The Festival of Latin American and Caribbean Culture took place in Moscow from 20 to 28 July. It promoted cultural dialogue between Russia and the countries of the region. On 20 and 21 June, the Hermitage Garden became the central venue for the event, which attracted 75,000 Muscovites and guests of the capital. TV BRICS was the international media partner of the event.

The ambassadors of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Peru attended the festival’s opening ceremony. Sergey Cheremin, Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow, congratulated Colombia, Nicuragua, Argentina and Peru, whose national holidays fall in July.

He drew attention to the fact that Latin America is one of the main destinations for tourism among Russians.

“Despite the fact that we are very far from each other, we are very close in our culture, in our attitude to human values, in our perception of life”

Sergey Cheremin Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow

Alexey Seredin, Deputy Director of the Latin American Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, pointed out that this festival helps the dialogue of cultures. He praised the long-standing strong ties between Russia and Latin America and the Caribbean.

The official noted the popularity of Latin American artists, writers and musicians in Russia: “Their paintings are admired, lines of their works are quoted from memory, and dance floors are shaken by the incendiary rhythms of bachata, chacha and tango”.

Seredin explained that there are plans to further develop cultural co-operation. It is not only about promoting Latin American culture in Russia, but also Russian culture in Latin America and the Caribbean. An example of this is the Russian Seasons project, which recently started in Brazil.

“In general, such a desire for mutual knowledge and enrichment of our cultures is a reflection of global civilisational diversity, which in the language of diplomacy is called strengthening the foundations of a new, fairer multipolar world order,” Seredin concluded.

Ambassador of Nicaragua to Russia Alba Asucena Torres Mejia expressed gratitude to the organisers of the festival for the fact that Muscovites will be able to get acquainted with the diversity of Latin American culture – music, dance, painting, poetry and much more.

The festival programme continued with performances of folk music and singing groups. More than 500 artists showed the festival visitors the rich musical diversity of the countries of the region.

Over 200 guests of the event took part in master-classes. Everyone could learn traditional Latin American dances (tango, salsa, bachata, merengue and kizomba). In addition, visitors learnt crafts of the region and made brightly coloured souvenirs with their own hands: pinatas, stylish Cuban beads and bracelets, dream catchers.

More than 500 visitors listened to lectures about different aspects of life in Latin America and the Caribbean: about the customs of indigenous peoples of the region, about alpaca wool products, as well as about travelling routes, “coffee tourism”, mysterious natural, historical, cultural and architectural sights and much more.

The food court, where sea bass ceviche, appetising burritos, freshly baked empanados, as well as specially delivered to the festival coffee, cocoa and fresh fruit from Latin America and many other things were presented, was very popular among the guests of the festival.

The event was organised by the Moscow Centre for International Cooperation, the Department of Culture of the City of Moscow, the Moscow City Government University, the Rudomino Library of Foreign Literature, the Mayakovsky Moscow Academic Theatre and embassies of Latin American and Caribbean countries. 20 countries took part in this major cultural and educational project.

Photo: Festival of Latin American and Caribbean Culture