At the XI St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum, a round table titled Dialogue of Theatres of Russia, Asia, Africa, South America and the Arab World: Investing in Cultural Exchange was held. The discussion was held within the Theatre section. The discussion was chaired by Evgeny Mironov, Artistic Director of the Theatre of Nations, with the theatre’s director Natalia Mazur serving as moderator.
The discussion brought together cultural leaders from various countries: Jay Pather, Director of Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre; Li Jianjun, Artistic Director of the New Youth Group theatre company; Mohamed Alsaffar, Head of the Union of Theatres; Lenerson Polonini, Head of Nova de Teatro; Octavio Arbeláez Tobón, Artistic Director of the FIAF festival; Rajan Khobragade, Senior Secretary of the Department of Culture of the state of Kerala; Yeon Jun Ham, Artistic Director of the KORUS theatre group; Birkan Görgün, Resident Director of the Istanbul State Theatre; Valery Fokin, President of the Alexandrinsky Theatre; Artyom Bondarevsky, Director of GES-2; Kirill Komarov, First Deputy Director General and Director for Development and International Business at the Rosatom Group; Aleksandr Sovostyanov, Director of the State Opera and Ballet Theatre Astana Opera; and Mikhail Popov, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sinara Foundation for the Support and Implementation of Cultural Initiatives.
International speakers spoke about the role of Russian cultural heritage in the theatrical life of their countries. Stages across Asia, Africa, South America and the Arab world present plays by Russian dramatists and draw on the Stanislavsky system. Each speaker expressed a desire to pursue cultural exchange with Russia. Valery Fokin, President of the Alexandrinsky Theatre, emphasized that countries on different continents should not only tour and hold international festivals but also be conscious of the purpose of their cooperation: "Let us not become enamored of our interaction and turn into formalists." If different countries come to us on tour just to tick a box, that is all. However high our cooperation might appear, it would be pure formalism. We must not forget the artistic result. What do Russian institutions, for example, need from Indian culture, and what do they need from us. This is a very difficult question. I urge you to think about this together.”Fokin added that the development of the cultural sphere largely depends on investment: "I am glad that business representatives are here, because without them we will not move forward." Of course, businesspeople are interested in the development of culture, because art is what remains after us.
Decades will pass, and future generations will judge us first and foremost by culture. History proves this.
Business leaders discussed when and why cultural projects should be financed.
"Patronage in support of culture is part of the genetic code of the Russian entrepreneur. Our Russian soul is nourished by culture. Perhaps the most important example for us today is support for children’s initiatives and theatre studios. Theatre awakens the brightest feelings in a person and is therefore an entry point into charitable work. We are grateful that the theatre community allows us to feel involved in the great deeds that are accomplished in the theatre. This helps us become better ourselves,” shared Mikhail Popov, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sinara Foundation for the Support and Implementation of Cultural Initiatives.
Continuing the discussion of why business should sponsor culture, participants spoke about the role of art in people’s lives.
This year the Russian nuclear industry turns 80, we are the same age as the Great Victory. The nuclear industry was created during a difficult period when the country had to be rebuilt after the Great Patriotic War. Yet, working under such challenging conditions, the founding fathers of the industry thought first and foremost about people. In 1949, two city sites were completed simultaneously in the city of Ozersk, an industrial reactor and a city drama theatre. Nuclear science and technology are undoubtedly a form of creativity, and for a creative person access to culture is not a way to pass the time but a vital necessity. We carefully preserve and develop traditions. We regularly invite professional theatre companies to the nuclear cities, where renowned masters of the stage work with local creative groups. This allows local directors, actors and other creative professionals to learn from recognized masters and to create their own bright productions. The theater groups of the nuclear cities have repeatedly received recognition and prestigious national awards in the field of theater. We do not treat this as charity, for us it is the norm of life," commented Kirill Komarov, First Deputy General Director, Director of the Development and International Business Unit at Rosatom State Corporation.