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“A Creative Future: Who will build Russia’s future economy?”
14 September 2013
State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg
In July 2013, the World Bank released its figures for the national GDP of the world’s
countries. The subsequent rankings reported that Russia is now the fifth largest economy in
the world. This result marks the nation’s extraordinary transformation from an isolated,
centrally-planned state to a globally-integrated and market-based economy. Yet, despite
this achievement, Russia’s economy remains dangerously reliant on oil, gas, and
commodity-based industries. For Russia to continue its economic and social development,
the economy must diversify. ‘To achieve diversification of the Russian economy, it is
necessary to liberate the potential of other industries and liquidate full and complete
dependence on the energy sector' – Alexei Kudrin (former Russian Finance Minister).
Key to achieving this diversification will be the development and support of a new cadre
of innovative small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) – which economic research has
shown to be a key driver of national income growth. SMEs are often overrepresented in
creative industries, and offer serious potential for achieving economic diversification.
In the world’s developed economies, creative industries are making an ever-greater
contribution to economic output and employment – reaching 10% of economic value
added in some countries. As traditional industries have struggled in advanced economies,
the growth of creative industries is outpacing that of non-creative sectors. The success of
creative and cultural industries in other countries could provide lessons for Russia as it seeks
to develop an increasingly sophisticated and diverse economy.
The green-shoots of Russia’s creative potential are already visible – and not just in Moscow
– but across Russia’s many regions and time zones. Examples include the rise of successful
hyperlocal media in places like Voronezh and Novosibirsk; the emergence of the influential
film industry in remote Buryatia; and a renaissance in independent fashion in Saint
Petersburg. Moreover, new festivals of architecture, art, and photography are helping to
regenerate industrial wastelands and reinvent regional capitals.
The St Petersburg State University Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Smolny College) in
partnership with the Calvert 22 Foundation and the State Hermitage Museum will explore
the potential of creative industries in Russia, the challenges they face, and the positive
impact they can have on economic and social development. These issues will be
discussed during an event scheduled for the 14th of September, to be held at the State
Hermitage Museum’s new contemporary art wing. The event will mark the start of a new
project, The Calvert Forum which will organise future international events, produce new
research, and ultimately offer a solutions-based approach to unlocking the creative
potential that could power Russia’s future economic development.
By inviting leading figures from the cultural industries of Berlin, Russia, and London, the
Faculty and the Calvert 22 Foundation hope to inspire new ideas for the cities and regions
of Russia and to provide policy makers with key lessons derived from global best practice
on how to both facilitate the growth of creative industries and leverage their success.
‘The power of cultural and creative industries to transform a city is clear in the case of
Berlin. What started as a culture-driven scene evolved into a creative and entrepreneurial
hub. We want to explore how Russian cities can learn from such an experience and
leverage Russia’s creative potential for economic development,’ – Jonathan McClory, soft
power and creative industries expert.
Notes to Editors
Event Format and Location
The launch event will take place in the Left Wing of the State Hermitage Museum’s General Staff
Building, which recently opened as a new exhibition space for modern art. The event will begin at
16:00 and we expect an audience of 400-500 people, all with an interest in the subject of cultural
and creative industries.
Speakers
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Ingrid Walther, Berlin Senate Chancellery Administration for the Economy
Alexei Kudrin, Dean of Smolny College University of Saint Petersburg
Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg
Jonathan McClory, Creator of the Institute for Government-Monocle Magazine Soft Power
Index
Robert Eysoldt, Consultant and Creative Director, Create Berlin and Triad
Ekow Eshun, Editor of the Calvert Journal and former Director of the Institute for
Contemporary Art, London
Facts and Figures
Russia’s GDP for 2012 was reported by the World Bank to be $3.3 trillion, the fifth largest in the world.
http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/GDP_PPP.pdf
Calvert 22 Foundation
Calvert 22 Foundation is a London-based, not-for-profit registered charity whose goal is to foster
cultural dialogue between Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the rest of the world. It provides
an important potential link for those seeking to connect with and better understand contemporary
Russia culture, from its major cities to its diverse regions.
Founded in 2009 by Russian-born financier Nonna Materkova, the Foundation has established a
significant presence in the international cultural landscape. It is the most prominent Russian creative
project in the UK with a list of partners that includes major UK institutions such as the British Council,
Tate Modern and leading British universities. The Foundation’s initiatives encompass a wide-ranging
programme including art exhibitions, debates, academic exchanges, and research on the role of
culture and creativity in Russia and Eastern Europe.
Calvert Forum
The St Petersburg State University Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Smolny College) in partnership
with the Calvert 22 Foundation are launching a new collaborative think tank, the Calvert Forum,
which will examine the wider role of creative industries in the 21st century economy. The Forum aims
to explore the impact of creative industries on economic, social, and urban development, as well as
their effect on the international perceptions of cities, regions, and nations.
Over the next twelve months, the Calvert Forum will launch an ambitious programme of research
projects. The Forum will publish a series of in-depth case studies of the world’s leading creative cities,
exploring the key policy issues city governments face in developing and supporting a vibrant
creative economy. The Forum will also investigate the impact of perceptions, place branding, and
place making on cities and regions, both in terms of developing creative industries, as well as
attracting talent and investment for traditional sectors of the economy.
A programme of events, which will bring together experts, practitioners, and policy makers from
relevant fields, will complement the Forum’s research agenda. Future events are planned for New
York, Kaliningrad, Tallinn, and Moscow.
For further information please contact Elena Pakhomova at [email protected]