Business Venue

For its fifth anniversary, the Business Venue brought together leading world experts in the field of culture who discussed various important issues of the global creative process from working with images and finding inspiration, to attracting sponsors, producing and organizing international events.

In 2018, the events of the Business Venue consisted of three tracks — "Patronage in Culture", "Culture and Business: a Synergy of Success", and "Innovations and Culture". Discussions focused on the most significant topics, such as opportunities for implementing projects in the field of culture with use of new technologies and services, the protection of intellectual property, preserving heritage and the role of culture in promoting cities, regions and countries.

The activities of the Business Venue resulted in more than 100 events being held and 89 cooperation agreements being signed. Leading specialists in the sphere of culture, public officials, politicians and businesspeople, the heads of international and national organizations, associations and unions, experts and opinion leaders, and mass media representatives took part in the business events. "Territory of Culture", an exhibition of projects by the Ministry of Culture, was open to all visitors throughout the Business Venue working hours.

More than 60 regional and international agreements in the field of culture, including cooperation agreements with ministers of culture and tourism were signed on the sidelines of the Business Venue at the Russian Museum of Ethnography. The Business Venue of the Forum this year brought together some 1,000 business participants; program formats included roundtable discussions, panel discussions, agreement signing ceremonies and specialized sessions.