Published on: 2026-04-24
Source: Saint Petersburg State Architectural and Construction University –
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In Saint Petersburg, at the Hermitage Theatre, a solemn ceremony was held to sum up the results of the 10th anniversary Interregional Youth Festival of Social Projects in the field of cultural heritage conservation and promotion “Mission – to preserve.” The festival is held annually by the Committee for State Control, Use and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments (KGIOP). In 2026, the event was held under the auspices of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO Affairs and in partnership with the State Hermitage Museum.
Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (SPbGASU) took part in the winners’ award ceremony as a partner of KGIOP in activities related to restoration and cultural heritage protection.
The festival has for ten years been a significant platform uniting schoolchildren and students interested in the preservation of historical and cultural heritage. Its concept directly corresponds to UNESCO’s key areas of activity — science, culture, and education — and is focused on youth as the priority audience. Program participants not only develop projects but also form professional competencies demanded in the field of preservation and development of the urban environment.
In 2026, more than 200 people participated in the festival, presenting over 50 projects. More than 30 initiatives aimed at popularizing, studying, and preserving cultural heritage sites of Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad Region reached the final. Winners are determined in two age categories: from 6 to 15 years old and from 16 to 24 years old. The projects presented by participants reflect a modern view on cultural heritage, combining traditional approaches with digital technologies and new formats of interaction with urban space.
The awarding of the winners took place in a solemn setting at the Hermitage Theatre. The winners in the age category from 6 to 15 years old were cadets of the Naval School.Valeriy TarlykovиDaniil Polyakovpersonally congratulated and presented awards the first Vice-Rector of SPbGASU, head of the Department of Architectural and Construction Structures of the Faculty of Construction, Candidate of Architecture, Associate ProfessorSvetlana Golovina.Â
The work of the winners of “Experimental Pool in New Holland: tactile architectural miniature and digital reconstruction” is aimed at creating a modern multimedia solution, including the development of a digital model of a historical object, the creation of multimedia content and a tactile architectural miniature. Such an integrated approach allows us to present lost or inaccessible elements of the urban environment in a new way and makes architectural heritage more accessible to various categories of users, including people with disabilities.
The project is particularly valuable due to its applied nature: it combines educational, research, and practical components, which corresponds to modern trends in the field of cultural heritage digitization.
SPbGASU’s participation in the festival emphasizes the university’s active position in supporting youth initiatives and developing projects in the field of cultural heritage preservation. Being a partner of KGIOP, the university serves not only as an educational platform but also as a competence center providing scientific and methodological support for such initiatives.
It is important to note that the winners’ project will receive further development: its implementation is planned with the participation of SPbGASU together with specialized specialists and partners. This will allow integrating the results of the work into the educational and professional environment, as well as using it in the practice of popularizing the cultural heritage of Saint Petersburg.
The festival is held by KGIOP with the support of partners – the Committee for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage of the Leningrad Region, the Committee for Education of Saint Petersburg, ICOM Russia, the multifunctional project “Friends of Petersburg” of PJSC Gazprom, the Ilya Repin St. Petersburg State Academic Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, and the UNESCO Chair.
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