BRICS National Brands Exhibition Planned for St. Petersburg Academy of Arts during SPIEF 2024

The BRICS National Brands Exhibition, dedicated to the cultural identity of BRICS countries, will open on 6 June 2024 in the historic Imperial Academy of Arts as part of the plan of events of Russia’s BRICS Chairship. The opening of the exhibition has been timed to coincide with the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum with the motto ‘Creating Multipolarity with New Centres of Growth’. The exhibition will feature documentaries from the state film archive and art installations created by students.

“The main goal of this unique exhibition is to show event participants how the diversity and traditional spiritual and cultural values of BRICS countries, presented in the context of history and today’s youth, is the foundation upon which we must build our common future,” Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the SPIEF Organizing Committee Anton Kobyakov said.

Among the participants of the exhibition opening are Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova, Special Envoy of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy, BRICS countries ambassadors, and Roscongress Foundation Chairman and CEO Alexander Stuglev.

Lyubimova spoke of expectations for the exhibition as an important platform for sharing cultural experience among BRICS members and promoting mutual understanding between the nations. “National brands represent our diversity and the strength of our common values. National brands have the potential to strengthen mutual understanding and the respect we have for one another,” the Minister of Culture said.

“Cinema is an important part of our great culture and has always been at the centre of public life, recording and reflecting reality and important moments in our history. As the country’s main film archive, the Gosfilmofond collection is truly unique. We are pleased to be able to share a small part of it with the participants as part of the SPIEF cultural programme. This year, the BRICS Chairship was passed on to Russia, something reflected in our exhibition of film posters in St. Petersburg. Visitors will be treated to unique selection of posters from the Gosfilmofond and ROSKINO collections for films released throughout the years in different BRICS countries that gained success in Russian cinemas and posters for Soviet and Russian films timed to coincide with their screenings in BRICS countries. We have also prepared a special series of screenings of films shot in BRICS countries,” Gosfilmofond General Director Denis Aksyonov said.

Three special spaces are being created in the renowned St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, an architectural monument to classicism on Vasilievsky Island. One is an exposition introducing the most striking documentary films in the Gosfilmofond collection. The video sequence runs with a collection of signs and posters.

The sculpture exposition will showcase student work inspired by the distinctive natural worlds and wildlife of BRICS member countries.

The Academy of Arts conference hall will host a performance by the renowned baritone and People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Vasily Gerello as part of the evening reception sponsored by Murmansk Region.

The Murmansk Region will introduce visitors to Arctic cuisine, and cooks from the Polar Region will dazzle visitors with their skills and new culinary creations. Arctic cuisine has recently joined the Kola’s most recognizable symbols, the northern lights and the world’s only fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers, as a Polar trademark and a treat for discerning foodies.

The author of the exposition concept is Semyon Mikhailovsky. “The exposition will showcase the work of students who created art embodying BRICS. The project has certainly been a great opportunity for the students to realize their potential,” Mikhailovsky said.

The exhibition will be open to visitors from 6 to 8 June.

Deputy CEO of the Roscongress Foundation Elena Marinina is the creative director and organizer of the exhibition area showcasing the creative achievements and cultural diversity of the peoples of Russia and BRICS countries.

The programme partner is VKontakte, the event’s main social network and streaming service. The general media partner is Gazprom-Media Holding. Information support for the event is being provided by Independent Media Holding.

The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS Chairship.