The focal point of this year’s business program at the fourth Russian Week of Creativity forum, set for July 3–7 at the Lomonosov cluster of Moscow State University, centers on envisioning the future image of the creative industries. The event will gather leading market experts, government representatives, development institutions, and professionals from education and culture for a series of sessions and discussions that illuminate the path ahead. This framing was shared by the organizers during a press conference with TASS coverage. [Source attribution: TASS press briefing]
Five core work program areas have been outlined to guide conversations and initiatives: content and media, spatial development, culture and arts, education and personnel, and a regional development track. Each strand promises to connect strategic policy with practical, on-the-ground action, reflecting a comprehensive approach to nurturing the sector’s growth across diverse regions. [Source attribution: Forum organizers]
Among the participants are high-ranking officials and city leaders who lend weight to the forum’s agenda, including the First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, Sergei Kiriyenin; Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin; the Minister of Science and Higher Education, Valery Falkov; and the Minister of Education, Sergei Kravtsov, along with numerous other senior figures from government and industry. [Source attribution: TASS]
The highlight of the work program is the plenary session scheduled for July 3, which will bring together government representatives and leaders from the creative economy to share insights, align priorities, and set a practical course for the sector’s development in the coming year. [Source attribution: Forum program note]
Over the past twelve months, local creative businesses have shown resilience by adapting to shifts in the global economy and by filling niches left by Western companies withdrawing from certain markets. The organizers noted that external conditions have, in fact, opened new opportunities for Russian filmmakers, digital platforms, and distribution channels. [Source attribution: Forum remarks]
Despite the positive momentum, the speakers acknowledged existing barriers that must be removed to accelerate progress in creative fields. Reducing regulatory friction, expanding access to financing, and improving collaboration across education, industry, and government were identified as essential steps toward stronger market performance. [Source attribution: Forum commentary]
Novikov stressed the expectation that participants will outline clear market needs, articulate forward-looking visions for the sector, and propose solutions that can be implemented across different markets and settings. His remarks highlighted the forum’s role as a platform for practical, results-oriented thinking rather than theoretical debate. [Source attribution: Novikov speech]
Marina Abramova, president of ANO Creative Economy and the forum’s director, noted that every creative market has revised its development strategies over the past year. Some enterprises launched operations from scratch, while others sought new partnerships, built teams, and developed new products to meet evolving demand. This reflection underlines the adaptive nature of the industry as it navigates a rapidly changing landscape. [Source attribution: Abramova interview]
She added that companies have reimagined their business models, redirected their focus toward new audiences and geographic markets, and that these shifts were taken into account when shaping the forum’s agenda to make it as practical and applicable as possible. The overarching aim is to translate insights into concrete actions that organizations can implement in the near term. [Source attribution: Abramova briefing]
Earlier coverage noted a similar forum held in Siberia at the close of the previous year, which experts described as a catalyst for sector-wide changes. The Siberian event was cited as a benchmark for the current forum, illustrating how regional gatherings can drive national-level shifts in the creative industries. [Source attribution: Previous event coverage]