Official website of the President of Russia

Vera Lagutenkova, winner of the 2016 Presidential Prize for young culture professionals

The prize is awarded for the contribution to the development of art education in Russia.

Vera Lagutenkova is an artist and art critic. She lives and works in Moscow.

Born on March 20, 1984 in Moscow, she graduated from the Surikov Moscow State Academic Art Institute in 2010; has a PhD in Art (2014), is a member of the Union of Artists (2011) and the Association of Art Critics (2014).

Deputy Director General of the ROSIZO State Museum and Exhibition Centre; Director of the ROSIZO Department of the National Centre for Contemporary Arts (2016). Lecturer (2012), vice rector for research at the Surikov Moscow State Academic Art Institute (2014). Special Programmes Director at the Union of Artists’ Department of Modern Trends and Special Projects (2015).

Author of series of paintings Hot Summer of 2010 and In Position. Participant of national art exhibitions. Education expert of the Tavrida International Youth Forum (2015, 2016). Co-organiser of regional programmes: the Sura Rainbow, the Volga Rainbow, the National Ulyanovsk Plein Air, Academic Dacha, and Russian Province.

Vera Lagutenkova’s work is varied and multifaceted, she devotes a lot of time to academic and educational work. She cooperates with methodology centres, young people, talented children and children with disabilities.

Winner of national art exhibitions.

Anton Shagin, winner of the 2016 Presidential Prize for young culture professionals

The prize is awarded for performances in classical and modern theatre, as well as film roles.

Anton Shagin is an actor. He lives and works in Moscow.

Born on April 2, 1984 in Karachev, Bryansk Region.

Graduated from the Moscow Art Theatre School (2006). Worked at the Russian State Academic Youth Theatre (RAMT); currently actor at Lenkom Theatre (2009).

Theatre roles: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Tom Sawyer), The Red and the Black (Mallet) at RAMT; The Cherry Orchard (Lopakhin) and Peer Gynt (Peer Gynt) at Lenkom; and Zero Liturgy (Alexei Ivanovich) at the Alexandrinsky Theatre.

First film role in 2007. His filmography currently includes 14 films.

In 2014, Shagin published a book of verse titled Hers, with his own drawings and a CD of these verses read by himself and other actors and musicians.

Anton Shagin stands out from many other young actors due to his strong identity and creative energy, which have made him one of the most popular young actors in Russia. His virtuoso theatre performances are expressive and sharp, and the characters he creates are convincing and profound. He is one of the few young actors in Russia who add their philosophical knowledge of humanity to their work.

Titles and Awards: Government Prize in the field of culture and the arts (2011), several professional prizes and awards.

Viktor Shalai, winner of the 2016 Presidential Prize for young culture professionals

The prize is awarded for the contribution to preserving and promoting the historical and cultural heritage and creating new museum exhibits.

Viktor Shalai is Director of the Arseniev State Museum, Primorye Territory.

Born on March 21, 1981 in Vladivostok.

Graduated from the History Department of the Far Eastern State University (2003).

Mr Shalai began his career at the Arseniev Museum in 2002 and became its director in 2011. He initiated several major projects at the museum, including Russky Island Labyrinths; Eleanor Pray: Letters from Vladivostok; Russia: The Eastern View. Connecting Worlds; The Governor’s Way; and Primorye: History Continued. Author and host of radio and TV programmes about Vladivostok’s historical heritage. Author and curator of several standing exhibitions at the museum, including The Time of the People; Open Sea Rooms: Pacific Time; and Collecting Russia: From the Collection of the Murom Museum. Under Shalai’s guidance, the museum has become very active internationally.

Member of the presidium of the Russian National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM Russia), of Primorye Territory Governor’s coordinating council on culture, of the Council for the Strategic Development of Vladivostok, and of Vladivostok Mayor’s Toponymical Committee.

Viktor Shalai is a talented and energetic organiser of the cultural process focused on the long-term development strategy, expanding the limits of education and changing our views on local history. In the five years since his appointment director of the Arseniev Museum, he has turned this large and old museum into an attractive social and cultural space.

Titles and Awards: honorary certificates and letters of acknowledgement from federal and regional artistic organisations and public and religious associations. Winner of several museum festivals and competitions.