News

«The successful staging of events as part of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023 was a key aspect of the Innosocium Foundation’s activities this year in terms of coordinating the dialogue between business, the government, and civil society. Addressing the theme of preserving and integrating the cultural heritage of the small-numbered Indigenous peoples of the Russian North into modern culture and the creative sector is a crucial element in the development of human capital in the Arctic and investment in the region’s innovative development,» Adviser to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov said.

In 2022, the Innosocium Foundation organized and held two Creative Business Forums: at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) and at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok. Both events were held as part of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023. More than 30 sessions were held with a focus on using promising areas of creative industries as a driver of economic growth in the Arctic regions. The discussion participants addressed specific aspects of developing northern cities, industrial Arctic design, the traditions of small-numbered peoples and tourism, as well as technology’s impact on life in the North, the regional film industry and animation, national cuisine, and the creation of local art residences and art hubs. The sessions on supporting youth and Indigenous peoples were devoted to social aspects. The broadcast of the discussions gained over 2 million views on VKontakte. During the SPIEF 2022, the Russian Ethnographic Museum in St. Petersburg organized an exhibition by photographer Oleg Zotov called ‘Heart of Yugra’. It was later presented in Yekaterinburg and Moscow.

The main theme at the SPIEF 2022 sessions organized by the Innosocium Lab, which works on socially important initiatives, was how to improve the quality of life in the special natural and climatic conditions of the northern territories as one of the most important priorities of the state’s policy in the Arctic.

The Innosocium Foundation presented its new project ‘Soul of Russia. The North’ during the EEF 2022. A Youth Multimedia Discussion Campus was organized and a pilot audio-visual culture festival was held, which introduced the forum participants to the traditional crafts, modern culture, and unique heritage of the Indigenous peoples of the North.

The forum ‘Civil Initiatives of the 60th Parallel Regions’ in Kogalym confirmed there is a high level of interest in modern art forms for the integration of the historical, social, and cultural heritage of the Indigenous peoples of the North as part of the ‘Soul of Russia. The North’ project. Broadcasts of 11 events from the track ‘Social and Cultural Initiatives and Best Non-Profit Projects in Creative Entrepreneurship’ and a unique audio-visual ethnic show garnered more than 720,000 views on VKontakte. The project will continue to be implemented at all major forums operated by the Roscongress Foundation, including the upcoming SPIEF and the EEF in 2023.

During the Young Scientists Congress at Sochi’s Sirius Park of Science and Art, four sessions were held on the creative agenda in the scientific community. Broadcasts on VKontakte also generated significant interest with more than 210,000 views.

In the run-up to the 21st Spirit of Fire International Film Debut Festival, which will be held in Khanty-Mansiysk on 3–6 March 2023, the Innosocium Foundation presented the new North-South Film Dialogues discussion format, which was attended by directors and film producers from Russia and India, as well as representatives of the government, critics, and spectators.

Applications for the Innosocium Foundation’s social projects grant competition for students continued to be accepted until 30 December 2022. The competition aims to provide support for the implementation of student projects that seek to solve urgent socially significant problems and improve people’s lives.

«Human creativity is the most important and effective source of growth. Our interest in the unique cultural code of the peoples of the North in the modern multicultural world consists of interest in a foundation that is essential for society to fully develop. The development of human capital and maintaining the stability and viability of each group of people is based on a spiritual bond: oral folk art, written heritage, folk celebrations, folk knowledge and medicine, and traditional music. The Innosocium Foundation promotes this social agenda and best practices for the use of cultural heritage in the creative industries at all its communication platforms,» Roscongress Foundation Deputy CEO and Innosocium Foundation Director Yelena Marinina said.

29.12.2022