The Perm Cultural Project: The moment of transfer has arrived

Calling Oleg Chirkunov a key figure in Perm's cultural transformation, discussion moderator Nicholay Novichkov, Professor and Head of the Federal Directorate of the Cultural Alliance Project, set the main theme of the discussion: to identify initiatives that cannot be denied under any circumstances, to name the entities that take responsibility for their implementation, and to outline the results that will confirm the viability and autonomy of cultural institutions.

According to Boris Milgram, Vice Chairman of the Government of the Perm Region and Director of the Project “Perm: a Cultural Capital”, cultural initiatives have become an organic part of the regional capital's development, and at times they are able to literally draw everyones' attention. “We felt that people expect something from us – maybe that's why we did everything more efficiently than others. Right now the Project “Perm: a Cultural Capital” is going through another stage, which has both a tangible and intangible expression: people's lives and their feelings are changing. During this time we have gained experience, the number of project participants has expanded, and their professionalism has increased. The moment of transfer has arrived. But what and to whom is there to transfer, if the project is to be launched from the top down?

Dmitry Milkov, an expert from St. Petersburg and President of the Center for the Development of Creative Industries Partnership, invited participants to examine critically what is happening: “An opera is one of the major cultural projects of any rich city in the world, but it will not change the urban environment at all. It is necessary to rely primarily on traditions”. According to the audience, the inclusion of a large number of people and, in particular, young people in the Perm Cultural Project will be able to ensure it a long life.

At the end of the group's work gratitude is expressed to everyone who takes an active interest in the Region, said Alexander Protasevich, Minister of Culture, Youth Policy and Mass Communications of the Perm Region, noting also that people are the region's major and enormous resource, and the search for technologies that facilitate participation will allow the project to provide a large and long-term effect.