President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, friends,
I would like to offer you and your colleagues my heartfelt congratulations on Cultural Worker’s Day: writers and musicians, painters and artists, architects, and people working in theatres, museums and libraries. This holiday has been instituted as a sign of deep respect to all those working in this sector, whose achievements affirm the continued significance of traditions and values that are at the heart of our national culture, representing its very essence and meaning.
Our national culture promotes humanistic and moral ideals which serve as an unbreakable cross-generational bond for educators and creators. This is why we have a single ceremony for honouring both prominent and young masters of art, those who have been working for many years, creating works for children and youth, as well as those who have won recognition from the first steps they made in art.
Among them is Renata Shakirova, a principal dancer with the Mariinsky Theatre. Her skill is the embodiments in a dance of a bright artistic talent and the traditions of the renowned St Petersburg ballet school. Renata has been brilliantly performing the most challenging roles in classic and contemporary choreographic pieces and has been recognised by her colleagues and numerous ballet lovers.
Ivan Nikiforchin has been excelling in his art and demonstrating his sense of style since he was a student. An outstanding conductor, he created a chamber orchestra and a choir, which are now among the best performance groups in Russia. He also became the youngest faculty member at the Opera and Symphonic Conducting Department of the Moscow State Conservatory and had been deservedly put at the helm of the Moscow State Academic Symphony Orchestra.
Alexei Kapustin, Director at the Centre for Classical and Traditional Architecture, won the prize for young culture professionals. He focuses on preserving and rebuilding historical neighbourhoods in Russian cities and monasteries. His family has been a major inspiration for his success and his dedication. Alexei Kapustin was born into a family of architects and represents its fourth generation.
This year’s winners of the prize for writing and art for children and young people have made an invaluable contribution to the upbringing and development of the young citizens of Russia.
Director of the Prospect Publishing House Leonid Rozhnikov has created a series titled Book In a Book, where works by classical Russian writers are complemented with detailed illustrated comments that are easy to read and interesting to young people, to our rising generation. Leonid Rozhnikov also used an unusual method of presentation in his two-volume book titled The History of Russia for Children and Adults.
Book illustrations are the life’s work for Olga Ionaitis. She has illustrated over 150 books, and all of them are both beautiful and highly professional. Olga’s works seamlessly fit the authors’ ideas and are in tune with children’s delicate feelings and taste.
I am delighted to see the creative leaders of the Loktev Song and Dance Ensemble among the prize winners, including choreographer Marina Yegorova, choral conductor Anna Averyanenko, and artistic director Leonid Fradkin.
Leading a legendary ensemble like this is a huge responsibility. Friends, you are doing your job brilliantly. The Loktev Ensemble has always been a big and tight-knit family and an outstanding school of self-fulfilment for young talents who are proud of and treasure the status of being its members.
The ability to preserve traditions, making them resonate and giving them a new meaning is a gift that sets apart any truly creative and talented person. And each of you who are present in this hall fully belongs among such people. You are the ones who ensure continuity and bridge the generational divides, fill the cultural space with the light of your inspiration and creativity, serve as role models by setting the highest standards in terms of your professionalism and integrity by fulfilling your calling and civic duty, and of course you deserve this kind of high recognition from the state and society alike.
I sincerely congratulate you on winning these prizes and wish you every success in your future endeavours.
All the best.
(The ceremony for presenting the prize winner badges.)
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Vladimir Putin: Friends,
Once again my congratulations on these awards and on the well-deserved prizes.
I have noted that a winner here said that his teachers have worked profoundly on his creative personality – in cases like this, people usually speak about their mentors and those who made them what they are now and helped them achieve their goals. But afterwards, as has also been mentioned, you work just as profoundly, friends, as engineers of human souls, for us all to grow, become creative, authentic and interesting people and patriots. This has also been said.
I would also like to thank you for this and wish you all the best and new successes. Thank you for everything you have done. I hope that even more is to come.
Thank you very much. Congratulations.