The PSB talked about the importance of cultural projects for economic development

Cultural projects contribute to the development of regions, increase their tourist attractiveness, and support local productions and creative industries, said Vera Podguzova, Senior Vice President and Director of External Relations at the SPIEF 2026.

Speaking at the session "Ahead of Time: academic Art as a country's investment in its future", she spoke about the bank's projects in the field of culture and art implemented in the capital and regions. The PSB cooperates with the country's leading cultural institutions, including the Bolshoi Theatre, the Tretyakov Gallery and the State Historical Museum.

"For the PSB, the theme of supporting culture and art is one of the fundamental aspects of our social responsibility. We have a number of projects, and they are all very different in their focus. Special attention is paid to supporting the cultural component in the regions," said Podguzova.

She recalled the musical and educational project "Pure Classics for young talents of new regions", aimed at supporting gifted children from Crimea, Donbass and Novorossiya. The PSB supports various cultural and educational initiatives in Chuvashia, Tula, Nizhny Novgorod, Kaliningrad and other regions of its presence.

Podguzova paid special attention to the "Soul of Russia" project, which the PSB is implementing jointly with the Roscongress Foundation. The project is aimed at popularizing the cultural diversity of the regions, preserving the traditions of the peoples of Russia, supporting artistic crafts and familiarizing a wide audience with the unique features of the territories that make up the cultural wealth of the country.

"Each region of Russia is unique in its own way. We are proud of this and remember that our country is multi—religious and multinational. It is in this unity that our strength and the foundation of our cultural wealth lies," concluded the Senior Vice President of the PSB.