From November 5 to 7, Irkutsk held Informal Holidays, three days of free events for children and adults in libraries, theaters and other city venues. 68 events drew about 1500 people.

From November 5 to 7, 2014, various engaging activities were held in Irkutsk as part of the “Informal Holidays” project. In each administrative district, on the premises of libraries of the centralized library system and at other venues, excursions, handicraft workshops, making crafts from various natural materials, drawing, acting, scarf tying, and braid weaving were organized. During the holidays, those interested were able to attend seminars, literary and educational sessions, intellectual and environmental games, and more. Schoolchildren, students, and their parents, grandmothers, and grandfathers took part in the activities.
“Informal Holidays” are held as part of the Irkutsk city administration’s “Irkutsk – a Learning City” project, aimed at popularizing educational activities among Irkutsk residents, identifying and attracting new educational resources, and engaging Irkutsk residents in new forms of education and improving their quality of life.
In total, 68 events were held over the three days, attended by about 1,500 people. Partners included Irkutsk libraries, Houses of Creativity, children’s centers, youth creative groups, pensioners’ associations, municipal educational institutions, commercial organizations, and volunteers.
The city exhibition of children’s creativity, “The World We Live In,” dedicated to the Year of Culture in Russia, attracted the largest number of visitors. More than 300 people visited it. Many people attended events organized by employees of the Centralized Library System of the City of Irkutsk and the Humanitarian Center – the Family Polevoy Library. As in the previous year, the excursion “Backstage Secrets,” held at the Irkutsk Academic Drama Theater named after N.P. Okhlopkov, aroused great interest among city residents. Admission to all events was free.
“We thank our regular partners and those who joined us this year for their cooperation. Thanks to them, we are able to implement projects aimed at improving the quality of life of Irkutsk residents,” said Olga Kurilenkova, head of the public relations department of the Irkutsk city administration.
Based on materials from the press service of the Irkutsk city administration.