Ambassador Jon Huntsman Remarks at Media Roundtable Vladivostok April 24, 2018 Ambassador Huntsman: I am delighted to be in Vladivostok in the Russian Far East. It is my first visit to Vladivostok. I have lived south of here in China, and I’ve lived in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, so I’m familiar with the broader East …
Read More»
Arts Envoy “REVolutions Dance”, a disability inclusive modern dance group composed of one wheelchair-bound dancer and three non-disabled dancers, visited the Russian Far East from July 15th to 25th, promoting respect for diversity and appreciation of modern dance. REVolutions Dance’s program opened in Vladivostok and Khabarovsk with public flash mobs at main squares under the …
Read More»
May 10-17 the U.S. Consulate General Vladivostok carried out a multi-event, multi-city music program in the Russian Far East with Portland based folk-rock trio Three for Silver. This music diplomacy program included master-classes and concerts in Artem, Ussuriysk, the settlement of Chuguevka (the first concert of American band in the history of this village), Vladivostok, …
Read More»
On May 12, U.S. Consul General Michael Keays participated in the XIII Primorskiy Kray Scientific-Practical Conference, and joined international participants who celebrated “Rhododendron Day” for young learners aged 7-16. The effort brought together over 300 participants from Vladivostok and rural communities across Primorskiy Kray, as well as high-school students from the United States and Japan. …
Read More»
On May 2, the U.S. Consulate General and Primorskiy Kray Arseniev Museum opened the exhibit “Connecting Shores: Cultural Mission of the Third Wave of Russian Emigration.” The event highlighted the contributions of the so-called “third wave of Russian emigration” – a process which started in the 1960s and ended with the beginning of perestroika – …
Read More»
When Burn the Ballroom, a rock-band from North Virginia was performing a public diplomacy tour around the Russian Far East in August 2016, drummer (and high school football coach) Jack Ivins was thrilled to discover that young people in this territory share his passion for American football. So on March 19 – April 5 Jack …
Read More»
On March 15-17, Consul General Michael Keays participated in the annual English Language Olympiad for young learners, ages 13-18, in the city of Artyom near Vladivostok. More than 700 participants from around Primorskiy Krai took part in this 3-day language and cultural event. The Consul General greeted students, parents, and educators with welcoming and served …
Read More»
On February 25, 2017 Consul General Michael Keays lead a small but merry team of U.S. Consulate General colleagues in the International “Vladivostok Ice Run 2017” — a run over the Sea of Japan covered with ice. Consul General Michael Keays and the team ran the 5 and 10 kilometers portion of this ice race. One …
Read More»
From February 27 through March 3, 2017, Consul General Michael Keays visited the cities of Magadan, Anadyr and Khabarovsk. During these visits, he met with regional and local officials; fellow Russian, Japanese and Chinese diplomats, and local residents who showed him how proud they were about their cities and the role they have played in …
Read More»
Chris Beaver, an Emmy Award-winning film director from California, conducted an extensive three-day Speaker Program in Vladivostok promoting San Francisco’s “zero waste” initiative and educating Vladivostok enthusiasts on basic film-making techniques. On February 9, Mr. Beaver presented his documentary, “Racing to Zero: In Pursuit of Zero Waste,” to 100 spectators at the Ocean IMAX movie …
Read More»
Thanks to Houston’s location 16 time zones away from the Russian Far East, the Consulate in Vladivostok was able to broadcast the Super Bowl on Monday morning in a spectacular Public Diplomacy event promoting sports, a healthy life style, mutual understanding, and inter-generational dialogue. The core groups of participants were university-aged football players and school-aged …
Read More»
On January 29, 2017 Vladivostok U.S. Consul General Michael Keays hosted a reception for more than 40 guests in his residence. The event was held in honor of admissions officers visiting from four U.S. universities to participate in an education fair sponsored by EducationUSA and was attended by prominent academics from several local universities and …
Read More»
U.S. Consul General Michael Keays visited Ussuriysk for the first time on January 27, 2017 to meet with retired Colonel Vladimir Kaplyuk, President of the “Soldier” Fund, a charity and organization that looks out for the welfare and well-being of veterans of local and international military conflicts. Mr. Kaplyuk gave the Consul General a tour …
Read More»
On November 24, Novaya Gazeta vo Vladivostoke published an Op-Ed by Vladivostok CG Michael Keays honoring the 100th anniversary of the death of Jack London, one of the most celebrated American writers in Russia. Michael Keays told the paper audience about his personal experience of reading London’s prose and explained why Americans still consider him an “outstanding writer and an example …
Read More»
On Thanksgiving Eve, Vladivostok CG Michael Keays participated in a popular cooking show “Weekend Recipe” ran by principal regional online news agency Primamedia. The kitchen in the CG residence was remodeled into a photo studio: Primamedia correspondents filmed a detailed report on the “secrets of pumpkin pie recipe” . While mixing, stirring, kneading and baking Michael Keays was also telling journalists about the origin …
Read More»
On November 14-18, Consul General Michael Keays, Public Affairs Officer Erik Pugner, English Language Officer Jerry Frank and English Language Fellow William Smith launched International Education Week for over 600 high-school students and teachers in Vladivostok, Artem and Nakhodka by conducting a series of presentations that covered such topics as US education system, presentational skills …
Read More» On October 6 Consul General Michael Keays visited Art School for Children # 3, which has partnered with the Consulate on many occasions. Many U.S. musicians and dancers have conducted master-classes for children and teachers at the school, sharing their experience and providing invaluable inspiration to future musicians and dancers. CG Keays met with Principal and …
Read More»
On October 13, Consul General Michael Keays and his spouse Andrea attended the annual International Day event organized by the International Linguistic School, Vladivostok State University of Economics and Services. This year’s theme was “The History of Cinema.” Teams of high school students gave impressive presentations on international film, and then children invited guests to …
Read More»
On October 7, U.S. Consulate General Vladivostok supported a spectacular international movie and photo exhibit entitled, “Freeze Frame! Look How Beautiful it is!” demonstrating “ the beauty, spirit, and similarities” between Vladivostok and San Francisco. The Consulate partnered with Vladivostok State University of Economics and Services (VSUES) and the local video studio “Seven” to organize …
Read More»
August 17 – September 5, the U.S. Consulate General Vladivostok carried out a multi-event, multi-city music program reaching over 10,000 music fans in Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, and Irkutsk, including headlining the largest rock music festival in the Russian Far East, V-ROX. American group “Burn the Ballroom” built on their growing Russia fame by continuing the tour, …
Read More»
On September 5th the U.S. Consulate General, along with its partners from the Vladivostok media and cultural community, hosted a public presentation of the unique photo album “Sergey Dovlatov in Nina Alovert’s photographs and memoirs.” The book, timed for the 75th anniversary of the late, popular Russian-American writer’s birth, represents another tangible bridge between Russian …
Read More»
On August 5th, the Arseniev State Museum and U.S. Consulate General jointly hosted a public presentation of the 15-minute documentary “Letters of Happiness,” dedicated to celebrated American chronicler Eleanor L. Prey. The film presents the story of Eleanor L. Prey, whose thousands of letters home from Vladivostok from 1894 -1930 captured the daily life and great historical events …
Read More»
June 5-20, U.S. Consulate General Vladivostok, along with the Primorskiy Kray, Vladivostok, and Khabarovsk baseball federations and partners in municipal administrations, carried out an extensive sports diplomacy project reaching over 800 children in Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, and Khorol. Nick Cappuccilli, a coach at the California-based baseball organization Lifeletics as well high school coach and teacher, led …
Read More»
May 24 – June 6, Portland, Oregon-based folk musician trio “Three for Silver” carried out a robust music diplomacy program in three capital cities of the Russian Far East. This project was made possible when the Khabarovsk-Portland Sister City Association invited the trio to perform at the Khabarovsk City Day. U.S. Consulate General Vladivostok expanded …
Read More» On March 12, Information Resource Center Vladivostok held its monthly book club meeting, led by PAO Erik Pugner. Book club discussions foster a nuanced understanding of life in the United States and American culture and culture, as well as give participants an opportunity to exercise their English Language skills. At this month’s meeting, book club …
Read More» On March 10, Russian-American photographer Nina Alovert’s exhibit “The Gorgeous Features of My Dear Friends” opened at the Museum of Modern Arts in Birobidzhan, capital of the Jewish Autonomous Region. Alovert, a celebrated octogenarian photographer and ballet critic, who was born in the Soviet Union and immigrated to the United States in 1977, had premiered …
Read More»
On March 4-9, a delegation of cultural representatives from the Navajo Nation participated in a cultural exchange visit in Yakutsk and took part in Yakutsk’s first “ethnic nomadic fashion show” entitled “Solar Deer.” The five member delegation represented various professions and backgrounds including an elementary school teacher and former Miss Navajo, a trick horseback riding …
Read More» On March 4, in honor of Women’s History Month, Information Resource Center Vladivostok held a screening of “Norma Rae,” the late 70s Sally Field film about a factory worker from small town North Carolina who becomes involved in the labor union at the textile factory where she works. The screening was followed by a discussion …
Read More»
On February 13-21, American hip-hop/soul fusion band Soul Inscribed visited Vladivostok and Khabarovsk as a part of the American Music Abroad program. In Vladivostok, the group wowed kids with a showcase and master class for 50 students of Art School #3, with youngsters jamming with the band and, along with their teachers and parents, learning …
Read More» On February 5, in part in recognition of Black History Month, Information Resource Center Vladivostok held a screening of “The Help,” a glimpse into 1960s South and a story of a white woman capturing the stories of the African American domestic help from the maids’ perspective and publishing them in a book. The screening was …
Read More»
On January 29, Nina Alovert’s exhibit, titled “The Gorgeous Features of My Dear Friends,” opened at the Far Eastern Museum of Arts in Khabarovsk. Nina Alovert, an internationally celebrated photographer and ballet critic, who was born in the Soviet Union and immigrated to the United States in 1977, had earlier opened her exhibit in Vladivostok, …
Read More» On January 23, Information Resource Center Vladivostok held its monthly book club meeting, led by PAO Erik Pugner. Book club discussions are planned to foster understanding and awareness of life in the United States and American culture, as well as to give participants an opportunity to exercise their English Language skills. At this month’s meeting …
Read More» On January 15, Information Resource Center Vladivostok held a screening of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” a captivating romantic comedy considered to be a classic of the genre. The screening was followed by a discussion led by Public Affairs Officer Erik Pugner during which participants discussed the plot, the main characters, the actors, the movie’s controversies, the …
Read More»
In November 2015, Nina Alovert, celebrated octogenarian photographer and ballet critic, who was born in the Soviet Union and immigrated to the United States in 1977, presented Vladivostok with her photo exhibit called “The Gorgeous features of My Dear Friends,” opened at ARKA art gallery. On November 6, Nina gave a presentation at the Far …
Read More» On November 18th, Paul Lazarus, acclaimed film and TV director, well-known for his directorial work on such popular shows as Friends, Pretty Little Liars, and Beverly Hills 90210, presented his most recent documentary film “Slingshot” at the OKEAN movie theater in Vladivostok as a part of the Show US documentary film program. More than 100 …
Read More»
On November 10-16 the Primorskiy Philharmonic hosted the XII International Jazz Festival with the support of U.S. Consulate General Vladivostok. For 6 days, musicians from the United States, Japan, France, Korea, Germany, and Russia wowed audiences on the Philharmonic’s main stage. American masters performed in three concerts as the Staple Quartet, the Freedom Jazz Movement …
Read More»
During her November 9-11 visit to Vladivostok, Information Resource Officer (IRO) Magia Crause from U.S. Embassy Moscow visited the newly renovated Vladivostok city library #12 and gave a professional development presentation for city library staff. She talked about current trends in U.S. libraries, including the role of social media, comic book collections, “makerspaces,” etc. The …
Read More» On October 30, Information Resource Center Vladivostok held a screening of the darkly comic cult drama “Fight Club.” The screening was followed by a discussion led by Public Affairs Officer Erik Pugner during which participants discussed the social construct of identity, effects of social isolation, emasculation and the patriarchy, and a consumerist culture. This event …
Read More» On October 3, Information Resource Center Vladivostok held its first book club meeting, led by PAO Erik Pugner. Book club discussions are planned to foster understanding and awareness of life in the United States and American culture, as well as to give participants an opportunity to exercise their English Language skills. IRC Vladivostok selected and …
Read More» On October 2, Information Resource Center Vladivostok held a screening of the movie “The Bridges of Madison County,” which tells the story of two people who find a promise of perfect personal happiness, and understand, with sadness and acceptance, that the most important things in life are not always about making yourself happy. The screening …
Read More»
On September 26 Lokomotiv stadium in Khabarovsk hosted an historical event – the final of the first ever Far Eastern American Football Championship. In a series of games promoting this uniquely American sport, Russian-American partnerships and a healthy lifestyle were on display. The games were organized by the Khabarovsk American Football Federation and sponsored by …
Read More» On September 4th, Information Resource Center Vladivostok held a screening of the movie “Stand by Me,” a 1986 American coming of age drama adventure film. The movie depicts the painful process of maturation that has plagued both teens and preteens for ages. The screening was followed by a discussion, led by Public Affairs Officer Erik …
Read More»
From August 27 to 31, American singer-songwriter and rocker Hanni El Khatib and his band headlined the annual V-ROX music festival in Vladivostok. One of Russia’s top music festivals, V-ROX gathered 300 musicians from all over the world on multiple stages and attracted thousands of spectators from Vladivostok and the Russian Far East. Hanni’s headlining …
Read More» On August 25th, Consul General Erik Holm-Olsen took part in the opening of a 2-day conference on the topic of the end of the World War II that was organized in Vladivostok by the Institute of history, archeology and ethnography of the Far Eastern branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. American, Japanese and Chinese …
Read More» On August 7, Information Resource Center Vladivostok held a screening of the movie “Sleepless in Seattle,” considered by many an ideal romantic comedy. The screening was followed by a discussion led by Public Affairs Officer Erik Pugner during which participants discussed romantic comedy tropes and compared them to the ones used in this particular movie, …
Read More»
Nick Cappuccilli, a baseball coach from California, spent ten days in Primorskiy Kray conducting clinics for junior baseball teams and performing outreach events promoting the sport along with a healthy life style. Consulate General Vladivostok worked with the Baseball Federations of Primorskiy Kray and Vladivostok as well as municipal administrations and regional youth organizations to …
Read More» On July 2, Information Resource Center Vladivostok held a screening of the movie “American Graffiti,” a 1973 American coming of age comedy-drama film directed and co-written by a pre-Star Wars George Lucas. The screening was bookended by discussions led by Public Affairs Officer Erik Pugner, covering Lucas’ nostalgia for the early 60s following the societal …
Read More»
June 26–28, Linda Davis and Kansas Begaye, cultural representatives of the Navajo nation, visited Yakutsk to take part in Ysiakh Tuymaada, the traditional Yakut solstice festival. 150,000 visitors from all over the Republic of Yakutia gathered on the sacred grounds of Us Khatin to celebrate the rebirth of nature. The celebration included horse races, traditional …
Read More» June 5-25, American photographer Anna Reich took part in an art residency program at the ZARYA Contemporary Art Center, Vladivostok, supported in a partnership with the U.S. Consulate General Vladivostok. During her three weeks at ZARYA, Anna worked on a project dedicated to the role that colonialism plays in the identity and culture of the …
Read More» On June 23rd, PAO Erik Pugner visited the Vladivostok School for Gifted Children, speaking with 20 children from throughout the region attending a summer English camp. He discussed higher education in the United States, shared details on his own education and work, and answered their numerous curious questions.
Read More» On June 5, Information Resource Center Vladivostok held a screening of the movie “A Beautiful Mind”, a 2001 American biographical drama film loosely based on the life of John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics, who died in a car accident in May 2015. The screening was followed by a discussion led by Consul General …
Read More» On May 14, the U.S. Consulate General and Vladivostok Youth Lecture Series Luch-5 held a Skype presentation with multi-award winning U.S. documentary producer Jon Alpert. The event attracted over 20 young people searching for professional guidance on modern documentary filmmaking. Alpert’s tales of creating films covering important social issues, plus his practical filmmaking tips, were …
Read More» On May 6 Rock Brynner, historian and son of Vladivostok-born Hollywood actor Yul Brynner, gave a presentation highlighting the impact of rock-n-roll on social and intercultural communication amongst different races and nations. The event, jointly organized by U.S. Consulate and the Vladivostok University of Economics and Services , attracted considerable attention. The 25-30 person hall …
Read More» On April 29, Information Resource Center Vladivostok held a screening of the movie “The Breakfast Club” that encapsulates adolescence in the ’80s in the most iconic detention session of all time. Five high school students, all different stereotypes (a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess or a criminal), meet in detention, where they …
Read More» On April 3, IRC Vladivostok held a screening of the movie “Amistad” that illustrates the horrors of the slave trade, using the historical Amistad slave rebellion to examine the divisive nature of the slavery issue in the United States in the early 19th century. The film examines the tolerance of slavery by many Northerners as …
Read More»
On March 22-28, Jerry Chae (Clarinet – USA) and Andrey Vinichenko (Piano – Russia) performed a classical concert tour throughout the Russian Far East. An enthusiastic Russian public warmly welcomed the musicians in Khabarovsk, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and Vladivostok, the latter of which hosted the duo as part of the Philharmonic’s classic music festival “Far Eastern Spring.” …
Read More»
March 28 to April 1, American conductor and pianist Peter Freisinger rehearsed and performed with the Pacific Symphonic Orchestra in Vladivostok as part of the Primorskiy Philharmonic’s annual classic music festival “Far Eastern Spring.” Enthusiastic, broad media coverage of the festival described his concert as a “highlight” of the program, and Freisinger’s efforts were covered …
Read More» On March 23, Dr. Gordon Bronitsky presented on ethnic media and ethnic journalism at the North-Eastern Federal University Department of Journalism in Yakutsk, sharing for three hours his experience of working with the indigenous peoples of North America. During the lecture, students asked questions related to ethnic media of Native Americans and the history of …
Read More»
On March 11-13, PAO Erik Pugner and the U.S. Consul General’s spouse Ann Waugh participated in the annual English Language Olympiad in Artyom, where more than 600 secondary school students from the Primorye region competed in events testing their knowledge of the English language and American history and literature. Erik Pugner made welcoming remarks to …
Read More» On March 6, IRC Vladivostok held a screening of the movie “Thelma & Louise” (1991), a now- classic outlaw road movie that deals with female oppression at the hands of men and the women protagonists’ struggle — at great cost — for respect, independence, and free will. The screening was followed by a discussion led …
Read More»
On March 4-6, Deputy Chief of Mission Lynne Tracy made her first visit to the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). She was accompanied by Erik Holm-Olsen, U.S. Consul General in Vladivostok. In addition to meeting with officials from the Ministry of Federal Relations and External Affairs of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Ms. Tracy visited and met …
Read More» Vladivostok Consul General Erik Holm-Olsen made his first visit to Kamchatka, February 26 to March 2. In addition to courtesy calls with local officials, he met with members of two Rotary Clubs, the director of World Wildlife Fund’s Kamchatka office, and visited the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Over the weekend, the Consul General attended …
Read More»
On February 19-20, Stephanie Norby, Director of the Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access, visited Vladivostok and gave 5 presentations for high school students, teachers, museum personnel, and general public. She talked about the history of the Smithsonian Institution, its structure and online educational resources for students and teachers. Workshop attendees participated in hands-on …
Read More» On February 6, IRC Vladivostok held a screening of the movie “Blade Runner”; a haunting mixture of science fiction and film noir. The film raises intriguing questions such as “what is life,” “what does it mean to be human,” and if our ever-increasing dependency on technology is necessarily a good thing. The screening was followed …
Read More» On February 2, eighteen players of the Wild Pandas, Vladivostok’s American football team, led by U.S. coach and NCAA star Bobby Rome, came to the Consulate for a live Super Bowl party. The event was indeed a spectacular one: participants had a chance to enjoy the 9:30 AM local time kick off of the premier …
Read More»Footer Disclaimer
