Experts at the forum believe that culture can be a tool for establishing harmony in society

A transition to a qualitatively new model of development is only possible after the creation of a new system of values: this idea has become key in the discussion of the “Culture” working group at the 8th Perm Forum, during the course of which experts have advanced their own answers to the question posed at the beginning of the meeting by Alexander Auzan, one of the discussion moderators. The President of the National Planning Institute for the Social Contract Project has stumped the audience with his question: How does one “overcome the difficulties when establishing rules and norms in people's minds?”

First of all, it is not possible to reduce the level of culture: this position is shared by all participants in the task force. Everyone should be exposed to a complex picture of the world from an early age, so elementary education, according to the experts, should concentrate on cultivating the ability to effectively ask questions instead of providing ready-made answers. But when creating new norms and rules it is just as important not to rely only on the elite strata of society, says Boris Milgram, Vice Chairman of the Government of the Perm Region and Director of the Project, "Perm: a Cultural Capital of Europe”. It is necessary to talk to a wide audience of people, since the process of cultural consumption is no less important than the process of its creation. Milgram suggested that the emerging middle class may become the public client for this new cultural policy.

Alexander Arkhangelsky, Professor in the Department of Journalism at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, agreed that the focus of the new policy should be on the person that consumes culture. "In this case, we must realize that by supporting, for example, libraries we support the right of a person to read what he or she wants: either philosophical tracts or books by Dontsova. We are talking about respect for informed choice and the right to this choice”, explained the expert.

Nikolay Novichkov, Director of the Federal Directorate of the Cultural Alliance Project, supported the idea that loyalty to a different position is one of the conditions for the emergence of public dialogue, which creates the basis for a new cultural policy to be formed. For the most part all the experts were unified: it is culture, in their opinion, that is capable of acting as a tool for establishing harmony in society.

Aleksey Kara-Murza, President of the Russian Liberal Heritage Domestic Fund, opined about the need to develop traditions that allow the public to unite around historically significant figures. The Russian philosopher and political scientist believes that there are already successful examples of this: "Perm in a matter of several years was able to completely transform its cultural and historical image. It can present the country with a variety of Russian geniuses: from Peter Struve to Sergey Diaghilev. A whole assembly of figures who can satisfy the most sublime tastes”.