Nizhny Novgorod to showcase creative economy achievements

From 5 to 7 December, Nizhny Novgorod will host the regional festival-forum "Russian Creative Week – Volga." The event will bring together over 50 leading experts, government representatives, and business leaders, concluding the cycle of regional creative weeks for 2024. The TV BRICS International Media Network will serve as the forum's international information partner.

Participants will address pressing issues related to the development of creative industries and the implementation of innovative solutions in regional business and culture. The forum's business and festival agenda features over 30 events, including plenary sessions, workshops, lectures, expert discussions, presentations of industry research, music jam sessions, film screenings, and more.

"At the strategic level, we will discuss integrating value-based guidelines into regional strategies for developing creative industries, the creative economy as a driver of accelerated regional development, and the role of creative industries in spatial planning and master planning. At the industry level, the business programme will focus on profiling the creative industries of the host region"

Marina Mongush Director of Russian Creative Week and President of the Autonomous Non-Commercial Organisation (ANO) "Creative Economy"

Nizhny Novgorod Region has already established itself as one of the leaders in the creative economy, having received more than 180 industry awards in culture and tourism. In 2023, the region was named the winner of the Russian Creative Awards in the category "Creative Region."

Oleg Berkovich, Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, highlighted the importance of the forum for strengthening the region's leadership in creative industries. According to him, the largest share, about 60 per cent, of the region's creative economy comes from information technology, followed by fashion, gastronomy, and traditional crafts.

In 2024, Nizhny Novgorod holds the title of "Cultural Capital of the Year." To mark this occasion, the final day of the forum, 7 December, will focus on creative industries in culture, featuring lectures and public talks on topics such as working in art residencies, reinterpreting folk arts and crafts, and developing small towns. Guests will also be introduced to unique projects and new brands from Nizhny Novgorod Region.

The "Russian Creative Week – Volga" festival-forum will take place at the cultural and educational centre "Mayak Academy." It is organised by the Government of Nizhny Novgorod Region, the Creative Economy ANO, and the Tsentr (Centre) 800 ANO, with support from the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.

Russian Creative Week has been held annually since 2020, serving as a platform for developing Russia's creative economy and fostering quality communication between business and government. In late November, the fourth "Russian Creative Week – Siberia" festival-forum concluded in Krasnoyarsk, bringing together over 120 speakers.

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