About project

The «Russian Seasons» is a global festival that opens new opportunities for multicultural dialogue and shows how culture is the true Ambassador of Peace. As part of the project the wealth, originality and scale of Russian culture are presented to a country’s audience within a year.

The project is implemented in accordance with the instruction of the President of the Russian Federation V. Putin and instruction of the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation D. Medvedev. Organizers of the event are the Government and Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

2017: «Russian Seasons» took place in Japan for the first time

Official opening of «Russian Seasons» in Japan took place in June 2017 as part of the tour of the Bolshoi State Academic Theatre of Russia. Participation of Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation O. Golodets and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzō Abe highlighted the high level of the event. In 2017 more than 20 cultural institutions took part in the festival in more than 40 Japanese cities.

2018: «Russian Seasons» in Italy

The agreement on staging the «Russian Seasons» in Italy in 2018 was signed on November 17, 2017 by the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation V. Medinsky and Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, Activities and Tourism of the Italian Republic D. Bianchi at the VI Saint Petersburg International Cultural Forum.

The official opening ceremony took place on January 14, 2018 in Rome as part of the tour of the Mariinsky State Academic Theatre under the direction of maître V. Gergiev. The ceremony was visited by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation O. Golodets, Secretary of State-Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Alexander Zhuravsky, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Italy and concurrently to the Republic of San Marino S. Razov and Secretary of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic Maria Elena Boschi.

The program of the «Russian Seasons» in Italy implies participation of a huge number of famous visitors. It includes tours of iconic Russian ensembles: music (from classic to jazz), opera, ballet, drama and folk ones; exhibitions of collections from the largest Russian museums; Russian programs at the biggest fairs and festivals; specially organized events and many other activities. There will be as many as 63 symphonic concerts, 54 theatrical plays and 55 ballet performances. All in all, 310 events in 74 Italian cities will be organized.

Organizing Committee

Organizing Committee of the «Russian Seasons» was founded under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Olga Gologets to full coordination of the project preparation. In 2017, the Federal Directorate of Performing Arts is responsible for administrative and technical support.

Members of the organizing committee of the «Russian Seasons»

Golodets O.Y.

Deputy Prime Minister of Russian Federation

Bulukova E.N.

General Director of the Federal center of tours support
Medinsky V.R.

Minister of culture of Russian Federation

Gagarina Y.Y.

General Director of «Moscow Kremlin Museums»
Gergiev V.A.

General director and art director of the Mariinsky Theatre

Grigoriev V.V.

Deputy Director of the Federal agency on Press and Mass Communications
Ivanov D.Y.

General Director of the Russian State Circus Company

Iksanov T.G.

Executive director of the Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States
Kirillov V.V.

Vice-governor of Sant-Petersburg

Krok K.I.

Director of the Vakhtangov Theatre
Larina E.G.

Department Director of government policy in sphere of mass information

Lebedev A.N.

General Director of Federal Directorate of Performing Arts «ROSCONCERT»
Loshak M.D.

Director of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts

Malyshev A.V.

Executive director of the Federal Fund for Economic and social support of the Russian Cinematography
Matsuev D.L.

Interregional Charitable Public Foundation named after Voronova I.N. «New Names»

Permyakova A.A.

Art director of the Pyatnitsky Russian Folk Chorus
Pechatnikov L.M.

Deputy Mayor of Moscow for social issues

Piotrovsky M.B.

General director of the State Hermitage Museum
Rad’kov A.V.

Deputy director of the Federal Agency for the CIS issues, living abroad compatriots and international humanitarian cooperation

Roldugin S.P.

Art director of the Moscow International Performing Arts Center
Tolstoy V.I.

Counsellor to the President of Russia Federation

Tregulova Z.I.

General director of the State Tretyakov Gallery
Safonov O.P.

Director of the Federal agency for tourism

Shvydkoy M.Y.

Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation
Urin V.G.

General director of the Bolshoi theatre of Russia

Fokin V.V.

Art director of the Russian State Academic A.S. Pushkin Drama Theatre(Alexandrinsky)
Shalashov A.A.

General director of Moscow State Philharmonic