Kuhnya (The Third Place)*
Dutch-Siberian project, Novosibirsk-Amsterdam, May 2006 - February 2009
To Siberia!
The Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University and The Open Siberia Agency are proud to announce the joint creation of the first independent, public centre for international cooperation, expertise and discussion in Novosibirsk (Siberia).
This venue will offer public debates, innovative community projects, as well as an annual Winter Academy - in collaboration with partner organizations in Siberia - for an audience of creative professionals, socially active business leaders and citizens in professional communities in the city of Novosibirsk and other Siberian regions.
The Third Place (Kuhnya), as the centre is called, aims to promote cultural diversity, new forms and methods of social dialogue and the free exchange of opinion. It will become an instrument for the support of independent public culture, and will be actively influencing cultural and social policies in the region.
Related: Kuhnya (The Third Place)
External link: www.kuhnya.nsk.ru
The "Kitchen" ("Kuhnya")
In the framework of Russian and Soviet tradition a "kitchen" has specific resonance; kitchens used to be the place for long conversations on the most important topics, for sharing ideas and shaping the true social values; for developing the true civil society. There is even a specific Russian term for such "kitchen conversations".
According to preliminary findings of our 2005 city-wide research "The Third Place", over 60% of working professionals in Novosibirsk still use their kitchen as a place for meeting new people and exchanging ideas.
The premise of our project is to place the "kitchen conversation" in the public arena, so that the European concept of a "public center" can be adopted by the local environment of Novosibirsk.
Dutch partners AMSU and Felix Meritis, will be providing methodological assistance in the establishment of the Siberian centre, as well as in consulting personnel, introducing cutting edge management strategies and building the centre's programming.
Their experience in international cooperation and training, in various fields of culture in the broadest sense of the word, will benefit the Siberian centre in organizing the Winter Academy, and in establishing partnerships with various European organization and networks of cultural cooperation in the European Union.
Target Audience
The Third Place will reach out to cultural workers, journalists, scientists, experts, officials, leaders of local and professional communities, local NGO's, and creative professionals.
Programs will be developed for socially active citizens and consumers of creative industries and culture.
Novosibirsk
Siberia constitutes two-thirds of the Russian Territory east of the Urals. For many, "Siberia" invokes images of impenetrable taiga, oil, coal, gas and diamonds - a place of exile, the Gulag and Soviet construction projects.
Yet it has become a dynamic, growing, cultural region, where the traditional arts of its indigenous people, the legacy of exiled intelligentsia, high-tech and contemporary art are combined to produce unique cultural and social phenomena.
Novosibirsk - the informal capital of Siberia - has a population of 1.5 million people. In Soviet days, local economic growth was due mostly to its heavy metal (defense) industry and science. And, while both industry and science have suffered a significant setback during the reforms, Novosibirsk is presently recognized as a major centre of science, trade and finance, and as the most active zone of Russian high-tech industry and software development.
This status is reflected in the federal decision to build Russia's first Technopark in Novosibirsk.
New Environments
The isolation of the intelligentsia and young creative classes of large Russian cities, makes it impossible for them to bring their own identity to fruition and contribute to the socio-economic transformation of Russian cities.
In Novosibirsk, a creative industry is present, more than in neighboring industrial towns: from IT industry and programmers to advertisement, crafts and television. However, those who work in the creative field, as well as in science and culture, have a need for a unifying factor and for open, creative spaces for meetings, exchange and community building.
In the period of reforms, high hopes were placed on the NGOs, but they have not been able to provide a lasting structure for uniting people.
Another threat to liberal and democratic values in present Russian society is the lack of independent opinion. Of the few sources of independent opinion trusted by progressive audiences, the internet-based media - with net-forums as a place for debate and exchange of opinion - are considered the most important.
National Policy & Local Authorities
Russia's national policy is presently aimed at economic reforms. Simultaneously, the government is focusing on administrative reforms, paying little attention to community building, human interaction, social and cultural life.
Creative freedom and alternative opinions are not among the priorities of the social policies on national and regional levels, however, they do not contradict reforms.
Against the background of national reforms, local authorities are becoming increasingly interested in stimulating social activity, and cooperating with citizens, yet they do not consider these topics as a priority.
A huge economic and mental gap exists between an educated elite and a pauperized population. The creative class, intelligentsia, and people employed in science and education are estimated to constitute 20% of the population.
The interest in and need for education are increasing. Many people who received their education in 80s require additional training, in order to adapt to economic and social changes, but universities are not flexible enough to reconstruct their curriculums for actual short-term, extended education.
Public life in Novosibirsk is characterized by scarcity of opportunity for people to socialize outside of their workplace. But there are still groups that gather according to professional interests or hobbies (associations, clubs, NGOs.) In the cities, there are many young people with an active attitude.
As a positive factor, overall economic growth is being achieved. The middle-class has leisure-interests outside of their work and personal life, and feel a need to participate in community.
Implementing Organization
Tatiana Tkachenko (Siberia) - Executive Director; Open Siberia Foundation.
Tatiana Tkachenko is the Executive Director for the Open Siberia Foundation, and together with the AMSU coordinates the project Kuhnya (The Third Place), where she is responsible for General Management, Coordination with the AMSU, planning, control and project management in project activities and project events, fundraising, reporting.
Andrey Shapovalov (Siberia) - Program Director; Open Siberia Foundation.
Andrey Shapovalov is the Program Director for the Open Siberia Foundation, and together with the AMSU coordinates the project Kuhnya (The Third Place), where he works up and designs programs, negotiates with partners, develops programs, looks for fundraising. Is personally responsible for the Program of Debates as a project manager.
Andrey Konstantinov (Siberia) - Manager of Educational Programs; Yuri Kondratyuk Foundation.
Andrey Konstantinov is the Manager of Educational Programs for the Yuri Kondratyuk Foundation, and together with the AMSU coordinates the project Kuhnya (The Third Place), where he is responsible for the Winter Academy as a Russian Director, including strategy, program of courses and organization.
Vladimir Deev (Siberia) - Co-ordinator.
Vladimir Deev organizes public events, coordinates venues, debates and network, arranges courses, seminars and educational program, including logistic and maintenance, makes researches in regions.
Artem Gotlib (Siberia) - Information Officer.
Artem Gotlib manages the Community Projects Program, is responsible for public relations, website and informational support, including coordination with mass media.
Yuliya Eremina (Siberia) - Project Assistant.
Yuliya Eremina together with the AMSU coordinates the project Kuhnya (The Third Place), where she is responsible for the technical assistance for all programs as well as in the centre.
Elena Paly (Siberia) - Chief Accountant.
* This project is financially supported by the Social Transformation Programme Central and Eastern Europe (Matra) of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
