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Events

The SCRSS organises a regular programme of lectures, film shows, exhibitions, seminars and other events at its premises in London. The Society is also involved in educational and commemorative events associated with the Soviet War Memorial in London. Events are open to both SCRSS members and non-members, unless otherwise stated. The opinions expressed in lectures are those of the individual speakers and not necessarily those of the SCRSS.

Venue and Tickets

Standard ticket prices for talks are £3.00 (SCRSS members) and £5.00 (non-members). All other events or classes are priced as indicated. Our library openings are normally every first Saturday of the month, but please check the calendar below.

2025 Events Diary

January 2025 July 2025
February 2025 August 2025
March 2025 September 2025
April 2025 October 2025
May 2025 November 2025
June 2025 December 2025

January 2025

Please note: there is no Saturday library opening in January 2025.

From Thursday 23 January 2025 for 10 Weeks, 18.00 - 20.00
Zoom Online Evening Class: Russian Language for Good Intermediate Level


Rolling 10-week Zoom evening class, taught by Christine Barnard, former lecturer in Russian at Westminster University, suitable for more advanced-level speakers who would like to practise their conversational skills. The group is small, friendly, informal and strictly non-competitive. Each session includes one hour of free conversation, followed by one hour of reading, with a short break in between. The group reads a variety of short stories or short extracts from longer books, with suggestions welcome. The new book for this 10-week term is 'Vitya Maleyev v shkole i doma'.

There is currently availability for new members to join the class. For more information or to request a free one-evening trial on 9 or 16 January 2025, please email Christine Barnard direct on rtstrans1@gmail.com.

Fee for 10 weeks: £60.00 (discounted rate for SCRSS members: £40.00), payable in advance. Why not become an SCRSS member to join at the special discounted rate?

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February 2025

Saturday 1 February 2025, 11.00 - 16.00
Event: SCRSS Library Opening


Library opening for SCRSS members - other visitors by appointment. Access the library collections and borrow books from the Literature and Quick Loan sections. Tea and coffee available. Buy a copy of the Society's definitive history: An Unpopular Cause: A Centenary History of the Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR 1924-2024 by Jane Rosen (SCRSS, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-3999-7216-1, Paperback, 176pp, 24 colour plates, £15.00). Or order by post.

Saturday 8 February 2025, 15.30 - 16.30
Zoom Online Lecture in Russian: Tatiana Borodina on The Artist Ilya Repin (1844-1930) and the 'Penaty' Museum-Estate / Khudozhnik Il'ya Repin (1844-1930) i Muzey-usad'ba "Penaty"


Talk in Russian for SCRSS members and affiliates only - live from St Petersburg.

Ilya Repin (1844-1930) was an artist whose work is famous worldwide and includes paintings such as Barge Haulers on the Volga, Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan and Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks. Repin spent the last 30 years of his life at his estate 'Penaty' in the village of Repino (formerly Kuokkola) on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, and wished to be buried there. The museum-estate was opened in 1940 and the house retains the original appearance of Repin's studio, dining room, study and veranda, reflecting the owner's tastes and habits. In her illustrated talk, Tatiana Borodina will discuss Repin's life and work at 'Penaty', the museum and its history. Her presentation will include historical photographs, reproductions of Repin's works, and contemporary photographs of the museum exhibition and the surrounding park.

Full details in English and Russian available on Eventbrite.

Booking: via Eventbrite (booking closes on 6 February 2025 at 20.00). Free of charge (SCRSS members only). Shortly after the event, a link to the online recording of this talk will be sent to all those who book (available for up to 30 days). So do book if interested, even if you cannot attend live.

Tatiana Borodina is an art historian, Honoured Cultural Worker of the Russian Federation, and works at Ilya Repin's Museum-Estate 'Penaty', near St Petersburg.

Please note: This talk is organised by the SCRSS in partnership with the St Petersburg Association for International Co-operation, a non-governmental organisation. The speaker is a member of the St Petersburg Association and appears in a personal capacity.

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March 2025

Saturday 1 March 2025, 11.00 - 16.00
Event: SCRSS Library Opening


Library opening for SCRSS members - other visitors by appointment. Access the library collections and borrow books from the Literature and Quick Loan sections. Tea and coffee available. Buy a copy of the Society's definitive history: An Unpopular Cause: A Centenary History of the Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR 1924-2024 by Jane Rosen (SCRSS, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-3999-7216-1, Paperback, 176pp, 24 colour plates, £15.00). Or order by post.

Wednesday 12 March 2025, 19.00 - 20.00
Zoom Online Lecture: Zhanna Andrianova on Shamanism and Paganism in Russia


Ancient beliefs continue to play an important role in Russia connecting humans and nature in the 21st century. From the religion of Mari El and Slavic witchcraft to shamanism in Siberia, the spiritual traditions of Russia live through healers, shamans and storytellers, commonly known as 'the wise people'. Musical instruments like khomus, gusli, topshur and the shamanic drum are used for healing and communicating the tales of the ancestors. Mysticism and old rituals co-exist with advancements in modern science, computer technologies and spaceflight. This knowledge from the ancient times is present and passed down from generation to generation of practitioners both in the cities and the villages.

Booking: via Eventbrite. Normal fees apply. Booking closes on 11 March 2025 at 17.00. Shortly after the event, a link to the online recording of this talk will be sent to all those who book (available for up to 30 days). So do book if interested, even if you cannot attend live.

Zhanna Sebast'yanovna Andrianova, known professionally as Jahna Sebastian, is a music composer, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and philosopher, born in Moscow. She attended the Bolshoi Theatre kindergarten, played domra in the Loktev Ensemble of Russian folk music for eight years from the age of seven, and graduated from the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music in 2006. With her cultural background in traditional, classical and modern music, she launched her studio Multivizion Music in London in 2007 and Alchemist TV covering spirituality, music, art and modern society.

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April 2025

Saturday 5 April 2025, 11.00 - 16.00
Event: SCRSS Library Opening


Library opening for SCRSS members - other visitors by appointment. Access the library collections and borrow books from the Literature and Quick Loan sections. Tea and coffee available. Buy a copy of the Society's definitive history: An Unpopular Cause: A Centenary History of the Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR 1924-2024 by Jane Rosen (SCRSS, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-3999-7216-1, Paperback, 176pp, 24 colour plates, £15.00). Or order by post.

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May 2025

Saturday 3 May 2025, 11.00 - 16.00
Event: SCRSS Library Opening


Library opening for SCRSS members - other visitors by appointment. Access the library collections and borrow books from the Literature and Quick Loan sections. Tea and coffee available. Buy a copy of the Society's definitive history: An Unpopular Cause: A Centenary History of the Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR 1924-2024 by Jane Rosen (SCRSS, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-3999-7216-1, Paperback, 176pp, 24 colour plates, £15.00). Or order by post.

Saturday 17 May 2025, 11.00 - 13.00
In-person Event: SCRSS Annual General Meeting


Held at the SCRSS office. SCRSS members only.

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June 2025

Saturday 7 June 2025, 11.00 - 16.00
Event: SCRSS Library Opening


Library opening for SCRSS members - other visitors by appointment. Access the library collections and borrow books from the Literature and Quick Loan sections. Tea and coffee available. Buy a copy of the Society's definitive history: An Unpopular Cause: A Centenary History of the Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR 1924-2024 by Jane Rosen (SCRSS, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-3999-7216-1, Paperback, 176pp, 24 colour plates, £15.00). Or order by post.

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July 2025

Saturday 5 July 2025, 11.00 - 16.00
Event: SCRSS Library Opening


Library opening for SCRSS members - other visitors by appointment. Access the library collections and borrow books from the Literature and Quick Loan sections. Tea and coffee available. Buy a copy of the Society's definitive history: An Unpopular Cause: A Centenary History of the Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR 1924-2024 by Jane Rosen (SCRSS, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-3999-7216-1, Paperback, 176pp, 24 colour plates, £15.00). Or order by post.

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August 2025

Saturday 2 August 2025, 11.00 - 16.00
Event: SCRSS Library Opening


Library opening for SCRSS members - other visitors by appointment. Access the library collections and borrow books from the Literature and Quick Loan sections. Tea and coffee available. Buy a copy of the Society's definitive history: An Unpopular Cause: A Centenary History of the Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR 1924-2024 by Jane Rosen (SCRSS, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-3999-7216-1, Paperback, 176pp, 24 colour plates, £15.00). Or order by post.

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September 2025

Saturday 6 September 2025, 11.00 - 16.00
Event: SCRSS Library Opening


Library opening for SCRSS members - other visitors by appointment. Access the library collections and borrow books from the Literature and Quick Loan sections. Tea and coffee available. Buy a copy of the Society's definitive history: An Unpopular Cause: A Centenary History of the Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR 1924-2024 by Jane Rosen (SCRSS, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-3999-7216-1, Paperback, 176pp, 24 colour plates, £15.00). Or order by post.

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October 2025

Saturday 4 October 2025, 11.00 - 16.00
Event: SCRSS Library Opening


Library opening for SCRSS members - other visitors by appointment. Access the library collections and borrow books from the Literature and Quick Loan sections. Tea and coffee available. Buy a copy of the Society's definitive history: An Unpopular Cause: A Centenary History of the Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR 1924-2024 by Jane Rosen (SCRSS, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-3999-7216-1, Paperback, 176pp, 24 colour plates, £15.00). Or order by post.

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November 2025

Saturday 1 November 2025, 11.00 - 13.30
Event: SCRSS Library Opening and Centenary Exhibition


Library opening for SCRSS members - other visitors by appointment. Access the library collections and borrow books from the Literature and Quick Loan sections. Tea and coffee available. Buy a copy of the Society's definitive history: An Unpopular Cause: A Centenary History of the Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR 1924-2024 by Jane Rosen (SCRSS, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-3999-7216-1, Paperback, 176pp, 24 colour plates, £15.00). Or order by post.

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December 2025

Saturday 6 December 2025, 11.00 - 13.30
Event: SCRSS Library Opening and Centenary Exhibition


Library opening for SCRSS members - other visitors by appointment. Access the library collections and borrow books from the Literature and Quick Loan sections. Tea and coffee available. Buy a copy of the Society's definitive history: An Unpopular Cause: A Centenary History of the Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR 1924-2024 by Jane Rosen (SCRSS, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-3999-7216-1, Paperback, 176pp, 24 colour plates, £15.00). Or order by post.

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Soviet War Memorial

 

SCRSS exhibition poster - Soviet Modernist Art and Design 1917 - 1991(copyright SCRSS)
© SCRSS