Russia to provide financial aid to 15 Russian theaters abroad - Ministry of Culture

ST. PETERSBURG. April 7 (Interfax) - Russia plans to provide targeted financial support to Russian theaters abroad that need it, Russian Deputy Culture Minister Alla Manilova said.

"The mechanism [for backing Russian theaters abroad] has been found, Russian Seasons, an autonomous non-profit organization will be such a source of financing. We are now waiting for a reply from the ministries of culture in each particular country. Next, we will move to the stage of practical solution to forwarding funds. We will be acting individually for each country. We are seeking to make the transition to direct financial support from Russia," Manilova said, speaking at a plenary meeting dedicated to the opening of the International Festival of Russian Theaters "Meetings in Russia. 25 Years Together" on Friday.

Fifteen theaters based in ten different countries were selected earlier with regard to such support in 2023, she said. Financial aid will go to Russian theaters in Abkhazia, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, South Ossetia and Kazakhstan, she added.

According to Manilova, the allocated funds will be spent on the acquisition of modern theatrical and stage equipment in order to ensure upgraded technological conditions for Russian theaters.

"The second dimension is supporting activities and premieres. Five million rubles for equipment, five million rubles for shows. All the funds must be utilized this year," she said.

The financing of Russian theaters abroad will continue after 2023. Some theaters need largescale support, she said.

"We have three theaters experiencing more serious structural problems, whereas very big investments are made in new development or redevelopment. These include the Chingiz Aitmatov Russian Drama Theatre in Bishkek, the Pushkin Drama Theater in Turkmenistan and the Mayakovsky Russian Drama Theater in Tajikistan, which just does not have a building. The government is dealing with all these theaters," Manilova said.

Russian Seasons is a global festival aimed at promoting Russian culture to foreign audiences. It received a warm welcome in Japan in 2017, Italy in 2018, and Germany hosted the event in 2019.

In 2020, the festival was held in France, Belgium and Luxembourg, with part of the scheduled events postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, Russian Seasons went to South Korea and Belgium. In 2022, it was due to take place in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, but was canceled.

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will host the festival in 2023.