A series of Live and Learn Courses, beginning with the charitable Etiquette of Tea & Cake, was launched by Eurasian Linguistic Services on 28^th November 2012.

Ever since I began studying Russian and travelling to the Soviet Union and then to the Russian Federation, I have battled the stereotypes that have dominated British views about Russia and their people. At first, during the Cold War, those stereotypes were based on ideological models, then after the collapse of the Soviet Union, every Russian was a mafia boss and the country mired in crime. With my many trips to Russia to pursue my own research, or as leader to groups of students, I would always try to convey the human dimension, in other words, show Russians as actual people, and not stereotypes or clichés.

Irish born Philip Treacy is one of the best milliners in the world. Why? He has been working with the world greatest couturiers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander McQueen and Giorgio Armani. He has been awarded the title of British Accessory Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards on five occasions during the early 1990s. His fabulous hats are worn by the Royal Family’s ladies. Philip is a true artist, great personality and what is more surprisingly a big fan of Russia. RussianMind was extremely lucky to enjoy Philip Treacy’s extravaganza catwalk at the Royal Courts of Justice during London fashion Week 2012.

Daria Surovtseva is the talented Russian artist and sculptor, who currently works in France but despite this, she strongly believes in a great future for Russian art. Her works are included in the permanent collections of public art institutions, as well as in many private collections in Austria, Belgium, France, Northern Korean and USA. She creates figurative art but her strong and complicated intellectual works makes it very conceptual. In an interview with RussianMind Daria told us what she believes is the difference between the art-market in Russia and Europe:

Historically, the Republic of Slovenia and the Russian Federation has always had conflict-free and friendly relations. Having a similar mentality, the two countries have established not only diplomatic friendship at government level, but have also developed bi-lateral international tourism and every year Slovenia welcomes more and more Russian tourists. That’s what the Ambassador of Slovenia in the UK Mr. Iztok Jarc told RussianMind in his first exclusive interview to the Russian press: