Programme

International cooperation and cultural exchange is becoming all the more relevant in today’s landscape of political restrictions and sanctions. Cultural initiatives help expand horizons, enrich cultural heritage, and deepen mutual understanding between cultures. Success stories in international cultural cooperation demonstrate how an understanding of and respect for cultural differences can help strengthen ties between peoples. What strategies would be most effective for overcoming cultural barriers when implementing international projects? What practical steps can be taken to strengthen international ties and expand cultural exchange in the face of global political tensions? What opportunities exist to strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the BRICS countries through cultural projects? What can we do to get young people involved in international cultural projects and get them interested in cultural exchange?

Moderator
Roman Karmanov, Chief Executive Officer, Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives

Roman Karmanov

Chief Executive Officer, Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives

Educational Background:
In 2000 graduated from Far Eastern National University with a degree in Philosophy.
In 2007 completed the MBA Programme “European Management” at the RANEPA Higher School of Corporate Governance.
In 2021 earned a Master’s degree in Global Public Policy at the RANEPA
Professional Background:
First Deputy Director General Komsomolskaya Pravda Media Group;
Director General Komsomolskaya Pravda Radio;
Since June 2021 Director General Presidential Grants on Cultural Initiatives Foundation.
Launched and kept on track “Volunteer” multimedia project that helped to release over 130 broadcasting programs promoting volunteers’ and philanthropists’ work and experience;
Carried out “Open NGO” Project focused on helping Third Sector to create and promote knowledge on charity, nonprofit and educational projects.
Awards
Russia’s Media Manager award winner (twice)
Winner of the competition «Leaders of Russia. Politics»
Ranked in the TOP1000 Russia’s Managers Rating

Panellists
Olga Akopova, Director, Festival Directorate; Project Head, International Festival of Classical Music Cantata
Natalya Aksenova, Head of Development, Marketing and PR Directorate, Creative Industries Fund of the Ulyanovsk Region
Igor Butman, Musician, Composer
Galina Muromtseva, Head of the BRICS Universe project; Director, Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium named after Grechko
Elvira Nurgalieva, Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Roman Khristyuk, Member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation; senior lecturer, Gnessin Russian Academy of Music
Anita Tsoy, People's Artist of the Russian Federation, singer, songwriter, director of concert shows, head of the "Creative Industries" department at DSTU, founder of the Russian trademark "Tsoikiny Recipes"
Nicolas Celoro, Composer, pianist
Igor Shcherbakov, Coordinator, International Motorcycle Festival Baltic Rally

Olga Akopova

Director, Festival Directorate; Project Head, International Festival of Classical Music Cantata

Natalya Aksenova

Head of Development, Marketing and PR Directorate, Creative Industries Fund of the Ulyanovsk Region

Igor Butman

Musician, Composer

Galina Muromtseva

Head of the BRICS Universe project; Director, Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium named after Grechko

Muromtseva Galina Aleksandrovna, director of the Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium named after cosmonaut G. M. Grechko, candidate of pedagogical sciences. Head of the BRICS Universe project. She graduated from the Alma-Ata State Conservatory with a degree in Musicology and teacher. In 2003 she defended her PhD thesis in pedagogy. She worked at the Vyatka State Humanitarian University, then headed the regional department of the Cultural Capital of the Volga Region Foundation. She took a direct part in the work of the Volga Region Cultural Capital program of the Volga Federal District (the program worked in 2001-2007 under the patronage of the Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Volga Federal District). Since 2006 - Deputy Minister of Arts and Cultural Policy of the Ulyanovsk Region, Advisor to the Governor of the Ulyanovsk Region for Culture, Director of the Ulyanovsk - Cultural Capital Foundation. Since 2019 - Director of the Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium named after. G. M. Grechko. Head of educational projects and programs.

Elvira Nurgalieva

Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic

Roman Khristyuk

Member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation; senior lecturer, Gnessin Russian Academy of Music

Anita Tsoy

People's Artist of the Russian Federation, singer, songwriter, director of concert shows, head of the "Creative Industries" department at DSTU, founder of the Russian trademark "Tsoikiny Recipes"

Nicolas Celoro

Composer, pianist

Nicolas Celoro is a French pianist and composer with Neapolitan and Andalusian roots. From the first steps in classical music, his path has been marked by success. At the age of 14, Nicolas Celoro received the Golden medal at the Conservatory of Versailles, at 16 - the first prize at the Radio France "Kingdom of Music" competition, at 18 - the prize of the Higher National Conservatory of Paris in the class of the famous Italian-French pianist Aldo Ciccolini. Nicolas studied with Pierre Barbizet, and also his teacher was the greatest Hungarian virtuoso Gyorgy Cifra.
Nicolas Celoro gained international fame, performed on stages in more than 20 countries - in France, Italy, Spain, England, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Japan, Turkey, Hong Kong, South Korea, the USA; performed at the most prestigious concert venues - Victoria Hall in Geneva, the Royal Theatre in Madrid, The Maestranza Theatre in Seville, the Gaveau Hall in Paris, at the Opera Garnier and on other national stages.
In Russia Nicolas Cheloro performs at leading concert venues - from Kaliningrad to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The public highly appreciates his own musical works, which excite the modern listener with its depth. His music is a continuation of the line of Debussy, Liszt, Rachmaninoff and Mussorgsky.

Igor Shcherbakov

Coordinator, International Motorcycle Festival Baltic Rally

EDUCATION:
Kyiv Technological Institute of Food Industry (1981– 1986), PhD
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Coordinator of the Baltic Rally Festival (Vyborg). “Baltic Rally” LLC. 32,000 guests from 14 countries of the world.
Ambassador of St. Petersburg since 2019.
Governor’s Advisor of the Leningrad Region since 2021.
President of the Union of Organizers of the St. Petersburg Twin Cities Festival since 2011.
President of the St.Petersburg Harley Days International Motorcycle Festival. 90,000 guests from 35 countries of the world.
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Founder of the “Laura” Automotive Group. Official dealer of Opel, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Hummer, SAAB, Renault, Suzuki, SsangYong, Hyundai, BMW, Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki, Hymer motorhome, Adria, Armored vehicles. Sales volume for 2013: 17,000 cars, income 20 billion rubles. 1,500 jobs created.
General Motors was attracted to St. Petersburg as an investor. Investments $300 million for the construction of an automobile factory. 2004 – 2008.
Chief executive officer and Founder of JV “Laura International” LLP. The certificate of registration was signed by V.V. Putin – Chairman of the St. Petersburg External Relations Committee. 1993 – 1997.
Chief commercial officer of Design center "Style". Design and production of new cars. 1989 – 1994.