Experts and practitioners discussed the future of creative industries in the Tomsk region.

On December 22, the Tomsk Regional Library named after A.S. Pushkin hosted the Conf. FCI. Tomsk – a professional discussion forum dedicated to the development of creative industries in the region. During the three-hour intensive session, participants and experts analyzed trends, challenges, and opportunities across five thematic areas: music, film, design, fashion, and media.

The event, organized by the Tomsk Region Department of Culture with the support of the Federation of Creative Industries, served as a platform for a dialogue between representatives of creative businesses, education, and the expert community. Federal experts, including Sergei Gorbachev, Vyacheslav Pravdzinsky, and Alexander Peremyatov, as well as leaders of the creative sector in Tomsk and the region, participated in the discussion. The discussion focused on issues related to the formation and support of communities in the creative industries in five areas – music, film, design, fashion, and media.

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"The Creative Industries Forum in Tomsk accomplished its main objective: aligning strategy with practice, combining regional initiatives with federal expertise. We identified development vectors in all areas discussed at the Tomsk Creative Industries Forum. Now our shared goal is to implement these plans and create an environment in the region that will help the talent and energy of young people reach new heights," concluded Larisa Vazhova, Head of the Tomsk Region Department of Culture.

The experts highly praised the potential of the Tomsk Region, which researchers consider a leader in Russia's creative industries. In a conversation with industry leaders and participants, they confirmed that a key condition for the sector's dynamic growth today is the need to "emerge from the cocoon"—to engage existing and emerging creative producers in the professional environment, to support their ambitions, and to expand beyond local projects.

"Communication and the ability to understand others are the keys to success in any field." We are working together to develop the film industry: both through the Siberian Cinema Development Center and through private projects. We look to the future with optimism. We have the opportunity to move forward by working with federal grant platforms, developing collaboration with colleagues from other regions, and creating platforms for professional community communication in the Tomsk region. Perhaps this will also allow us to build a mutually beneficial dialogue with the regional government—for example, in the format of a large local film festival with international participation,” noted Zhenya Zhukov, a filmmaker, producer, director, screenwriter for films, video and film events, and creator of various socio-cultural projects in Tomsk.

The speakers paid special attention to new opportunities for local talent. The departure of large international corporations, while creating challenges, also opened up space for local players to grow. The audience was particularly interested in the growing demand for authentic, "provincial" projects, for example, in cinema, where unique stories and local meanings are valued.

Also an important topic of discussion was the integration of large federal formats and infrastructure with local content and talent. Experts noted the successful film industry experiences of other regions, such as Perm and Krasnoyarsk, as potential benchmarks for Tomsk. The experts placed particular emphasis on issues of continuity and generational change in creative industries, as well as the need for open communication as a prerequisite for building communities: these are formed not only on the basis of shared ideas and values, but also through specific actions and projects.

The "Media" section focused on a key challenge: building professional communities interested in promoting creative industries. According to Ivan Makarov, head of the partner relations group for the Zen.ru News project, media manager, and media researcher, dialogue between the two spheres exists and depends on several factors:

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“Understanding between media professionals and creatives arises when the latter clearly understand their target audience, as well as the broader context, such as national priorities. Everything, including community, is always built on mutual interest. If representatives of the creative industries find a way to explain the value of a project within this broader context, if they can demonstrate how their work responds to the needs of society, the region, and the country, then dialogue becomes possible. Media professionals, in turn, must be prepared to hear this language of value and translate it into understandable formats and stories.”

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The example of the New Media Workshop community—graduates of the federal educational program of the same name—was highlighted separately. Sergey Levanenkov, Deputy Head of the Project Implementation Department, presented the platform's experience.

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"The Workshop brings together media professionals who, through their joint work and shared projects, create a safe, constructive media environment. Creative industries often lack the necessary resources."

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