MOSCOW, March 26 President of Russia Vladimir Putin presents prizes in the field of literature and art in the Kremlin for works for children and youth and prizes for young cultural figures for 2023.
The ceremony takes place in the Catherine Hall. The presentation of the awards is timed to coincide with Cultural Worker's Day, which is celebrated annually in Russia on March 25.
Presidential Awards for young cultural figures have been awarded since 2011. The 2023 laureates were artist Alexey Kryukov, cellist Alexander Ramm and deputy director of the Center for the Development of Tuvan Traditional Culture and Crafts Mengi Ondar.
Prizes in the field of literature and art for works for children and youth have been awarded since 2013. The winners this time were the head of the Moscow Academy of Choreography Marina Leonova, the director of the Ryazan Regional Puppet Theater Konstantin Kirillov and opera singer Nikolai Didenko, who heads the White Steamship fund for supporting creatively gifted children and youth.
Before presenting the high awards, Putin noted that the creativity of cultural figures directly influences the mood of people, strengthens their patriotic feelings, and makes a “contribution of the highest standard” to the education of the younger generation.
“It is especially valuable when great, sought-after masters become mentors for children. Among them is the world-famous, brilliant vocalist Nikolai Alekseevich Didenko. The White Steamship Foundation, created by him, has been opening new horizons for gifted children with disabilities for almost twenty years, revealing the talents of those who find themselves in difficult life circumstances,” he said.
Marina Leonova, the keeper of the traditions of the Russian ballet school, dedicated herself to new generations of creators, the president added. “She is raising not just future stars of dance art, but also sympathetic, caring, responsible people,” Putin said.
The President noted that under the leadership of Konstantin Kirillov, the Ryazan State Regional Puppet Theater has become a platform where they respect traditions and always open to creative experimentation. The painter Alexey Kryukov continues the outstanding traditions of Russian realism, the president noted. The head of state called cellist Alexander Ramm one of the most famous and sought-after musicians. He also noted the contribution of Mengi Ondar to the preservation and development of the country's ethnocultural diversity.