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Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin and Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova presented their reports during the meeting. The governors of Sevastopol, the Primorye Territory, the Kemerovo Region – Kuzbass and the Kaliningrad Region reported on the progress of cultural facilities construction in their regions.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues,

Today, we will talk about the development of new cultural, educational, and museum complexes in Kaliningrad, Vladivostok, Kemerovo and Sevastopol. Taking part in our meeting are the heads of the regions where these complexes are being built. Let us discuss progress at each of these complexes.

I would like to remind you that we have been working on this large-scale project since 2018, and it is important for our people and for Russia's entire cultural landscape. We are creating modern exhibition spaces, art and choreography schools, concert halls and theatres so that our citizens have more opportunities to get involved in a lively and flourishing cultural scene and to take part in interesting cultural events, lectures and master classes, and so that people, especially young people, are able to learn a creative trade at the highest level in their home region.

A number of facilities within these new complexes have already opened, namely educational platforms with well-equipped classrooms and rehearsal studios where hundreds of children study choreography, music and acting skills.

The first museum within these cultural centres has already opened – this is the Tretyakov State Gallery branch in Kaliningrad. City residents and tourists will be able to admire Russia’s rich artistic heritage there, and various studios and creative workshops will help children and adults find hobbies that they enjoy and realise their talents. I am confident that this modern museum will become a popular space for recreation and educational leisure and will enhance the region’s tourist potential.

I know that the opening ceremony was held this year on June 12, Russia Day. I would like Ms Lyubimova to tell us about the educational aspects of that cultural centre and plans for organising exhibitions in Kaliningrad and in other museums that are part of our new cultural complexes. As we have pointed out more than once, this is something that calls for forward thinking.

To date, 33 out of 46 facilities that form part of the cultural and educational complexes have been put into operation. Because each region had its own needs, such as different types of creative schools or varying space requirements for museums, concert halls, and theatres, the complexes differ in terms of what has been built and how they are equipped. At the same time, each complex features unique architecture, which will naturally highlight the distinctive character of its host city.

It is understandable that the pace of construction has varied from place to place. However, I want to stress that this cannot become an excuse for endless delays in completing the projects. Public demand for vibrant cultural events and opportunities to develop their creative potential is truly high. We must ensure equal access to education and self-realisation. These cultural complexes are one of the key tools for achieving that goal.

Today, I would like to hear a progress report on each facility: what stage construction is at, what difficulties have arisen, and what is hindering the process. Most importantly, I ask you to clearly define concrete timelines for the public opening of each facility.

And one more thing. Building the facilities is, of course, a fundamental task. But even more important is what happens next – the operation of these institutions, the content and purpose they bring to life. People play a critical role in this respect, those who come not just to work, but to make these centres the best they can be: original, relevant, and alive. So along with completing construction, we must also address staffing: forming creative teams for the new museums, theatres, and educational centres.

We need highly qualified professionals who are committed to continual growth and ready to adopt the most advanced methods and approaches. And, of course, these must be people who are truly dedicated to their work. To attract such teams, we need to offer competitive, appealing working conditions and address housing needs. I would also like to discuss this today.

Let’s get to work.

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Vladimir Putin: Here is what I would like to close this part of our discussion with. It is crucial to maintain constant live communication with the parent institutions. This, to a certain extent, was the point of the proposal to establish such centres in the first place. That is the first point.

Second, I am now addressing regional leaders and, of course, our colleagues in the Government: we must create the most favourable conditions for the specialists working in these institutions. This includes salaries, housing, and so on. Otherwise, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to form capable teams of the highest calibre.

I think this is clear. I am asking regional leaders in conjunction with their colleagues from the Ministry of Culture and the Government to keep this issue under special control. Simply persuading someone to come there and stay at a dormitory is unlikely to bring any success in this regard. Living conditions must be of a high standard.

Beyond all doubt, these regional facilities must have strong ties with the parent cultural institutions, as I have already mentioned. Things that Yelena Pronicheva [General Director of the Tretyakov Gallery] just said about it being a structural subdivision of the Tretyakov Gallery [its branch in Kaliningrad] is, in my view, the correct approach. And it should be replicated everywhere.

Why? Because if we simply transfer things to the regions, these institutions may and likely will become good operations, but they will remain at the regional level. The point of this project, however, is to establish federal-level centres of education and culture in these regions each of which is, to some extent, unique in its own way, yet also serves as a key hub of regional importance.

The original idea was – and I base this on our current task – to bring the cultural treasures displayed in the country’s leading centres, such as Moscow and St Petersburg, to the regions. We are doing this to strengthen the nation’s spiritual, cultural, and educational landscape. That is the key point.

Of course, there is never enough money for social needs, healthcare, education, or culture. Money is always needed for ongoing work. But if we do not take significant steps forward, we will forever remain at the average level. When we create centres like the ones we are discussing today, both local and regional levels will, one way or another, rise to the standard we are striving to achieve by building these centres, which are the subject of our discussion today.

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