Culture Without Borders: Moscow Hosts the Festival of Latin American and Caribbean Culture
The Festival of Latin American and Caribbean Culture has been held in Moscow for the fifth time. The organizers were the Government of Moscow, the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow, the Department of Culture of Moscow, the Department of Cultural Heritage of Moscow, the autonomous non-profit organization House of Latin America, the autonomous non-profit organization Moscow Center for International Cooperation, Gosfilmofond, the Margarita Rudomino All-Russian State Library for Foreign Literature, the Moscow Zoo, the Russian Geographical Society, and the embassies of Latin American and Caribbean countries. Nineteen countries took part in this cultural and educational initiative: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, Ecuador, and El Salvador. The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean hold an important place in Moscow’s international ties. The Russian capital and the region are linked by cooperation in the economy, science, culture, sports, and other areas. The event became one of the platforms for strengthening these contacts. It gave residents and visitors to Moscow a chance to get better acquainted with the national traditions, art, and cultural diversity of Latin America.
On July 18 and 19, the Hermitage Garden was the festival’s main venue. On July 18, the official opening ceremony took place on the Main Stage of the Hermitage Garden. Participants included Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow; Alexander Shchetinin, Director of the Latin American Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Gustavo Adolfo López Calderón, Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala to Russia.
According to the head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow, the interest in the event confirms people’s desire to communicate, exchange ideas, and discover other cultures. “Today the Hermitage Garden is once again filled with the unmistakable rhythms of Latin America and the Caribbean, the energy of dance, bright colors and songs, and an amazing atmosphere of genuine hospitality,” the Minister noted.
The head of the Department emphasized that the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean possess an enormous historical and cultural heritage that brings together the distinctive traditions of dozens of peoples, great literature, art, unique architecture, and natural diversity. “Each country represented at the festival has its own unique cultural code. Together they create an amazing palette in which tradition, history, and modernity intertwine,” he said.
Sergey Cheremin expressed gratitude to the heads of diplomatic missions from the region for their help in preparing the event. Thanks to their involvement, the festival program becomes richer and more varied every year. This year it brought together a large number of artists from different regions of Russia, as well as from Paraguay, Colombia, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and other Latin American countries.
Alexander Shchetinin, Director of the Latin American Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also stressed that Latin American visual art, literature, music, and traditions resonate strongly with Russians. According to him, the region is open to cultural exchange and cooperation. “The festival is being held for the fifth time and has already become a cherished tradition. It has become a natural part of Moscow’s summer program,” Shchetinin noted.
Gustavo Adolfo López Calderón, Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala to Russia, delivered greetings on behalf of the heads of diplomatic missions of Latin American and Caribbean countries in Russia. “The festival erases borders between our countries and brings them closer, allowing all guests to visit Latin America and the Caribbean without leaving Moscow,” the ambassador noted.
After the formal part, the audience enjoyed a rich concert program combining the music and dance traditions of different countries in the region. About 300 artists performed on stage. One of the main participants in the opening was singer Fantine. She performed a special program dedicated to the culture of the Dominican Republic. In her performance, Caribbean motifs and national rhythms blended naturally with elements of various global music styles. The atmosphere of Argentina was created on stage by the musicians of Tangovsky Project. They performed famous works by Carlos Gardel, Astor Piazzolla, and other tango classics. Colombian musical culture was represented by the group Marimbea. Its sound was built around the marimba de chonta, accompanied by drums and traditional guasa percussion. The program also featured the group El Ardo from Nicaragua with cumbia and bachata, Hot Havana Orchestra with popular Cuban compositions, and Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Ricardo Rodríguez. A significant part of the concert program was dedicated to Latin America’s choreographic heritage. The stage featured the folkloric Ibero-American ballet Paraguay Folk from Paraguay, the Mexican ensemble Tonantzin, the Ecuadorian group Jatari, and Rhythms of the Planet, representing Colombia. Their performances showcased the diversity of the region’s national dances, costumes, and stage traditions.
Guests had the chance not only to watch professional dancers but also to learn basic moves. Representatives of leading schools held open classes in various styles. Instructors helped participants understand the musical rhythms and learn simple dance combinations. Visitors tried salsa, bachata, Argentine tango, reggaeton, merengue, zumba, and Paraguayan polka. No experience or special preparation was required, so anyone who wanted could join. A separate block of events was dedicated to creativity and arts and crafts. Young visitors were invited to make florariums, Cuban jewelry, and dreamcatchers. Under the guidance of artists, participants painted vinyl records, bags, Panama hats, and baseball caps, and decorated kaleidoscopes and sunglasses. Guests could take home the works they created as memorable souvenirs.
The festival’s educational program included meetings with diplomats, experts, and representatives of the region, interactive classes, and themed quizzes. In the lecture hall, speakers talked about the history and culture of the region’s countries, introduced audiences to promising tourism destinations and the traditions of preparing national drinks. A separate class was devoted to the basics of Portuguese.
The introduction to Latin American culture continued in the food area as well. The food court served ceviche, burritos, tacos, and empanadas. The menu also included refreshing drinks made from exotic fruits. Visitors could try premium chocolate from Venezuela and Ecuador, as well as cocoa and coffee specially brought in for the festival. Themed photo zones and a fair helped preserve the memories of the celebration. At Latina Market, guests chose authentic goods from different countries in the region. Mexican masks, decorative fans, textiles, cosmetics, chocolate, cocoa, spices, and other items were on sale.
After the main program ended, the celebration continued at other cultural venues in Moscow. From July 20 to 25, the Margarita Rudomino All-Russian State Library for Foreign Literature became one of the main centers for discovering Latin America and the Caribbean. The official opening of the program at Inostranka took place on July 20 in the Grand Hall. Over several days, visitors met diplomats and embassy representatives, attended lectures, took part in creative workshops, explored literature, and watched films. The program included concerts by performers from Paraguay and Peru, book presentations, and language workshops. This year, the first “Latin American book exchange” was held, where readers could bring their books and swap them for others. Special attention was given to national crafts and traditions. Workshop participants made Mexican masks and Guatemalan kites and learned about the cultural characteristics of different countries. Among the notable events were meetings with Enrique Ignacio Ferrer Vieyra, Ambassador of Argentina to Russia, and Eduardo Villegas Megías, Ambassador of Mexico to Russia, who shared knowledge about the culture and traditions of their countries. The library also hosted the roundtable “Latin Americans in Russia.”
Themed exhibitions complemented the lecture and creative program. In the Book Club, the exhibition “Dominican Republic: First in the New World” presented posters featuring iconic architectural sites and turning points in the country’s history. Ramón Alejandro Arias Sarsuela, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Russia, personally took part in its opening. The Ibero-American Cultural Center presented illustrations for Brazilian fairy tales and legends, while in the Marble Hall visitors saw a project dedicated to the region’s ancient civilizations and their modern descendants.
As part of the festival, the Film Festival of Latin American and Caribbean Films was held. Screenings took place at the Illuzion cinema and in the Engineering Building of the State Tretyakov Gallery. The lineup included 15 feature, documentary, and animated films from 11 countries. Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Ecuador presented their works. Paraguay joined the film festival for the first time. The opening film was the Colombian drama Lactar by director Harold Trompetero. The film had already earned critical recognition: it won awards for Best Film and Best Actress at the Third International Eurasia-Kinofest. The film offers sharp criticism of social stereotypes, reminding viewers of everyone’s right to shape their own destiny. Through the characters’ stories, audiences learned about the region’s modern life, traditions, and social changes. The film festival offered a view of the region through personal stories, current issues, and the perspective of contemporary directors. The screenings drew 3,500 viewers.
This year, the Moscow Zoo joined the festival for the first time. As part of the Festival of Latin American and Caribbean Culture, two photo exhibitions were opened together with the embassies of Colombia and Paraguay. The opening of “Fauna of Paraguay: Symbolic Species. Nature, Culture and Environmental Protection” was attended by the author of the works, Paraguayan photographer Oscar Rivet, and Víctor Hugo Peña Bareiro, Ambassador of the Republic of Paraguay to Russia. The exhibition introduced audiences to Paraguay’s natural and cultural world. The photographs form a single story about the country’s nature, traditions, mythology, and national identity. The second exhibition, “Colombia — Land of Birds,” opened with the participation of Jorge Ignacio Sorro Sánchez, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Colombia, and presented images of birds living in one of the most nature-rich countries on the planet.
Thanks to a special Russian Post campaign, festival guests could not only keep vivid memories of the celebration but also share them with loved ones: postcards sent from the heart of Moscow traveled to different countries, becoming a small message of friendship and cultural exchange. Many visitors happily signed postcards right at the venue — for family, friends, and even themselves, so that later they could once again immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Latin American celebration. The campaign became a touching final note to the festival’s packed program and another bridge between cultures.
The Festival of Latin American and Caribbean Culture in Moscow brought together music, cinema, literature, visual art, gastronomy, and educational formats. Thanks to the participation of diplomatic missions, artists, and cultural organizations, Muscovites and visitors to the capital were able to discover both the region’s traditional heritage and its modern life. Holding events at different venues across the capital expanded the project’s audience and strengthened Moscow’s role as a space for cultural dialogue with the countries of the region.