Inna Svyatenko: "Nizhny Novgorod region demonstrates strong practices in the development of the NHP"

      April 22, 2026 13:22 Culture and Recreation On April 21, as part of the project of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation "Social Route. Mobile Senator," capital guests got acquainted with the best practices for the development of folk arts and crafts in the Nizhny Novgorod region and their integration into the modern creative economy. The delegation was headed by the Vice-Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Inna Svyatenko.

      In particular, during the visit to the Nizhny Novgorod region, senators visited the Gorodets Municipal District, where they were presented with the production cycle of the "Gorodetskaya Rospis" enterprise. The guests also visited the Museum Quarter of Gorodets and participated in a round table with representatives of regional authorities, folk crafts enterprises, and craft communities.

      The senators highly appreciated the successful experience of the Nizhny Novgorod region in attracting investments in the folk crafts sector, forming recognizable brands, and involving craft communities in the development of the creative economy. "Preserving cultural heritage requires clear and understandable legal protection. Masters put their soul into every product, and their intellectual property must be reliably protected from counterfeiting. The Nizhny Novgorod region demonstrates strong practices in the development of folk arts and crafts – from brand creation to attracting investments. Our task is to replicate this experience and build systematic support for craftsmen and enterprises in the sector at the federal level," noted Inna Svyatenko.

      Photo: Alexander Popov. According to her, the experience of the Nizhny Novgorod region will be useful within the framework of the Federation Council's commission on the development of creative industries and folk crafts, as well as within the framework of the Coordination Council on the development of creative industries, which was approved by the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Mishustin.

      The senators also discussed the development of a federal law on craft activities, which is being worked on in the Federation Council, and a bill submitted to the State Duma aimed at supporting emerging creative entrepreneurs. During the round table, representatives of the Nizhny Novgorod region voiced a number of proposals. Among them are the expansion of state support measures for folk arts and crafts enterprises, the development of mechanisms to attract large businesses to invest in crafts as objects of high cultural significance, the replication of successful regional branding practices, and the formation of a clear regulatory legal framework for the sector at the federal level.

      Photo: Alexander Popov. "The trip to Gorodets became an important part of the comprehensive work on developing solutions aimed at preserving and developing folk arts and crafts as a significant element of Russia's cultural and economic potential. Today, it is important not only to preserve traditions but also to create conditions under which they will be in demand among young people, integrated into the modern economy, and protected at the legislative level," said Russian Senator Olga Shchetinina.

      Also, as part of the visit, the delegation familiarized itself with the infrastructure supporting creative entrepreneurs in Nizhny Novgorod. Participants in the "Social Route" project visited the "Nizhpoligraf" Crafts Park, where a wide range of regional brands is presented and conditions are created for collaboration between modern designers and keepers of traditional technologies.

      "The Nizhny Novgorod region has historically been one of the flagships of folk arts and crafts in Russia. Our brands are symbols of the cultural code and full-fledged drivers of the region's creative economy. We see our task as creating a modern promotion infrastructure for masters and enterprises, ensuring a flow of private investments, and forming legislative conditions under which the creation of craft products becomes a prestigious and economically viable endeavor, especially for the younger generation. By the end of 2025, regional support measures for crafts enterprises amounted to almost 51.5 million rubles. Including traditional crafts in the agenda of creative industries opens new markets and allows our unique competencies to compete successfully on a global scale," noted the Minister of Tourism and Crafts of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Sergey Yakovlev.

      Let us remind you that the development of local traditional folk arts and crafts in Russia is one of the areas of work within the framework of the national project "Tourism and Hospitality." The national project, initiated by the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, is a successor to the national project "Tourism and the Hospitality Industry." It involves the development of infrastructure, production of equipment, training of personnel for the tourism sector, promotion of travel in Russia, as well as ensuring quality service and safe, comfortable trips.

      The national project includes five federal projects: "Creation of accommodation facilities, infrastructure, and points of attraction," "5 Seas and Lake Baikal," "Production of domestic products for the tourism industry," "Tourist attractiveness of the country," and "Personnel for tourism."

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