Photographer Fyodor Telkov photographed various groups and societies at the Ordzhonikidze Palace of Culture in Yekaterinburg, and posed the question: "Why do you still come to the Palace of Culture?"
Scroll down to see more
Fyodor Telkov
The first so-called Houses (or Palaces) of Culture appeared in the 1920s, shortly after the birth of the USSR. // Alexander, 11: "I go here to lose weight and be strong." Martial arts school "Philosophy of life"
Fyodor Telkov
The main goals were cultural and educational: the country needed to create a new society and these “palaces” played an active part in its formation. // Ballroom dancing ensemble "Success" VS Martial arts school "Philosophy of Life"
Fyodor Telkov
They were establishments for all kinds of recreational activities and hobbies: sports, collecting, arts, etc., and were designed to accommodate them in all their variety. // Ballroom dancing ensemble "Success". Alena, 11: "I want to learn to dance well and perform in different cities."
Fyodor Telkov
A typical "palace" contained one or several cinema and concert halls, a public library, dance studios (folk, ballet, ballroom), various do-it-yourself hobby groups, amateur radio groups, amateur theatre and musical studios, bands, lecture halls, and much more besides. // Creative poetry workshop with Yuri Konetsky and Lyubov Ladeishikova VS Hip hop dance and street style studio "Red Rabbits"
Fyodor Telkov
Groups were also subdivided by age — from children to pensioners. All hobby groups were free of charge until very recently, when many hobbies with less official recognition started to be based on the "self-repayment" principle. // Drama theatre "Uralmash". Maria, 23: "I'm here for the atmosphere of co-creation".
Fyodor Telkov
A Palace of Culture was sometimes called a "club", but this did not mean that it was membership-based. // Tatar and Bashkir cultural ensemble "Yoldyz" ("Star") VS Hip hop dance and street style studio "Red Rabbits"
Fyodor Telkov
In government rhetoric, they were intended to promote "cultural leisure" among Soviet workers and children, and to fight "cultureless leisure", such as drinking and hooliganism. // Tatar and Bashkir cultural ensemble "Yoldyz" ("Star"). Albina, 31: "I like to sing and want to learn about native culture. It’s so much fun!"
Fyodor Telkov
Palaces of Culture came in two flavors: state ownership and enterprise ownership. Every town and collective or state-owned farm had a central Palace of Culture. Major industrial enterprises also had one, managed by the relevant trade unions. // Tatar and Bashkir cultural ensemble "Yoldyz" ("Star") VS Mari folklore ensemble "Yandar Pamash" ("Pure Spring")
Fyodor Telkov
In 1988 there were over 137,000 club establishments in the Soviet Union. // Mari folklore ensemble "Yandar Pamash" ("Pure Spring"). Igor, 52: "This project allows me to show the culture of the Mari people and to achieve self-fulfilment".
Fyodor Telkov
The cultural center in Ordzhonikidze (formerly the "Club in honor of Stalin") was set up in 1936 at the Uralmashzavod factory in Yekaterinburg. // Folk song ensemble "Ural gems" VS Hip hop dance and street style studio "Red Rabbits"
Fyodor Telkov
The Palace of Culture building has received “monument of architecture” status and is awaiting repair. // Museum and musical studio "Uralrock". Vladimir, 57: "It's my destiny".
Fyodor Telkov
Today, the institution represents a fantastic blend of different epochs — Soviet songs intermingle with the lambada, while karate lessons can be held in the same room and at the same time as choir rehearsals. // Classical vocal group "Harmony" VS Museum and musical studio "Uralrock"
Fyodor Telkov
The Soviet interior encapsulates the spirit of events both past and present. // Classical vocal group "Harmony". Lyubov, 66: "Harmony is my life. After work, I want to bring joy to people, I love to sing, I like our accompanist Ira!"
Fyodor Telkov
Palaces of Culture as a form of leisure are in serious decline. Every Russian city has at least one, but today they look dilapidated. People choose to do other activities in their free time. // Choir "Nostalgia" VS Club "Fashionista"
Fyodor Telkov
Such institutions bring together the most unusual clubs and groups. They certainly look a bit strange and amateurish, but perform a very valuable function by making people feel indispensable and, therefore, happy. // Club "Fashionista". Lydia, 79: "I’ve been in Fashionista almost from the very beginning. It's my second home. Here I learned to sew and knit, and now I’m drawing with gouache and oil. The people here are like family.”
