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29 November 2021

Proceedings of a Conference in Local History

Annual Readings in Local History took place in Toksovo, a town in the Karelian peninsula in the vicinity of St.Petersburg, in April, 2021. They are an event which is organized and conducted independently, by a group of local historians, writers and educators, basing at the facilities of the local secondary education centre, under the auspices of our UNESCO Chair. The main reason of our collaboration is conditioned by the fact that local population consists of two large ethnic groups, namely, Russians and Finns, which makes both UNESCO strategy of intercultural dialogue, and practices of rapprochement, elaborated in its framework, most useful here. Proceedings of the 2021 Readings were published a couple of days ago under the auspices of our Chair. They were dedicated to the 70^th anniversary of a local poet, Anatoly Ivanen, who died several years ago. Ivanen had both Finnish and German roots, and grew into a prominent Russian poet.
29 November 2021

Intangible Heritage in Cultural Strategy of UNESCO

A new paper on the Intangible Heritage in Cultural Strategy of UNESCO has just been published by our Chair, D.Spivak, in the International Journal of Cultural Studies, 2021, No. 3 (44). For basic ideas of the article, see its

Summary

Safeguarding intangible heritage forms a focal part of the cultural strategy of UNESCO, which is now being most actively elaborated and promoted. Basing on one of the two essential definitions, contained in the main text of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, approved by UNESCO in 2003, one may regard it as comprising five main subject fields, i.e. ‘(a) oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage; (b) performing arts; (c) social practices, rituals and festive events; (d) knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe; (e) traditional craftsmanship’ (I.2.2). This kind of heritage is directly and deeply linked with two adjacent concepts, belonging to the same level of description, that is, with tangible heritage, on the one hand, and with cultural diversity, on the other hand. As a result, one feels authorized to regard the text of the corresponding three ‘great UNESCO conventions’, i.e. Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972), Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), and Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005), as parts of a single ‘mega-text’, regarding them in turn as three different facets of the same mega-concept of heritage. Forming an integral part of the cultural strategy of UNESCO, implementation of this concept is indispensable for the attainment of such overarching objectives as social coherence and sustainable development. As to the inner elaboration of the concept of intangible heritage, this seminal concept is presently linked with the implementation of Strategic objectives 7 and 8 of the Medium-Term Strategy, consisting respectedly in giving impetus to advanced identification and documentation, protection and safeguarding, promotion and enhancement, as well as revitalization and transmission of all basic types of heritage; and in promoting its creative facet, especially by all kinds of ‘marginalized and vulnerable communities and individuals, in particular indigenous communities’. UNESCO Medium-Term Strategy for a new eight-year term (2022-2029), which now being most actively elaborated and discussed in the framework of expert community, forms the nearest perspective for the development of the topic of the intangible heritage.
13 November 2021

5th National Congress of Cultural Studies

On November 9, 2021, fellows of our Chair took part in the 5^th National Congress of Cultural Studies ‘Cultural Heritage: from Past to Future’. D.Spivak served as co-moderator of session ‘International Studies and International Cooperation in Cultural Issues’. In its framework, a talk on ‘International Projects and UNESCO Platforms in Silk Way Studies’ was given by A. Alekseyev-Apraksin, who is a professor of our Chair. A.Venkova served as co-moderator of session ‘Museum Issues in Cultural Studies’. M.Stepanov served as co-moderator of a session dedicated to present-day digitalization, and gave there a talk ‘Perception Limits in Digital Culture’. The Congress provided plenty of possibilities for us to present basic issues in cultural strategy of UNESCO, and discuss its most actual perspectives, especially in the realm of cultural rapprochement.
8 September 2021

International Religious Forum

On September 6^th, 2021, our chair took part in International Religious Forum, which took place in St.Petersburg, Russia (for program, see Petersburg International Religious Forum – St. Petersburg International Religious Forum (spirf.ru). About 150 religious leaders and scholars from Russia, EU, USA, UK, countries of Central Asia, Arab countries and Indonesia took part, both offline and online, in the rally, which was dedicated to Spiritual Activities in Times of Pandemic. Our chair was represented by D.Spivak, who gave an invited talk on Interfaith Dialogue in Times of Pandemic in UNESCO strategy.
9 June 2021

Peter the Great Cup Rowing Competition

On June 9, 2021, a new rowing competition was conducted in the historical centre of St.Petersburg, Russia. Its main purport consisted in reviving a tradition which forms an integral part of the intangible heritage of the city of St.Petersburg. It was a rowing competition initiated by tsar Peter I about three hundred years ago, basing mainly upon the Dutch traditions, as well as the English ones. Three teams of rowers competed in rowing six-oared skiffs around the Hare Island, where the city was founded in 1703. Now the island is occupied by the historical Peter and Paul Forteress. The winners obtained Peter the Great Cup. Our Chairperson, D.Spivak, served as the head of the Organizing committee of the Competition.
9 June 2021

International Conference ‘Sustainable Development. Global Challenges’

On June 3, 2021, out Chair took part in International Conference ‘Sustainable Development. Global Challenges’, which was conducted at the premises of the Polytechnical University of St.Petersburg, in the framework of the St.Petersburg International Economic Forum. Our report, entitled ‘Problem of Objectivation of Digital Cultural Heritage’, was presented by our scientific secretary, M.Stepanov, at session meeting ‘Digital Transformation. Actual Tasks, Digitization of Objects of Cultural Heritage’. The report was dedicated to basic issues in safeguarding heritage, included the shared one, as part of the present-day global agenda.
27 April 2021

Our UNESCO Chair Took Part in Interregional Festival of Social Projects

On April 15, 2021 scientific secretary of our Chair M.Stepanov took part as member of competition jury in the Interregional Festival of Social Initiatives, conducted this year under the motto ‘Mission of Safeguarding’. Its objective consists in tracing back and supporting initiatives of local young people in the realm of safeguarding objects of cultural heritage of St.Petersburg, including the Historical Centre of St.Petersburg, which forms integral part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Festival has been organized by the Committee of State Control, Usage and Protection of Landmarks of History and Culture of St.Petersburg. Our Chair takes part in the Festival as an official partner of the Committee.
23 April 2021

7th Annual Toksovo Readings

On April 16. 2021. the 7^th Annual Toksovo Readings took place, basing at the premises of the

V.Petrov Toksovo Educational Centre, situated in the vicinity of St.Petersburg, Russia. This year the Readings were dedicated to the 70^th anniversary of a prominent local poet Anatoly Ivanen, who died a few years ago. A number of local historians, educators, and writers took part in the meeting. Ivonen was born into a local Finnish family, was a student of the Toksovo Education Centre, to become later a renowned Russian poet. His creative production embodied, inter alia, rich and varied intuitions concerning cultural dialogue of both nations. As usual, the Readings took place under the auspices of our Chair. D.Spivak took part at the meeting, giving an introductory address.
16 April 2021

International web conference ‘Religious Institutions and Practices during the COVID Pandemics: Challenges and Answers’

On April 15. 2021, International Web Conference ‘Religious Institutions and Practices during the COVID Pandemics: Challenges and Answers’ took place, basing at the premises of Al Farabi Kazakh National University (Republic of Kazakhstan). Speakers included a number of prominent scientists and religious leaders from Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, India, Tadjikistan. Our chair was represented by three fellows, i.e. by D.Spivak, who served as invited moderator of a plenary session dedicated to influence of the pandemic upon the religious education; G.Seidova, who gave a brief talk on Shiite religious life in times of pandemic; and by L.Yerekesheva. who served as the chairperson of the conference.

Programme
13 April 2021

Spring meeting of the Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs of the Russian Federation

Spring meeting of the Coordination Committee of UNESCO Chairs of the Russian Federation took place in St.Petersburg, Russia, on April 12, 2021, basing at the premises of Peter the Great State Polytechnic University of St.Petersburg. The meeting was chaired by the Executive Secretary of the Commission of the Russian Federation, Ambassador G.Ordzhonikidze, and Head of the Coordination Committee, Mr. V.Egorov. Applications of five prominent Russian universities (State Oil Technical University of Ufa, State Aerial Technical University of Ufa, State University of Bashkiria, State Polytechnic University of Ivanovo and State University of Pyatigorsk) were discussed. Preparations at the national level for World Conference in Higher Education scheduled to take place in Barcelona, Spain, in October, 2021, were regarded, as well as a number of urgent matters. Our Chair was represented by D.Spivak, who served as official reviewer of one of the applications for the creation of new chairs, and took part in general discussion.

Photo: D.Spivak.