137 Creative Industries Schools for Teenagers Open Across 68 Russian Regions
Quick Look
- Deputy Culture Minister Zhanna Alekseyeva announced that 137 schools of creative industries for teenagers have opened in 68 Russian regions, with over 17,500 students enrolled.
- Schools have also opened in Donetsk People's Republic and Sevastopol, with 16 more planned by end of 2026.
- Student projects are being used in cities like Kirov, Vladivostok and Kaluga to modernize cultural interpretation for younger tourists.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The initiative aims to modernize the cultural interpretation of Russian cities to attract younger tourists by engaging teenagers in creative industries education.
ST. PETERSBURG, September 23. /TASS/. As many as 137 schools of creative industries for teenagers have opened in 68 Russian regions, Deputy Culture Minister Zhanna Alekseyeva said at a plenary session of the Fifth International Forum titled "Creative Industries in the Social and Economic Development of Tourist Territories: New Horizons of Cooperation."
"A school of creative industries is a modern educational space where teenagers study in professional studios, equipped with up-to-date technologies. Minors gain basic skills of creative professions here. Over four years of the program, a total of 137 schools have been founded in 68 Russian regions. More than 17,500 children are already studying there," Alekseyeva said.
The deputy culture minister also noted that in 2026, schools of creative industries opened in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the city of Sevastopol in Crimea, with 16 more planned in 16 regions by the end of the year.
Alekseyeva said that the history of Russian cities needs a modern interpretation to attract younger tourists.
"Each city has its own cultural code. History, architecture, traditions, famous sites and events. But for a territory to keep developing and remain interesting to new generations, all these meanings need a modern interpretation. Certainly, young residents play a key role here, so we have to provide conditions for the development and implementation of creative projects, giving them the opportunity to create something where they live," Alekseyeva added.
Unique projects by students of these schools are already being actively used in many Russian cities, including Kirov, Vladivostok, Ulan-Ude, Kaluga, Perm, Vladimir, Omsk and Voronezh.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
16 additional schools of creative industries will open in 16 regions by the end of 2026
Very likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific creative professions are taught in these schools?
- How is the program funded and what is its budget?
- What metrics are used to measure the program's impact on tourism?
- Are there plans to expand the program beyond 2026?
