Ilsur Metshin: “Together we will repair all houses of culture”

(KZN.RU, June 21, Alsu Safina). Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, instructed to design a new long-term municipal program for the development of culture in Kazan today at the XVII session of the Kazan City Duma. According to him, the development of the document should be conducted with the participation of all city cultural institutions and taking into account the main directions of Strategy-2030. The previous program – “Development of Culture in Kazan for 2015-2017” is being completed this year.

The Mayor noted that the issue of the cultural development in Kazan is considered systematically at the sessions of the city Duma. “Culture is a large and significant component of the city’s life, which has not only a great educational impact but shapes the way of life of citizens as well”, he said. “Today, thanks to large-scale events, Kazan is becoming a city with a worldwide reputation, and cultural trends should match to this status”, believes the Mayor.

He noted that creative collectives of different ages appeared in the city and entered the city spaces, creating new traditions. In order to organize this work, the Directorate of Parks and Squares was created. The Mayor noted the importance of qualitative filling of residents’ leisure in the parks and squares of Kazan. “The Executive Committee needs to intensify the activity of the Directorate of Parks and Squares so that the citizens receive an accessible cultural service in our improved parks”, said I. Metshin.

He noted that mainly work with the population is carried out by specialists from municipal cultural institutions. He thanked all workers of municipal cultural institutions for their work and wished them creative success.

I. Metshin also expressed gratitude to the theatrical collectives of the city. “From year to year, theater groups increase the craving for theater in Kazan citizens by their work, especially among young people”, said the Mayor. It is confirmed by the interest in Chaliapin and Nuriev festivals, premiers in the Kamal and Kachalov theaters, concerts of the State Symphony Orchestra under the conduction of A. Sladkovsky.

During the speech, the Mayor focused on the modernization of the houses of culture. I. Metshin noted that things are humming in all the houses of culture, creative collectives of different ages are engaged. Residents like these institutions and go there with great pleasure in their spare time and create interesting projects. Azat Abzalov, the head of the Culture Department, noted that last year, the municipal houses of cultural held 2500 events.

“Our task is to create houses of culture all the necessary conditions for people”, believes I. Metshin. He reminded that after visiting the House of Culture named after Lenin, Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT, supported the initiative of the city authorities to overhaul this institution, as well as the HoC Uritsky and the HoC “Chulpan”.

“We need to take decisions in all other houses of culture”, marked I. Metshin. “Only budgetary means are not enough. I want to appeal to all the leaders and colleagues present in the hall, especially the deputies of the State Council of the RT, to take control of the HoC and help us find sponsors. I hope that by joint efforts we will repair all the HoC”.

“It is important that after repair they begin to work in a new way, and obsolete standards will be adjusted taking into account modern realities and management requirements”, added the Mayor.

The importance of the transformation of the houses of culture into cultural centers was noted by Azat Abzalov, the head of the Culture Department. He said that modern research indicates a tendency to gradually reduce the popularity of traditional cultural institutions and that it is important to stimulate intelligent leisure.

Today, there are 14 houses of culture in Kazan. During the last 5 years, the network of municipal HoC increased by 1-2 ones per year at the expense of the republican program “Rural clubs”.

A. Abzalov also spoke about the plans for a qualitative change in the work principles of the city HoC, for which a corresponding concept was developed. “By a “cultural center” is meant a modernized cultural institution, a park area adjacent to it and all yards of houses in the district”, he said. “This institution, which contributes to the self-realization of the population, forms a new kind of leisure, creative development, and socio-cultural life generally”.

“Work has started on the visual rebranding of the houses of culture and the creation of the brand “cultural centers of Kazan”, said the head of the Department of Culture. “The first product will be the project “Kazan is a cultural map of creative opportunities”. In addition, the project “Zhiznelub” is dedicated to the qualitative change in the format of work of municipal HoC.