The ethnocultural center in the village of Kalevala (the Republic of Karelia) “Kalevalatalo” celebrated its 15th anniversary

On June 18, Kalevalatalo gathered friends and activists to celebrate the birthday of the ethnocenter. The staff of the institution told about the activities for the preservation of cultural heritage and language. The Karelian language was played at the festival, a theatrical performance was presented, the guests sang, danced folk dances, and were treated to Karelian pastries.

According to the director of the center Nadezhda Vasilyeva, in the last few years the center has been paying much more attention to project activities: “We win grants and subsidies, we implement them within the framework of the ethno-cultural development of the district. This allows us to get new opportunities for preserving the language and implementing ideas.”

One of the main directions of the center’s work throughout its existence is the preservation of museum exhibits and the organization of exhibitions. In addition to the permanent exhibition, specialists organize thematic exhibitions and talk about the people and institutions of the district. Another task is to provide tourist services: conducting excursions and master classes for guests of Kalevala.

In addition, “Kalevalatalo” is a playground for family leisure. Local residents are engaged in language and creative courses at the ethnocenter and actively participate in traditional cultural and educational events. The ethnocenter plans to involve local residents in the implementation of new ideas for the benefit of the village, to teach them how to create projects.

The ethnocultural center “Kalevalatalo” is located in a historic building in the center of the village of Kalevala – the House of Moberg. Also under the management of the ethnocenter are the Rune-singing museum and the museum-printing house.