Center for Civil Society International ([email protected])
Mon, 9 Mar 1998 16:13:03 -0800 (PST)
Sender: Allison Pultz <[email protected]>
Subject: St. Petersburg's Tercentenary
Dear Cultural Organization:
I am writing to tell you about an important event, part of the planning
process for celebrating St. Petersburg's Tercentenary in 2003.
On Friday, May 29, the city of St. Petersburg will publicly present its
plan for the Tercentenary, including a five year master calendar of cultural
projects and events. Arts programming for the Tercentenary is intended to
strengthen the idea of St. Petersburg as an important destination for the
cultural traveler and show the City's capacity for organizing world class
events.
Governor Vladimir Yakovlev has asked the American Committee for St.
Petersburg 2003 to stimulate and coordinate American projects for the
Tercentenary. The Committee, headed by Ambassador William Luers (President
of the Metropolitan Museum), has established a track record of supporting
St. Petersburg-related projects over the past few years. I want to emphasize
that the Committee's role at this point is one of collecting and sharing
information. The Committee's aims are to announce American projects in St.
Petersburg to the largest possible audience, to win us all access to Russian
government officials, to inform potential partners and funders of
opportunities, and to keep American organizations informed about St.
Petersburg's progress towards 2003.
CEC International Partners is providing administrative support for the
American Committee. Our first task is to draw together a list of US cultural
organizations that are or will be doing projects in St. Petersburg during
the next five years. "Culture" includes the arts, arts management,
education, and historic preservation. We ask you to send us a brief
description of your projects or related efforts.
We are also inviting you to participate in the Tercentenary planning process
and attend the May meeting in St. Petersburg. Even if you cannot attend, we
would like to list your organization and its projects.
I am enclosing a Memorandum from the St. Petersburg Institute for Cultural
Programs describing the May event. I also enclose CEC's unfinished and
partial inventory of American projects. Please let us know the following:
* Will you be coming to the May 29 event? (If numbers are sufficient, we
will try to arrange a travel and accommodations package.)
* Should we add information about your plans to the inventory?
* Do you want it presented in St. Petersburg in May?
* Do you know of other organizations or individuals that should be included?
Once we have gathered this information we will organize a meeting for all
interested parties
You may communicate with CEC by email <[email protected]>, or fax
(212-643-1996).
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Michael Brainerd
President
CEC International Partners
************
MEMORANDUM
[translation from the Russian document issued by St. Petersburg's Institute
for Cultural Programs, Committee on Culture, St. Petersburg City
Administration]
Guidelines in Preparation for St. Petersburg's 300th Anniversary
As the city's 300th anniversary fast approaches, it seems appropriate to
focus the city's efforts and resources toward utilizing the event to
multiple ends: to advance St. Petersburg into the international market for
tourism and culture, to develop the cultural and historical potential of St.
Petersburg, and to attract investors to the city's economy.
The importance of the anniversary is that it gives St. Petersburg a chance
to prove its potential as a world-class city, capable of hosting unique and
varied events of an international stature.
Preparations for the 300th anniversary should become an integral part of the
work of the city's organizations and offices. It should be a natural reflex
and should stimulate the creation of a set of projects that will inform all
aspects of public life and private activity with the uniqueness of
Petersburg culture. It will also assert Petersburg's central role in world
culture. Working to organize activities at this level will provide
invaluable experience necessary to advancing the city's development.
The plans for the Tercentenary, which are part of the "Strategic Plan for
St. Petersburg," will be presented on May 29th, just following the city's
295th anniversary on May 27, 1998. This date, chosen as the best moment for
the Presentation, allows both for the inclusion of the Tercentenary in
long-term international calendars and for participation by foreign public
and private organizations, international corporations, foundations, and arts
and cultural groups.
We also expect that representatives of St. Petersburg's City Administration,
business, academia, the arts and cultural circles will all take part in the
Presentation.
The goals of the Presentation are:
* to draw the attention of Russian and world audiences to St. Petersburg and
its anniversary
* to familiarize city, Russian and world-wide mass media with anniversary
projects and events of St. Petersburg organizations and institutions
* to invite international foundations and cultural organizations to
cooperate in the realization of the announced plans and projects
* to build long-term partnerships between cultural/arts organizations and
the business sector, strengthening the role of culture in the city's economy
The Presentation will include:
* a master calendar of city events connected with the 300-year anniversary,
such as schedules for museums, theaters, libraries, exhibition halls
(including Lenexpo), and events related to tourism and business
* an announcement of international projects, sponsored by foreign
organizations and foundations, in honor of the anniversary
Coinciding with the presentation, additional events are planned:
* opening ceremonies
* unveiling of a memorial clock on Nevsky Prospect, which will count down
the days until 2003
* delegations from foreign "St. Petersburg 2003" committees, for
presentations and meetings with representatives of St. Petersburg's
cultural, public and private sectors
A detailed examination of others' experiences in realizing such events here
in Russia, as well as in Europe and further abroad is obviously necessary to
carrying out a successful presentation here in May. Ongoing coordination of
activities and exchange of information between Russian and international
organizations taking part in preparing the Tercentenary is equally important.
********************
-Allison Pultz
Coordinator, St. Petersburg 2003
CEC International Partners
12 West 31st Street 4th Floor
New York, New York 10001
Tel: 212.643.1985 ext. 20
Fax: 212/643.1996
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