A delegation from Vologda region with V.V.Ratsko, the head of the Department of Culture and Protection of cultural heritage of the region, in charge took part in the V Festival of Russian art Summer Garden of Art held in Bari, Italy.

The festival is included into the Program of formal events of Russian-Italian Mixed Commission on cooperation in the field of culture and education Protocol. Since 2008 the culture forum has been guided by the wife of the Russian Federation President Svetlana Vladimirovna Medvedeva. The sponsors of the Festival are The Russian federation Ministry of Culture, Bari City Mayor's Office, Nikolaos Fund, Socio-Cultural Initiatives Foundation, Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization Management of International Program.

V Festival Summer Garden of Art included into the program The Year of Italy in Russia became literally a holiday for the spectators, a long-waited opportunity to meet not only modern Russian art but the best examples of Orthodox culture as well: choral singing, icons, applied arts.

At the Festival there also were some exhibitions, film presentations and performances. The number of participants included the choir of Sretenskaya Divinity School(Moscow), soloists of The Academy of Young Singers of the Mariinsky Theatre (St Petersburg), musicians and soloists from Tver city, State Vocal - Choreographic Ensemble "Russ" (Vladimir), Yaroslavl experts of icon-painting, Ryazan lace-makers.

The Festival film program traditionally regarded films-prizewinners of the International charity film festival Radiant Angel, including a fiction film Mountain Ash Waltz, the project made under the patronage of Vologda region authorities. Within the framework of 65-Victory Day anniversary celebration the Department of Culture and Protection of cultural heritage of the region organized film presentations in Moscow, Vologda and its municipal regions.

The Festival Summer Garden of Art project has been connected with our region through creative cooperation since its beginning: in 2007 our region displayed the laces of Vologda Historical Architectural Art Reserve Museum and showed the performance of Vologda region musical college, in 2010 our region displayed exhibition Traditional Vologda Applied Arts. Our region’s contribution has been highly appreciated by the monitors of the project.

The delegation of the region’s culture has fulfilled a specially honored mission at the V Festival Summer Garden of Art, it has given V.E.Pozgalev’s, the Vologda region governor’s, gift – a lace altar shroud, he personally financing- to St Nicholas's Basilica.

Another lace altar shroud made by Vologda craftsmen was given to Russian Orthodox Church. This gift was handed to Vladimir Kuchumov, an archpriest, the beneficiary of a Russian Orthodox St Nicholas's Church.