I. Metshin: “The way the CCS “Moskovsky” has changed is a culture shock!”

(KZN.RU, April 12, Ksenia Shvetsova). The Center for Culture and Sports “Moskovsky”, the former House of Culture “Uritsky”, opened in Kazan after an overhaul. The restored building, which has changed beyond recognition, was visited by Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan. He talked with members of the teams involved in the center, inspected the updated spaces and visited the first children's film studio in the city.

The main building of the CCS “Moskovsky” was delivered in 1934. Since then, this institution has never been thoroughly repaired or reconstructed, which has led to the deterioration of many structures and internal communications. Cardinal changes began last year: then the initiative of the city authorities to overhaul the houses of culture was supported by Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT. The CCS “Moskovsky” became a pilot project to transform houses of culture.

Sergey Mironov, the head of the Kirovsky and Moskovsky districts’ administration, said that since the Aviatorov village had been located on the territory of the center, the aviation topic became the key one in the design of the center and can be seen in the design of all rooms and halls.

Several public spaces appeared in the building: a platform for co-working, an information center, and convenient waiting zones, equipped with WI-FI. According to Azat Abzalov, the head of the Department of Culture, the co-working zone allows cultural associations of the city to implement joint projects. Thus, during the Mayor's visit, a meeting of participants of the Creative Initiative Fund for Cultural Initiatives was held there. They invited the head of the city to the play “Shamail”, which will be held in the CCS on May 13.

“We are very pleased that now there is an opportunity in Kazan to engage in such a center, to implement large-format projects for children and adults”, said the children. Their plans are to show an inclusive performance to the children's hospice patients, who cannot attend the theater. “Go on, I hope, all Kazan will see your performance. We are also repairing new houses of culture so that you can create and share your creativity”, Ilsur Metshin told them.

Participants of the modern dance studio “Smilik” appreciated the renewal of the House of Culture. This year the collective celebrates 10 years from the date of its creation. “The restored center is the best gift for our anniversary”, said Natalia Maryakhina, the head of the studio.

The pride of the CCS “Moskovsky” is the first children's film school in Kazan that opened on its base. A professional camera, modern cameras, computer-installation equipment were purchased for the children. The head of the city spoke with the participants of the film section.

Another unusual direction is the Chinese language classes. I. Metshin noted that this is a very useful undertaking for the successful future of young Kazan citizens. “This is very important, and we need young people in Kazan who know Chinese. Our country, republic and city are very friendly with the People's Republic of China. If you master this difficult but very important language, you will have a great future, so try hard”.

The main value of the renovated center is the assembly hall. By the instructions of the Mayor, the architects tried to preserve everything that was possible. As a result, one more full-fledged cultural venue of the city for almost 500 seats was created out of the ordinary hall.

The Mayor also visited the rehearsals of the folk choir “Ivushka”. Participants thanked the head and expressed the opinion that there are no more such centers in the city. “This is not the only house of culture”, said Ilsur Metshin. “Thanks to Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of our Republic, we also repaired the House of Culture named after Lenin, now we are repairing the HoC “Saidash” and have the HoC Said-Galiev in Derbyshkiand the “Chulpan” in the Privolzhsky district in the plans”.

“In the process of repair, we often came here. And this is not the first such object that we finished. But I'm still in a culture shock”, said I. Meshin. “I am sincerely grateful to the designers and builders for this quality of work. Now we need to saturate the life of the center”.