Starting from 23rd of September, 2013 Administration of Leningrad region hosts an exhibition of works by Estonian and Russian children who participated in the International Children’s Drawing Contest “Narva and Ivangorod: united by border.” The official opening of the exhibition will be held at 02.00 pm on 23rd of September. Address: Smolni 3, St. Petersburg, Russia.

This competition was held in September 2012 in the frame of European Cooperation Day. Initiators of the contest are Narva City Government (Estonia) and Administration of Municipal Formation “City Ivangorod.” The competition was carried out as a part of implementation of the project “Development of a unique ensemble of the Estonian-Russian fortresses as a single tourism product. 2nd stage / EstRusFortTour-2”, co-funded by Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Estonia – Latvia – Russia in the framework of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument for 2007 – 2013.

Narva and Ivangorod are border towns, so one of the objectives of the competition is to promote the development of friendly relations between Russia and Estonia, countries with common borders, interests in the field of culture, environment, and economy.

161 works have been submitted to the contest. This co-creation is characterized not only by authors of different age and technique work: each child’s picture is a sincere and partial story of himself and his peers, of his favourite city. The best works of the children have been already exposed in Narva Museum’s Art Gallery in October 2012. The exhibition have been also shown to the people of Ivangorod. And now 50 works will be represented in St. Petersburg from 23rd till 30th September 2013.

Project has been approved by the Estonia-Latvia-Russia Cross-Border Cooperation Programme within the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument 2007-2013. The total project budget is EUR 1 824 564, 85, out of which 10% is partners’ co-financing. The Estonia-Latvia-Russia Programme co-financing is EUR 1 642 108, 36.

Implementation of the project is planned in the period from December 2011 till March 2014. Project EstRusFortTour-2 is directed at improving an access to unique fortification ensemble of Narva and Ivangorod, and among other things, it includes improvement of access roads infrastructure to the fortresses.

The overarching strategic objective of the Programme is to promote joint development activities for the improvement of the region’s competitiveness by utilising its potential and beneficial location in the cross roads between the EU and Russian Federation. The specific objective is to make the wider border area an attractive place for both its inhabitants and businesses through activities aimed at improving the living standards and investment climate. The Programme’s website: www.estlatrus.eu.

Oksana Poznyak
Info-specialist of the project «EstRusFortTour-2»
+7 813 75 54178

Natalia Orava
Project Manager
+37 235 99 085
natalia.orava@narva.ee