International Youth Forum WHY - World Heritage & Youth       

WHY

The State Hermitage Museum’s Volunteer Service is currently organizing a project dedicated to the role of our cultural heritage in society and as part of a comprehensive project is planning to hold an international youth forum ‘WHY - World Heritage & Youth’ in Kaliningrad, which should include working meetings, round tables, exhibitions and discussions with volunteers from various countries, lecturers, museum staff, representatives of historical associations and residents from Russia’s westernmost region.

Fifth Anniversary of the Volunteer Service

The event is timed for the fifth anniversary of the Volunteer Service, which was established in 2003 on the eve of the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg. During its five year existence, the Volunteer Service has built up a rich experience of work in the State Hermitage Museum’s departments, participated in museum programmes, and also in the development and running of its own projects with the purpose of attracting attention to the problems of preserving our cultural heritage.

A Voluntary Mission

All projects which the volunteers work in are united by an important mission: the NURTURING of a sense of responsibility for the protection of our CULTURAL HERITAGE. It is specifically the ‘nurturing and educative role of culture’ which is to be the main subject of the discussions and conferences which are to be held from 26 April to 5 May in Kaliningrad.

Experience for Growth

The upcoming working trip is being organized under the direction of the State Hermitage Museum with the personal involvement of the Deputy Director for Exhibitions and Development, V.Yu. Matveeva. The aim of the trip is not only to talk about our important mission, but to gain necessary experience for working with local regional experts, students, museums and other youth and government organizations.

Working Groups

The trip is to include visits to historical sites in Kaliningrad and Kaliningrad region. Volunteers, along with groups of students and members of the Youth Government for Kaliningrad Region will attend museums and schools, meet with representatives of historical societies and staff members of educational organizations and visit the naval base.

The Heritage of Konigsberg-Kaliningrad

In Kaliningrad itself, the main working meetings and conferences will be held concerning the preservation of cultural heritage and its educative role. At these, participants can get a fuller understanding of the work of local organizations in preserving cultural monuments and learn about development and educational prîjects in this field, open discussions will be held with students of Kant University and representatives of community organizations.
To become acquainted with Konigsberg’s history and it’s cultural legacy events have been specially organized with historical clubs and societies in Konigsberg. Participation in archaeological excavations, visiting expositions on ‘Old Konigsberg’ at the Kaliningrad Art Gallery, the Kaliningrad Zoo and the Cathedral, along with discussions and lectures dedicated to Kant, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and other illustrious inhabitants of the city will help the conference dedicated to its historical legacy.

Forum’s Programme in Other Regional Cities

In the museum of the famous sculptor Hermann Brachert in Otradnoe the delegation will become familiar with the plans for the development of the museum’s activities and will participate in cultural programmes. In the tourist information centre in Svetlogorsk volunteers will meet with school pupils, where volunteers will talk about the Christmas Tree Museum  and other educational programmes.
The round table ‘Language in a Changing World’ and discussions with lecturers on the importance of linguistic culture will be held in the Centre of Russian Language.
Thanks to activists from local student organizations there will be excursion to Zelenogradsk and a trip to Curonian Spit, where working meetings and events focusing on the preservation of our natural heritage of international significance will be held at the Forest Museum and Bird Station.
At Baltiisk members of the excursion will have the unique chance to view ships from the Russian naval fleet and learn about the work of the Museum of the Baltic Fleet.

Informal Dialogue

On the final day, participants will be in Bagrationovsk, where they will summarize the results of the trip with members of historical societies involved in the study and preservation of cultural heritage and will hear speeches and suggestions based on the final reports. At the concluding, evening meeting which will be held in the Amber Museum the final report will be read, and participants of the project will be able to exchange their impressions of the trip, sharing future plans and opportunities for further partnerships. An informal account of the previous meetings will be presented, prepared together by volunteers and students from Kaliningrad and other participants of the programme.