The Russian Cultural Centre
The Russian Cultural Centre opened in Glasgow 1998 with the express aim of bringing the best of Russian culture to Glasgow. The Directors of The Russian Cultural Centre, Lev Atlas and Anna Julia Cherner, a husband and wife team originally from Rostov on Don, (one of Glasgow's Twin Cities), had the vision of creating a centre that combined Russian art and music with Russian cuisine which together would provide a distinct Russian perspective on current Glasgow and on modern Russia. Central to achieving this vision is a programme of artistic projects that brings the elite of Russian artists and musicians to Glasgow. The artistic projects can be summarised thus: artists' residencies, music, cultural exchanges, art exhibitions and a music education programme in Glasgow schools. In addition, The Russian Cultural Centre has undertaken charitable fundraising.
Artists Residencies Examples of the artists' residencies include the work of:
Maxim Demidov (Russia),
Vladimir Chekmarev (Russia),
Igor Vensky (Russia),
Zaza Neberiedze (Georgia),
Deniss Polubojarov (Estonia),
Aram Vahramiyan (Armenia),
Marlena Nizio (Poland),
Anna Krejec (Czech Republic)
Ludmila Kosmina (Scotland, Ukraine).
Igor Vensky's work spans portraiture and floral images. In 2003 he was commissioned by the then Lord Provost, Alex Mosson, to paint his portrait, which is now displayed in the Picture Gallery of the City Chambers.
Maxim Demidov's work features a reinterpretation of the Glasgow tenement and Glasgow's historic buildings. He was commissioned by the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to paint an iconic image of the city and he achieved this through his painting of the Tollbooth at Glasgow Cross in the ubiquitous Scottish summer rain. The Glasgow images Max creates are a wonderful contrast to those of his native Rostov.
Art Exhibitions
The Russian Cultural Centre has a mezzanine art gallery at 10 King Street, which displays the work of visiting Scottish and Glasgow based artists. The Gallery is featured in Glasgow's ‘Gallery Guide' and other art magazines. The exhibition programme changes every three weeks.
Music
Music forms the heart of the cultural programme. Throughout the year, musicians from Russia, former USSR states, Ireland, USA, Germany, Croatia and elsewhere are invited to participate in festivals like the Scottish International Jazz Festival, Glasgow West End Festival, Glasgow Mela, Glasgow Merchant City Festival and Celtic Connections.
During the festivals these visiting musicians perform in venues across Glasgow and Scotland (including Shetland, Aran, Bute, Ayrshire and Edinburgh) as well as participating in a schools workshop programme within the city of Glasgow.
A unique feature of this programme is the focus on bringing young talented musicians from Russian jazz and music schools. On two occasions, a quartet of young female jazz singers from Beslan has been part of the Jazz festival. Most recently, the best of Russian gypsy musicians, singers and dancers, participated in Celtic Connections 2006.
The most successful multicultural partnerships become workshops and performances by Rostov Balalaika (Russia), Rik Palieri (USA), Koshka (Scotland) and Trumpets of Samarkand (Uzbekistan).
Of special interest is ‘Paragon International', a collaboration of internationally recognised professional musicians with amateur musicians from Glasgow's asylum community.
The music education programme ensures that children in Glasgow schools are exposed to new musical and cultural experiences encouraging an understanding and appreciation not only of music from other countries but also aspects of other cultures.
Cultural Exchanges
The Cultural Exchange Programme has a strong emphasis on encouraging young people from Glasgow to participate in cultural events in Russia.
The first took place in 1999 when a young Glasgow artist, Jessica Wolfson, and members of the St. Francis Pipe Band in the Gorbals traveled to Karelia on the Finnish border to take part in a folk festival. From that initial visit, cultural links have been sustained between the Gorbals and Kareleian musicians.
In 2005, two young members of the St. Francis Pipe band participated in a ‘Children Against Terror' Festival in Moscow run by the Spivakov Foundation. Young people from 23 countries participated in this festival.
Charitable Fundraising
In 2004, the world watched in horror as children from Beslan were held captive in their local school. When this captivity turned to slaughter and severe injury, the world was stunned. Many wondered how they could help. When it was discovered that 11 of the child survivors were being treated in hospitals in Rostov on Don, the Russian Cultural Centre immediately contacted the hospitals to find out what equipment they needed. A series of concerts was organised to raise the necessary funds and when the ‘Scottish Sun' channeled funds from their ‘Bears for Beslan' Appeal, the money necessary for the life saving equipment was raised.
The Russian Cultural Centre is a charity working with a range of arts organisations including Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, The Glasgow Jazz Festival, Paragon and Celtic Connections. The Russian Cultural Centre also works with Glasgow City Council and community organisations including Glasgow's new asylum and refugee communities.
The Russian Cultural Centre attracts grants from various bodies but supports the cultural programme through its commercial wing, the Russian Café-Gallery Cossachok, which provides an excellent concert venue and gallery space. The Café also adds Russian cuisine to complete the Russian cultural experience.
Diary of Events
All Year: We Belong to Glasgow
This year ‘We Belong to Glasgow' will manifest itself primarily in an annual exhibition at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, presenting both established and rising stars of the Russian art scene. In addition, following five years of working with Glasgow Schools, The Russian Cultural Centre will present an exhibition of drawings and poetry created by Glasgow children in response to the various and numerous artists brought by the Russian Cultural Centre to their schools.
April/May/June: Festival of Russian Culture
The Russian Cultural Centre will be working with Glasgow Cultural Enterprises to produce a major festival of Russian Culture in Glasgow in Spring/Summer 2006. Our participation will involve a major exhibition at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, a separate exhibition of authentic Russian Costumes, performances and educational workshops by Rostov Balalaika and the Rostov Children's Jazz Ensemble. These will also tie in with the 25th Anniversary Celebrations of the twinning of Glasgow and Rostov-on-Don.
May: Second Annual Victory Day Gala
On 9th May 2005 the Russian Cultural Centre produced the first Victory Day Gala at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Allies' Victory. What was meant to be a low key but poignant affair (Scottish veterans were invited personally by post) became a rousing evening of music and dance, which resulted in a sell-out performance. This year we intend to repeat last years success but with an added educational element, whereby Glasgow School children will be invited to participate as performers (for example music, poetry, reading, art) or to simply write about their thoughts of World War II. This will also tie in with our annual RUSSIANS WHA HAE EXHITIBION, which will be celebrating its fifth year at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. It is the biggest independent annual exhibition of Russian art in Scotland.
June/July: Children and Jazz:
Building on last year's success, children from a specialist Jazz School in Rostov-on-Don have teamed up with young Scottish enthusiasts to produce a joint jazz gala concert “From Russia with Jazz”, hopefully in a major venue. While independent, the project will tie in with the Glasgow International Jazz Festival, to promote and schedule concerts. The Rostov children will also be involved in open workshops and demonstrations in schools and are working on a commission to be performed during their visit.
September: Remembering Beslan:
Following our major fundraiser and programme of musical events in support of the victims of the Beslan tragedy, The Russian Cultural Centre will commemorate the second anniversary of the atrocity with a series of concerts and workshops under the banner “Children Against Terror”. We plan to invite a group of survivors from Beslan to meet the Russian and Scottish Communities who were instrumental in saving these children's lives through their generous donations which helped purchase intensive care equipment, which saved dozens of lives and will continue to do so for countless others. In addition, following last year's successful trip to Moscow by the junior members of St Francis Pipe Band (where they performed at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Concert Hall), the Russian Cultural Centre plans to undertake another exchange programme to Russia with children from Glasgow schools who are involved in traditional Scottish Music.
October: Kashtanka
In a first for the Russian Cultural Centre, we will present a production of the Chekhov classic Kashtanka in collaboration with Dean Wright and Meg Watson of Glasgow City Council. Dean will work with Anna Cherner on the above play as well as devising a programme of One Act plays based on classic Russian Literature. Kashtanka will seek the involvement of both local Russian and Scottish Children.
December - February: Russian Winter
Our annual ‘Russian Winter' programme - with a Western twist! Polish/American country singer-songwriter, writer and entertainer Rik Palieri and Moscow based Gypsy Talisman will lead the project.
Following the success of the Russian Winter Gala at St. David's Free Church of Scotland (Knightswood), the Russian Cultural Centre will present traditional Russian New Year Celebrations both at St. David's as well as an extended community programme in schools and community centres.
January 2007: Children's Celtic Connections
Due to overwhelming demand by Glasgow Schools, Rik Palieri and Gypsy Talisman will once again tour the schools during the Celtic Connections period.
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