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The Museum of Lace
The first International Lace festival VITA LACE
International Lace Festival in Vologda
The bobbin lace exists during almost three centuries
and represents a significant peculiar phenomenon of the decorative
applied art. Russian lacemaking borrowed in the XVII century from
Western Europe preserved and developed the best traditions of
craftswomen of the European countries. During its astounding growth the
lacemaking became a real national art phenomenon.
At the turn of XIX-XX centuries lacemaking involved 17 Russian provinces.
Vologda was and still is one of the leading and famous centers of
lacemaking in Russia and by the right is considered as a lace capital in
Russia. In contrast to local centers of lacemaking Vologda lace is an
integrated phenomenon including production traditions of different areas
of Vologda Oblast.
Even in 1876 Vologda lace received a high assessment at the
international exhibition in Philadelphia. With great success it was
demonstrated in Chicago in 1893. At the exhibition in Paris in 1925 and
in Brussels in 1958 Vologda lace was awarded the gold medals. The
highest award Grand-Prix “For innovation and artistic embodiment of lace
articles” was awarded to Vologda lace-makers at the exhibition in Paris
in 1937.
Lacemaking even today plays a special role in the economy and culture of
Vologda Oblast. Today this trade unites an industrial production and
creation of exclusive highly artistic articles preserving the traditions
of handicrafts. Vologda lace is made by hand by Vologda lace-makers in
accordance with historically established technologies and art traditions
from ecologically pure flax.
Vologda state museum-reserve of History, Architecture and Art gathered a
big interesting collection of lace (more than 3 thousand articles)
reflecting the history of this trade, a peculiarity of the ornamental
culture, uniqueness and picturesqueness of the art language. In 2010 a
specialized lace museum will be opened in Vologda where it is supposed
to represent an evolution and preservation of the traditional handicraft
and to show the leading world tendency of the development of lace at the
end of the XIX-beginning of XX centuries. Such an approach allows to
establish a museum corresponding to the European standards. The new
museum is expected to become a center attractive for tourists, a
visiting card of the region revealing the lace in all its diversity.
Since 1998 All Russia exhibition “Russian Flax” is annually held in
Vologda that during last years obtained the international status, since
2006 – an All-Russia competition of professional mastership of
lace-makers “Silver bubble”.
Time: June 2011.
Periodicity of the festival: once in 3 years time
Place: Vologda, the Kremlin square (Lace museum, Vologda Kremlin)
Founder:
Vologda Oblast Government
Organizers and co-organizers:
Vologda Oblast Department of Culture and Cultural Heritage Preservation;
Department of Economy of Vologda Oblast Government;
Vologda Oblast Department of International and Interregional Relations
and Tourism;
Vologda Oblast Department of Education;
Vologda Oblast Department of Agriculture, Foodstuffs and Trade;
Vologda Oblast Committee on Physical Training, Sports and Youth Policy;
Vologda Oblast Committee on Information, Press, TV and Radio
Broadcasting;
Bodies of local self-government of the municipality “Vologda city”;
Bodies of local self-government of Vologda Oblast municipalities;
Official support:
President of the Russian Federation D.A.Medvedev;
Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation;
Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation.
Purposes and tasks:
- to preserve, study and promote a unique handicraft in Russia;
- to strengthen ties with lace centers in Russia and abroad;
- to spread the accumulated experience, to raise the effectiveness of
the companies and firms involved in lace production and marketing;
- to create an information environment promoting preservation and
development of the unique lace trade in Vologda Oblast and in Russia;
- to attract extra investments for the new companies and for development
and re-equipment of the existing productions;
- to create environment for new tourist views;
- to meet esthetic cultural demands of the people.
The festival is aimed:
- to promote preservation and further effective development of
traditional handicraft by increasing production distribution and future
marketing;
- to give a new impulse to creative potential of lace-makers;
- to become a favorable environment which stimulates development of the
creative process on all the stages- from designers’ ideas to ready-made
article;
- to revive the trade in historical centers.
The festival program includes:
- a final stage of the competition of lacemaking art “Silver bubble” for
all ages:
“The song is singing, the lace is weaving” – for young participants;
“Silver bubble” – for students; “Silver bubble” – for professionals.
- Photo exhibition “Lace Vologda City”
- Exhibition “Labyrinth of Lace” on the Kremlin Square;
- Show of collections of garments of Vologda winners of the competition
“Linen to Russian products” decorated with lace or lace accessories;
- Interregional exhibition of lace creative works among students;
- Exhibition of books on history of lace and lacemaking art;
- Show “The longest lace in the world” with participants of
representatives of Guinness Record Book;
- Exhibition of French lace;
- Fair of lace articles;
- Presentation of the exclusive book on Vologda lace;
- A festivity show on the Kremlin square.
Round tables:
1. “Modern national handicraft of lacemaking, ways of preservation and
further development:;
2. “Improvement of skills of craftsmen and designers of national
handicrafts”.
The festival is funded by:
- national target program “Culture of Russia 2006-2011”
- regional budget
- municipality “Vologda city”
- participants of the festival.