Cultural traditions aimed at strengthening the commonwealth of Russia with different countries are developing. In 2010, events were held with great success within the framework of the cross year of Russia and France, in 2011 - Russia and Spain, and this year 2012 - the Year of Russia and Germany opens.
The Cross Year of Germany and Russia began in Moscow in June 2012. As part of the opening, a large-scale event was organized in the Russian capital: the exhibition "Russians and Germans". Also, a concert of the German-Russian Orchestra was held and a huge puzzle of the painting by the German artist Albrecht Durer was assembled. In Germany, the events will begin in August.
The Year of Russia in Germany will open with three events: the Festival of National Culture, international children's and student forums. All events will take place under the motto "Russia and Germany - we are building the future together!"
The first event will take place on August 24, 2012 in Bonn, it will be an international children's forum. It will include a gala concert of children's groups from Germany and Russia, which will take place on the square in front of the city hall. The program promises to be eventful. It is planned to organize master classes on folk crafts of Russia, a football match will be held between the youth teams of Germany and Russia.
Berlin will host the Festival of National Cultural Traditions "Constellation of Russia" (28-30 August). Participants of the event will lay wreaths and flowers at the monument to the Soviet soldier in Treptow Park. The photo exhibition "Indigenous Peoples of the North" will be opened, and in the final part on August 30, a gala concert will be organized on the central square of Berlin "Gendarmenmarkt". More than twenty Russian musical groups will take part in it, including the Pyatnitsky State Academic Choir, Igor Moiseev Folk Dance Ensemble. Folk dance ensembles from regions of Russia, in particular, Chechnya, Kalmykia, Bashkortostan, will also perform.
The third event, which will open the Year of Russia in Germany, will be a student forum with the participation of over fifty Russian and German universities. According to the deputy head of Rossotrudnichestvo, the forum will help establish closer contact between students of the two countries.
All events will be supported by the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Germany and admission will be free.
According to Mikhail Shvydkoy, special representative of Vladimir Putin for international cooperation in the field of culture, in Germany, unfortunately, a rather impartial image of our country has developed, which should be changed by organizing such cultural events. “Russia is perceived as an exporter of natural resources, but we want and can achieve more,” said Mikhail Efimovich.
The Year of Russia in Germany will run until the summer of 2013. Further events organized within the framework of this project can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
