CULTURAL FELLOWSHIPS IN RUSSIA

The Likhachev Foundation (St. Petersburg, Russia) and the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center (Moscow, Russia), with support of the Committee on External Relations of Saint Petersburg announce a competition for 2-week cultural fellowships in Russia (St. Petersburg) from May 9 until May 22, 2016 for foreign professionals in the field of arts and culture who work on projects related to Russian culture and history and aimed at a broad foreign audience. Airfare (economy class) and accommodation in St. Petersburg will be covered by the organizers.

Until February 1, 2016 the Likhachev Foundation will accept applications from professionals in the field of culture and history or arts from foreign countries who are currently working on creative projects related to Russian culture or history. Command of the Russian language is very helpful but not required. Students are not eligible.
Working languages of the program are English and Russian.

The creative project could be a museum exhibition project, a theater production, a film, a photo exhibition, preparation of fiction or research books, etc. related to Russian culture or history. The creative project should ultimately take place in a country other than the Russian Federation, with the goal being to broaden the audiences’ perception of Russia. The two-week residency in Russia should serve as an important stage in the preparation and realization of the applicant’s cultural project.

The Likhachev Foundation will prepare individual programs for the Fellows according to their projects’ specifics, to help them achieve maximum results during their fellowships. These programs will include meetings with Russian colleagues, opportunities to work at St. Petersburg museums, libraries, archives, and other organizations.

Ten two-week fellowships will be organized from May 9 until May 22, 2016 in St. Petersburg (Russia).

Deadline for submitted applications is February 1, 2016.
Applicants will be notified of the review panel decision by March 1, 2016.

Application should include:

• CV (including information on Russian language skills, previous creative projects related to Russia, and previous visits to Russia).
• Description of the creative project (up to 3 pages) such as a museum or exhibition project, a theater production, a film, preparation of fiction or research books, and other types of cultural projects related to Russian culture or history. It should contain, in particular, a paragraph on how a residency in St. Petersburg will benefit the applicant’s creative project and which cultural organizations in St. Petersburg the applicant would like to work with.

Please, email your application in Russian or English to the competition coordinator Mrs. Elena Vitenberg at vitenberg@lfond.spb.ru and elenavitenberg@gmail.com with subject line «application for the fellowship».

The D. S. Likhachev International Charitable Foundation
http://cf.lfond.spb.ru/
The name of the Academician D. S. Likhachev (1906-1999) is symbolic for the 20th century Russian culture. A Russian intellectual, survivor of the Soviet Gulag, a great scientist and thinker, a popular figure, he managed to preserve under the totalitarian regime his integrity, honor, and fealty to Russia. In the 90s he became a moral gold standard for many Russians. During his late years D. S. Likhachev conceived the idea of a humanitarian charitable foundation. The idea was implemented after his death.

The D. S. Likhachev International Charitable Foundation was founded in St. Petersburg at the end of 2001. The mission for the Foundation had been stated by D. S. Likhachev himself as promotion of the Russian culture, education, humanities as well as affirmation of democratic and humanistic values in the society. The foundation supports both regional and international programs, awards grants, promotes seminars and conferences, publishes books, etc.

The Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center (Yeltsin Center)
http://www.yeltsin.ru/
The Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center is a new Russian noncommercial organization, directed at promoting the development of the Institute of Presidency in Russia. The mission of the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center is to preserve, study, and present to the public the historical legacy of the first president of the Russian Federation. Presidential Center includes a museum, exhibition and discussion center, a branch of the Boris Yeltsin's Presidential library and Center for information and education activities and expertise. The Yeltsin Center supports activities in the following areas: Education, Culture, Youth, International, Humanitarian Cooperation, Publishing, Literary Awards.

Committee on External Relations of Saint Petersburg
http://www.kvs.spb.ru
The executive authority - The City Administration is the superior executive body of St. Petersburg headed by the Governor of the city and other executive departments - the city committees and the administrative-territorial departments. The St. Petersburg Administration is formed of the Governor, the Government, The Governor's Chancellery, the city committees and the administrative-territorial departments of the Administration subordinate to him. The Committee on External Relations is responsible for state policy of Saint Petersburg in external relations.