The 10th Annual Russian Heritage Festival continues its commitment to showcasing the achievements of NY’s Russian-speaking community, as well as educating all of New York’s  communities about Russian culture and heritage.  Over 20 diverse events will take place during the month of June and showcase hundreds of professional and community based artists, performers, and cultural ambassadors. RAF’s ongoing collaboration with Russia’s Ministry of Culture, Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture, St. Petersburg Museum of Ethnography, and NYC’s YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, will enable NY audiences to experience culturally significant and rich exhibits such as: A New Dream, American Artists Gift to the Autonomous Region in the Soviet Union, The Jews of Tsarist Russia, Masterpieces from Cherkassy Art Museum, and many others.  And of course, the annual Together in New York Community Festival will showcase hundreds of NY’s community youth performers and groups in their celebration of their heritage and culture. The heritage festival will take place June 1st through the 26th. For more information, please visit our Russian Heritage Festival page.

Do not miss your chance to see the magnificent Ukranian Avant-Garde Art: The Odessan Parisians Exhibit, starting its world tour in New York this week! The exhibit comprises paintings from the distinguished collection of Boris Fuchsmann, Andrey Adamovski and Alexander Suslenski. It was believed that many paintings were lost during the years of Russian Revolution and the Civil War, until they were recently discovered.  The paintings on view were all completed in the early 20th century by the leading members of the ‘Society of Independent Artists,’ or ‘Odessan Parisians,’ including Amshei Nurenberg, Micail Gershenfeld, Isaac Malik, Theophil Fraerman, Sigismund Olesevich and Israel Mexin. Their very name-the ‘Independents’-suggests their independence from traditional artistic movements. Indeed, parallels have been drawn between them and the French ‘Société des Indépendants.” The Independents were dubbed “Odessan Parisians” by one critic, referring to the artistic inspiration they drew from Matisse, Gauguin, Cézanne and Van Gogh. The exhibit is co-curated by Marina Kovalyov, President of RAF and member of the National Arts Club, and Sonya Bekkerman, Senior VP, Russian Paintings at Sotheby’s New York. ONGOING: January 31 – February 11, 2012, 10AM-5PM at the National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY 10003. Tel: (212) 475-3424).

Russian American Foundation and the renowned Bolshoi Ballet Academy are offering U.S. students the ability to compete for a place at the iconic Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, as part of the Summer Intensive 2012.  Of those selected 15 high-school students will be offered a life-changing opportunity to spend 6 weeks during summer of 2012 in Moscow on a full scholarship, as part of the NSLI-Y program funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Additionally, one male and one female dancer, ages 9-22, will also be selected at the end of the program and will be offered a training and a performing scholarship in Moscow by the Russian American Foundation.  Students in 16 cities audition to train with Master Teachers from Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet Academy, one of the oldest and the most respected ballet institution in the world.  “We are offering top American ballet students the opportunity to train with Academy’s master teachers,” says Rina Kirshner, vice president of the Russian American Foundation. “Those teachers have trained some of ballet’s most famous stars such as Natalia Osipova, Polina Semionova, Alexei Ratmansky, Maria Kochetkova, Nikolai Tsiskaridze and many others.”  In 2011, ABT’s principal dancer David Hallberg made international headlines and ballet history by becoming the first American dancer to enlist permanently with the Bolshoi Ballet.  In his youth, David Hallberg trained at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Youth program in U.S. To register and to see the auditions dates click here.

Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the U.S., General Consulate of Kazakhstan in New York, and the Russian American Foundation proudly present Classical Music Concert by Kazakh National Orchestra under baton of Maestro Bisengaliev, in celebration of Kazakhstan’s National Day and its 20th Anniversary of Independence.

An exclusive event at Sotheby’s with attendance of Russian American Foundation sponsors, VIPs, international dignitaries and community leaders. Sotheby’s New York, 1334 York Ave, New York, NY 10021. By invitation only

The Bukharian community of Queens celebrates its heritage and talents. Best health care centers, fair, gifts and much more.Bukharian Jewish Community Center, 106-16 70 Ave, Forest Hills, Queens. Admission is FREE

A private reception for international dignitaries, community leaders, public officials, sponsors of the Russian American Foundation and celebrities with delicious samples of Russian cuisine, drinks and non-stop entertainment. 301 E 57th Street, New York, NY 10022. By invitation only

This group exhibit will showcase the diversity and excellence of contemporary Jewish artists of Russian decent. The exhibit will offer an occasion for viewers to meditate on connections between contemporary art and Jewish identity. The participants of the show are well established, award winning artists and sculptors, whose work has been on display in galleries and museums in the U.S. and around the world. Among them Vasily Kafanov (USA), Alexander Okun (Israel), Adomas Jacovskis (Lithuania), Matvey Basov (Belarus) and others. The Harriman Institute, Columbia University, 420 W 118th St #12, New York, NY 10027. Admission is FREE

Private reception for players, friends and supporters. Tough competitors will celebrate together at the beautiful setting, regardless of match outcome! Aviator Sports & Events Center, Floyd Bennett Field, 3159 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn. By invitation only

Charitable friendly hockey matches between New York team “FDNY Firefighters”, Russia’s team “EMERCOM Firefighters” and team “Legends of the USSR”. Games will feature many icons of hockey, such as: Gymajev, brothers Golikov, Kasatonov, Lutchenko, Lyapkin, Makarov, Shtalenkov, and Yakushev. The spectators will come to see the legends and support teams with all their heart! PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT FDNY WIDOW’S AND CHILDREN’S FUND in honor of 9/11 – 10th Anniversary. Aviator Sports & Events Center, 3159 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11234. Tickets are available for purchase in the box office.