Visitors’ Programme Russia

Visitors’ Programme Russia

Since 2015 DutchCulture actively reaches out to Russia's independent art scene, with field trips, research and visitors programmes.

Building bridges to Russia's independent art scene

We explore possibilities for lasting collaborations between the Dutch cultural sector and internationally oriented independent professionals in Russia. We focus on stimulating small-scale projects with Russia’s new generation artists and the exchange of expertise between Dutch institutions and key figures in Russia’s current scene. We aim to identify and relate to alternative networks for an ongoing cultural dialogue with Russia’s creative sector.

Field trips and research
DutchCulture experts travel to Moscow, Saint-Petersburg and other parts of Russia to research the cultural field. The aim of the research is to map independent cultural institutions, and new generation producers, artists, experts and mediators in Russia who stand out for their artistic quality, their professionalism, their wide network or their innovative approach. We personally meet with professionals, interview them and ask for peer reviews. Who do they consider new prominent and promising professionals in their field?

We want to provide the Dutch cultural sector with new views on collaborating with Russia and connect them to young, independent and internationally oriented counterparts. Hopefully this will initiate a new episode in the cultural exchange between Russia and the Netherlands.

Visitors Programme
DutchCulture organizes several visitors programmes per year. Russian participants are selected and invited by DutchCulture and are offered a tailor-made programme of two to five days in The Netherlands. Visitors will connect to counterparts in the entire Dutch cultural field to gain insight into Dutch trends and expertise, exchange knowledge and widen their international network. This way we build a lasting network and platform for Dutch-Russian cultural exchange.

Participants
Candidates for the visitors programme are identified during the field trips to Moscow, Saint-Petersburg and other parts of Russia. DutchCulture bears the following criteria in mind for selecting participants for the visitors programme:

  • Participants are cultural professionals (artists, mediators or managers) working in the independent Russian cultural scene.
  • Participants are preferably 35 and under.
  • Participants are clearly internationally oriented.
  • Participants are considered pioneers, innovators or creative thinkers and are therefore leading in Russia’s new cultural scene.
  • Potential interest of the Dutch cultural sector to connect to and work with the participant.