The second season of the festival “Tom Sawyer Fest” ended in Kazan

(KZN.RU, August 30, Mikhail Chentsov). The second season of the festival “Tom Sawyer Fest” ended in the capital of Tatarstan, within the framework of which activists restore valuable objects of urban development that are not monuments of culture. Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT, and Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, became honored guests of the closing ceremony held in the yard of the house №29 on Volkov Street. The heads of Tatarstan and its capital congratulated the project participants on the completion of the works, communicated with the local residents, and inspected one of the renovated houses.

Olesya Baltusova, an assistant to the President of the RT and the ideological inspirer of the festival, told that the volunteers, under the guidance of a professional superintendent, restored the facades of four houses in the historical center of the city in three months.

An interesting entertainment program was waiting for Kazan citizens. The singers performed on stage, photos of restored houses and historical photographs of Kazan were presented in the yard. In addition, everyone could get warm with hot tea and eat pies.

Ilsur Metshin was the first to address the festival guests from the stage. The Mayor congratulated everyone on the holiday and especially thanked the organizers and volunteers of the “Tom Sawyer Fest”, noting their contribution to the improvement of the city.

“This is a holiday of the soul and heart. 7 houses are restored with caring hands. I thank residents, the district’s administration, and 125 volunteers from the bottom of my heart for the love to the city”, said the Mayor of Kazan. He also thanked Rustam Minnikhanov and Olesya Baltusova, thanks to whom the revival of the historic center of the city began.

The President noted that the restored houses are not only valuable objects of historical development but also give a special charm to Kazan. “We must preserve the image of the old Kazan, which historically developed. Of course, we lost a lot but the most important thing is to make sure that not one of our houses is demolished. Even if it is no longer usable, then it must be recreated in the exact same form”, R. Minnikhanov shared his opinion.

The head of the republic also thanked all those who are concerned, who are participating in the preservation of the historical center of the city. “Of course, those people who are here today support all our undertakings with all their heart and soul. Huge words of gratitude to the team that worked, volunteers, and the team of Ilsur Metshin”, marked the President of the RT. In conclusion, he once again congratulated everyone on the holidays and noted that the project will be continued and the number of restored houses is increased.

Asgat Safarov, the head of the Presidential Administration of the RT, Denis Kalinkin, the head of the Kazan Executive Committee, and many others took part in the event.

The city festival “Tom Sawyer Fest” started in 10 cities of Russia in June. The event was first held in Kazan in 2016. Then the activists repaired 3 wooden houses in the center of the city. This year the festival continued. Vladimir Medinsky, the minister of Culture of the RF, and Airat Sibagatullin, the minister of Culture of the RT, were the volunteers. Next year, the organizers of the festival in Kazan plan to do houses in the Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda.