Nurturing creativity in the Russian far east
Yuzhno-Sahalinsk, Sakhalin, Russia
The Soviets, along with aspects which were not as positive, created a coherent educational system which is still persistent in the remotest parts of Russia. The main idea is based, unlike nowadays in Europe on the choice of the crème de la crème who will be nurtured as from an early age to pursue studies which are their main interests, eventually becoming real experts in their own field, once major studies at a later age have been completed. In return this brings about brilliance for those who manage to complete the whole course. This, especially in the creative arts contributed to create those great artists which are even familiar to us in the West. The system is based on the simple concept of the survival of the fittest; those who are talented enough, even if from remote regions can be able to pursue their studies in the centres; namely Moscow and St. Petersburg. Interestingly enough, ironically going against their philosophy, from this aspect, the Soviets turned out to be more rightists than the rightist Regimes in the West. With the advent of capitalism in the 90’s though, this system is getting underpinned as nowadays a lot of students and their parents are opting to choose a field which eventually will result in a job which is better paid than in the creative arts. Unlike, with the European system though, students who fail in the system will be less adaptable to the ever changing job world, as they have just specialized and focused in one particular field and are to an extent alien to anything outside their particular area. Those who make it though will result in brilliant pursuers of their art. Unfortunately, nowadays this system is at stake and there is even the danger that it will vanish altogether along the years as the urging for maximization from the West, besides the fact that in the creative arts, not unlike the West, job margins in the are getting narrower, besides being unjustly paid.
In the now capitalist swept island of Sakhalin, this system is still present despite the problems which the relatively new system have brought about. Gimnasia no. 3, whose name already reflects the system which brought it about, is the art school on the present capital of the island, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The students attending, all of them talented, already begin to focus and specialize in their particular area despite their early age, relatively at primary level in the Western system. Eventually, those creative and talented enough, after pursuing local exams and competitions can even compete on a national level to enter an art school or conservatory in the centres.
The Soviets, along with aspects which were not as positive, created a coherent educational system which is still persistent in the remotest parts of Russia. The main idea is based, unlike nowadays in Europe on the choice of the crème de la crème who will be nurtured as from an early age to pursue studies which are their main interests, eventually becoming real experts in their own field, once major studies at a later age have been completed. In return this brings about brilliance for those who manage to complete the whole course. This, especially in the creative arts contributed to create those great artists which are even familiar to us in the West. The system is based on the simple concept of the survival of the fittest; those who are talented enough, even if from remote regions can be able to pursue their studies in the centres; namely Moscow and St. Petersburg. Interestingly enough, ironically going against their philosophy, from this aspect, the Soviets turned out to be more rightists than the rightist Regimes in the West. With the advent of capitalism in the 90’s though, this system is getting underpinned as nowadays a lot of students and their parents are opting to choose a field which eventually will result in a job which is better paid than in the creative arts. Unlike, with the European system though, students who fail in the system will be less adaptable to the ever changing job world, as they have just specialized and focused in one particular field and are to an extent alien to anything outside their particular area. Those who make it though will result in brilliant pursuers of their art. Unfortunately, nowadays this system is at stake and there is even the danger that it will vanish altogether along the years as the urging for maximization from the West, besides the fact that in the creative arts, not unlike the West, job margins in the are getting narrower, besides being unjustly paid.
In the now capitalist swept island of Sakhalin, this system is still present despite the problems which the relatively new system have brought about. Gimnasia no. 3, whose name already reflects the system which brought it about, is the art school on the present capital of the island, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The students attending, all of them talented, already begin to focus and specialize in their particular area despite their early age, relatively at primary level in the Western system. Eventually, those creative and talented enough, after pursuing local exams and competitions can even compete on a national level to enter an art school or conservatory in the centres.
