Musicians from the ensemble “Kantele” performed at the 6th Russian-Serbian Cultural Forum

The forum was held in Russia for the first time in Veliky Novgorod.

The 6th Russian-Serbian Cultural Forum was held in Veliky Novgorod, attended by the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Olga Lyubimova, and the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, Nikola Selaković. The forum, held on the historic Novgorod land, symbolically underscored the centuries-old cultural ties between the two countries.

During the plenary session, the parties signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Russian State Film Fund and the Yugoslav Film Archive. The document aims to preserve, restore, and exchange film collections, as well as joint projects to digitize and publicly screen archival materials.

– The historical destinies of our two countries are closely intertwined. We are united by shared cultural codes and memories, passed down from generation to generation. Our peoples have always placed great importance on the arts. For both Russia and Serbia, literature, museum heritage, theater, music, and folklore are organically woven into the fabric of national identity, – said the Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova at the plenary session.

The forum cultural program included a joint concert by the Russian and the Serbian musicians. At the evening finale, the Novgorod Region Governor's Symphony Orchestra, the ensemble “Kantele”, the musicians from the ensemble “Rossiya” named after L.G. Zykina," and the Serbian virtuosos performed the famous melody “Podmoskovnye Vechera”, concluding the joint program with a celebratory musical chord.

The 6th Forum served as a platform for exchanging experiences in museums, archival science, cinema, and music. The discussions and working groups explored the prospects for joint exhibitions, restoration initiatives, festivals, and educational exchanges for young professionals and students.

The organizers note that holding the forum in Veliky Novgorod, one of the Russian oldest cities, gave the event a special meaning. Here, past and present meet, creating fertile ground for intercultural dialogue and further development of the bilateral cultural ties.

Музыканты ансамбля «Кантеле» выступили на VI Российско-Сербском культурном форуме