THE NORTH IS IN EVERY DRAWING

A hundred years ago, the Russian artist Alexander Borisov brought a wooden hut, a cow and hay to feed her to Novaya Zemlya, settled for several years in the polar snows to paint blue-white, snowy, starry Arctic landscapes. The Arctic beckoned....

A hundred years ago, the Russian artist Alexander Borisov brought a wooden hut, a cow and hay to feed her to Novaya Zemlya, settled for several years in the polar snows to paint blue-white, snowy, starry Arctic landscapes. The Arctic beckoned.

One hundred years later, more than three thousand children's drawings dedicated to the Far North, lay on the table of the jury of the international competition "The Arctic and its pioneers - through the eyes of children." The Arctic still beckons today.

Strictly speaking, the North is now in vogue. They write about him, they hope for him. If only because a huge part of the country's natural wealth is hidden in the northern lands. But at the same time, the North was and remains a territory of mystery, courage and discovery - something that has always attracted children's souls.

Hence such hot attention to the competition of children from various regions of Russia, the Baltic countries and the CIS.

Andrey Farberov, Advisor to the Chairman of the State Committee of the Russian Federation for the North, one of the organizers of the competition:

— The idea of ​​the competition was born last summer. The Ministry of Education, the Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage, Goskomsever took part in its preparation. Actually, the drawing contest is the first of two contests that we have come up with. The second - "The Arctic and its pioneers, the polar pathfinder" - we have yet to organize. It will be a research, local history competition, most likely for older students.

Three thousand children's drawings were carefully evaluated by the jury, which included artists, art historians, polar explorers and representatives of the State Committee for the North. After much debate and deliberation, the laureates were selected, which included sixty-three young artists - the majority, of course, from the northern cities and towns. Norilsk became the absolute champion in the number of laureates - its delegation took home seven laureate diplomas. But the boy from Bryansk won the competition, the land is not Arctic. His work - "Inhabitants of the North" - decorated the invitation cards and diplomas of the competition.

The award ceremony took place at the Tretyakov Gallery, where a one-day exhibition of the contestants' works was held the day before. The children, as they say, felt the situation: after all, the exhibition in the Tretyakov Gallery is both a reward and a kind of advance payment. For the future.

A. Farberov:

- The most promising deposits of Russia's natural resources are located in the Arctic zone. There lies the shortest sea route between Europe and Asia, the shortest air bridge between Eurasia and America, there is the longest state border of Russia ... Today's children will have to develop this land. And this requires not only modern knowledge and technology, but also a certain aspiration of the soul, some kind of goal that goes into eternity. And we hope that by attracting children to the Arctic in this way, through the world of art, we awaken in them another interest - to go there, to test their strength.

According to A. Farberov, it is planned to involve other states in the competition, make it permanent and coincide with the meeting of the Arctic Council countries, which is held every two years. In addition, the organizers are determined to publish an album in two languages ​​based on the results of the competition. According to the organizers, this will certainly bring closer the hour when love for the Arctic will unite children from various countries of the world.

So, the project is long-term and rather costly. In such cases, children cannot do without the help of rich people and statesmen uncles.

A. Farberov:

— The organization of the exhibition was held with the help of the Heritage Institute. The Rumyantsev Society of Friends of the Russian State Library, the Marka Publishing and Trading Company, and the Moscow Charitable Society of Polar Explorers helped the contestants with gifts. The State Tretyakov Gallery has made an invaluable contribution.

Norilsk Nickel helped its Norilsk contestants by paying the way for teachers and laureates. By the way, they are going to continue to help us.

Russian artist Alexander Borisov spent many years in the Far North. His works were appreciated by collectors and the public, one of the most amazing halls of the Tretyakov Gallery is dedicated to his work. The mystery and beauty of the Arctic - he devoted his whole life to this, and life was not enough. The Arctic is waiting for new artists.