International events: 2012 may become the Year of Cultural Exchange between Russia and the United States

The US Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle highlighted that Russia and the United States of America could designate 2012 as the year of joint cultural exchange.

The US diplomat, who stayed in Yekaterinburg, stressed that the idea of holding the year of cultural exchange was approved at the first meeting of the presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama. As a result of that meeting, a bilateral presidential commission was set up and it is currently made of 16 Working groups. According to him, among them the most effective and productive are those focused on education and culture sectors.

“A number of projects are being developed to expand exchanges between universities of both countries. There are also plans for tours by Russian theatrical troupes and orchestras to the USA and for American groups to visit Russia”, the Ambassador said.

At the same meeting Greg Guroff, President of the Foundation for International Arts and Education, said that the commission has already received a proposal to bring an international exposition of the works of Nicolai Fechin to Russia. After becoming famous in his homeland he moved to the USA where he made a name for himself as one of the best artists of the American West. The exposition will kick off in Kazan where the artist was born.

At the same time Guroff noted that that there were a great number of complications involved in holding a large-scale cultural exchange. “The USA does not have a special agency to oversee the cultural affairs. Therefore the government can’t dictate museums, which exhibitions they need to hold. The project of such scale needs an active advertising campaign”, Guroff stressed.

What is more, on September 23 while in Yekaterinburg John Beyrle opened an International exhibition project, dedicated to the unique story of the ambassador’s father, American soldier Joseph Beyrle, who struggled against the Nazis. The exposition is being held at the Sverdlovsk Regional Local Lore Museum.