Creative Spaces In Moscow
I got thinking following on from my post about Moscow street art. Where in Moscow can somebody go to get the creative juices flowing? Artists, writers, architects and anybody looking to created need a haven, a home away from home, in order to inspire and bring out the best in their ideas. Truthfully, trying to cram in all places to inspire innovation is challenging as there’s an almost endless amount of places to see here in Moscow. Sometimes you can walk down a street and you notice a historic monument or you can even look up at the architecture around you, and the nuances between each building can really add to the creative thought process. It’s why I say that in this context it’s as if there is an almost endless amount of detail to observe and to inspire you. Perhaps it’s best to just find a place to sit, observe and watch the world go by. So let me mention a few of the creative spaces in Moscow for you to consider.
Flacon
Design factory Flacon is the go to place for people with an interest in modern creative spaces. Known for its multifaceted approach, you can expect to find modern forms of art, education and activities for you to partake in. Flacon brings together communities of people with an emphasis on creativity and design. Founded in 2009, Flacon is built on the site of an old glass factory and is widely recognised as a pioneer of industrial property rejuvenation amongst Moscow’s historical buildings. Today it’s seen as a powerful platform for self-expression and the development of projects. Flacons’ motto is “create whatever you want” and it’s not hard to see why.
Muzeon Park of Arts
Next up is Muzeon Park of Arts. It’s seen as the final resting place for many Soviet statues ousted from Russia’s parks and squares following the end of the Soviet era. The park has been gathering monuments since its inception in 1992. Today it holds more than 700 pieces and includes work from notable sculptors Vera Mukhina, Ivan Shadr, Yevgeny Vuchetich, and Yevgeny Chubarov, to name just a few. Some notable highlights include an imposing sculpture of the Soviet world and monuments to the Red Army. There’s an embankment for you relax on, as well as comfortable benches. Weather permitting it could well the the perfect place to hang out and inspire your creativity.
Tverskaya Street
So for this option I have chosen a street rather than a specific place or venue. Tverskaya Street is a cornerstone of Russian history and begins from the main entrance gate to the Kremlin and runs for 1.6km, the longest in Moscow. Probably the most famous of streets in the city, Tverskaya street is jam-packed with points of interest such as striking buildings, cafes, squares and monuments. Many of the worlds greatest books were written in the surroundings of a simple cafe or coffee shop so I urge you to check this street out, it’s impossible to avoid if you’re in the heart of Moscow.
Chekhov #APi
Last but not least is Chekhov #APi, located in Chekhov, Moscow Oblast, which is about 40 miles south of Moscow city centre. Think of it as a hybrid of a research laboratory, a co working space and a countryside retreat. It was founded by businessman Alexander Dolgin and architect Askar Ramazanov, with the intention to bring together both a peaceful retreat with creative buzz, and to furthermore act as a bridge between various humanitarian disciplines. Here you can spend you days listening to lectures, walking the local forest or even just grabbing a nearby seat to take in your surroundings.
