The event is a professional and creative platform for participants and visitors, where industry experts will demonstrate a rich array of folk arts and crafts from all of Russia’s regions. Producers use the platform to present their own products at the market, while the exhibition’s guests can find exclusive handmade gifts from famous brands like Mstera Jewellers, Gusevskoy Crystal Factory named after Maltsov, Imperial Porcelain Factory, Vyatsky Souvenir, Pskov Potter and many others.

Nevskiy Larets opens in the run-up to the holidays on 14 and 23 February and 8 March. More than 100 craft producers, creative associations, artists and tradespeople will take part in the exposition, from various regions of Russia (Arkhangelsk, Ingushetia, Sakha-Yakutia, Buryatia, St. Petersburg) as well as other countries.

The Centre for Business Contacts, a service for suppliers and clients which helps to establish commercial links and find new business partners, will be operating within the exhibition.

Those taking part in the Nevskiy Larets – Look to the Future competition will present their unique and inimitable handmade goods to be judged by visitors. This year, the craftspeople will be united by a common theme – ‘Waiting for Spring’.

This year will see the first Blacksmith Festival by the Guild of Russian Blacksmiths, where visitors will be able to learn about the subtleties of the work of blacksmiths. This is a unique opportunity to try out smithing as a profession and, under the guidance of a specialist, to personally make your own souvenir gift or emboss a coin. Master blacksmiths will present different samples of wrought souvenirs and will forge the emblem of Nevskiy Larets.

The exhibition will be visited by Elena Reznik an producer for the brand LILIES of Alexander Vasilyev. The brand’s primary goal is to promote and support national trade traditions, develop a new, modern history of arts and crafts and boost Russia’s prestige as a country rich with outstanding, talented craftspeople.

Besides this, visitors will be able to watch an extensive entertainment programme, which includes a prize draw, fashion shows, presentations by creative collectives and interactive shows. In the master class zone, the exhibition’s guests will be acquainted with the history and culture of hand-made and artisanal production, and create their own masterpiece with guidance from experts. There will be lessons on smithing, porcelain painting and textile art, making roses out of cold porcelain and prints, working with mosaics and much more.

Nevskiy Larets is not only an authoritative forum for experts in the field, but also an astounding world of traditional folk culture.

Nevskiy Larets will be held in hall E of the Expoforum Convention Centre.

The event’s sponsor is Gazprombank JSC. The organiser is EF-International LLC.