Russia to institute a new career-related observance
New Professional Holiday, The Day of the Artist, to be Established in Russia
In an exciting development, the Russian government has initiated a new professional holiday, The Day of the Artist. This day is also part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia, scheduled for 2026.
The Day of the Artist, set to be celebrated on January 17, is expected to be established in the calendar within a six-month period. This initiative was supported by Sergei Kiriyenko, the first deputy head of the Russian Presidential Administration, who heads the organizing committee for the celebration of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia's anniversary.
The day off will honour the contribution of artists to culture and society, extending to theatre, cinema, circus artists, musicians, and pop performers. Theaters across the country collected donations for actors in difficult life situations during the time of an initiative by Maria Gavrilovna Savina, an actress who initiated a similar professional holiday on January 17 at the end of the 19th century.
The festival "Russia. Theatre. Society" and the "Theatrical Train" project are additional significant events planned for the anniversary year. The "Theatrical Train" project will precede the festival. The festival is proposed to be held on Red Square during the anniversary year.
The Day of the Artist was chosen to honour Konstantin Stanislavsky, the first People's Artist of the USSR and one of the founders of the Moscow Art Theatre. Despite the available search results not providing the exact date of its establishment or detailed motives behind it, the Day of the Artist was established to honour the contribution of artists to culture and society.
The proceeds from the performances during Maria Gavrilovna Savina's initiative were used for a common cause - the construction of the first House of Theatre Veterans in St. Petersburg. However, no specific information regarding significant events planned for its celebration in 2026 was found in the sources provided.
The Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, has ordered the establishment of this new professional holiday within a six-month period. The festival "Russia. Theatre. Society" and the "Theatrical Train" project are part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia, which will take place in 2026.
What will the day off on January 17 honor in the future, following the establishment of The Day of the Artist in Russia? It will honor the contributions of artists to lifestyle and entertainment, extending to various fields such as theatre, cinema, circus, music, and pop performances.
