Nagaybak Code in Modern Fashion (Sofia Shibaeva, Chelyabinsk Region), the animated film Northern Lights (Anna Minina, Arkhangelsk Region), and My Native Tongue with its educational game Speak Your Own (Mikhail Krisko, Kemerovo Region). All winners will receive support from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian  Federation.

The two days of Forum comprised over 60 events. Sergey Bezrukov discussed with the children the differences between acting on stage and in film; the Zapashny brothers spoke about trust in the art of circus; Yegor Druzhinin conducted a dance master class, and Nadezhda Babkina and the Russian Song ensemble spoke about the history of Russia in folk music.

“You need to give way to imagination, to be creative… That means not to wait, but dream about the future. And dreams come true! The forum gives kids this opportunity and helps them make their decisions.”

Dmitry Bak:

“The most important thought I’d like to convey to the younger generation—so creative, so wonderful—is that all the Forum’s mottos—”improve yourself,” “change yourself,” “achieve your goals”—are attainable only with a clear understanding of who you already are. This is precisely what literature allows us to do.”

The theme of unity of nations was a key focus: participants shared the rituals and traditions of their peoples, greeted each other in their native languages, and created a joint art piece, Labyrinth of Cultures. During the two days of the Forum, the participants wrote over 200 letters to members of the armed forces. The Forum culminated with an awards ceremony and a disco featuring DJ Smash.

Organizers: Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Federal State Budgetary Institution of Culture ROSCONCERT, and the National Public-State Organization “Russian Cultural Foundation”.