International initiatives: Guest-country of the V St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum will be Greece

Greece will be the guest country of the V St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum, which will be held from 1 to 3 December 2016. The special status of "guest country" is assigned to the forum for the first time. On the occasion in 2016 of the cross Year of Russia - Greece the Forum program of events will cover important issues of modern Greek cultural potential, deep historical and spiritual relationship between the two countries. 

Greece will prepare a special program for each of the areas of the forum: the official, business and cultural. Country guest will be represented by a large delegation: It will include representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Sport of the Hellenic Republic, and prominent figures of culture and arts. Particular attention will give to Greece the section "Tourism", "Cinema" and "Theatre".

Greece will also present at the St. Petersburg forum the Athens Festival - the main and most significant annual review of Greek art, which is held since 1955. The Forum will also organize a meeting of heads of international festivals, including the representatives of Athens and Avignon parades.

The central event of the Hellenic Republic program will be an exhibition of contemporary art “Genii loci. Greek art from 1930 to the present day”, which will be on display at the Central Exhibition Hall "Manege" in St. Petersburg.