Iran to showcase cultural heritage in four Russian cities
Iran will stage a weeklong cultural festival in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan and Astrakhan from October 1 to 6, bringing together a 168-member delegation of scholars, university professors, artists and cultural practitioners, the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization announced Sunday.
Hossein Divsalar, the organization’s deputy for scientific and cultural cooperation, unveiled the program at a press conference in Tehran, describing the event as an opportunity to expand cultural diplomacy and deepen exchanges between the Iranian and Russian peoples, CHTN reported.
The delegation, named Minab in remembrance of schoolchildren killed in an attack, will present a broad range of Iranian artistic, academic and cultural achievements to Russian audiences.
The festival will feature exhibitions spanning around 20 disciplines, including visual arts, painting, calligraphy and carpet weaving, alongside displays highlighting Iran’s cultural heritage and civilization.
One of the main attractions will be the Iranian National Orchestra, with around 60 musicians scheduled to perform in Moscow, Kazan and St. Petersburg. A concert at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre is also planned.
Film and animation screenings will bring Iranian cinema to audiences across the four cities. Organizers also expect to sign a joint cinema production cooperation agreement following nearly three years of negotiations.
Academic exchanges will complement the artistic program, with about six university and scholarly meetings planned in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan. The events will bring together Iranian and Russian cultural officials and academic institutions.
Kazan, a major center of the Muslim world, will host special activities marking the Year of the Prophet of Mercy, including musical performances, exhibitions, conferences and academic discussions.
The festival will also feature children’s and teenagers’ activities, traditional Iranian sports, ethnic clothing, and showcases of video games and creative industries. Business-to-business meetings will connect Iranian and Russian cultural entrepreneurs, with the aim of developing longer-term cooperation and cultural exports.
A meeting of the cultural committee of the Iran-Russia Joint Cooperation Commission, chaired by the two countries’ culture ministers, is also on the agenda. Organizers are additionally preparing a memorandum of understanding between Iran’s National Library and the Center for Studies of the Written Heritage of Islam and Iran in St. Petersburg.
“We want to move beyond a symbolic or exhibition-based initiative and turn the cultural week into a platform for meaningful cooperation,” Divsalar said, emphasizing the role of cultural diplomacy in fostering lasting relations between nations.