The International festival of small historical towns "The Great prospects of small towns" is the only large-scale event that encompasses small historical towns of both Russia and other countries.

The festival has got the support by the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation, “Rossotrudnichestvo” (under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the Ministry of regional development of Russian Federation, the State Duma of Russian Federation, the World Organization of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (IOV) under UNESCO, the Association of Indigenous amd Small-numbered People of the North, Siberia and Far East as well as by other bodies.

The main purposes of the festival are:
- Promotion of the investment potential of small historical towns,
- The preservation of identity of territories,
- Attraction of public attention,
- Popularization of history, culture and traditions of small historical towns, promotion of their tourism potential as the way to preserve the unique historical and cultural heritage,
- The creation of the positive image of Russia.

The business part of the itinerary includes the holding of the international conference "The great prospects of small towns", round table discussion "The conservation and study of traditional folk culture", international scientific and methological seminar on the exchange of experiences for heads of cultural institutions, practical training seminar for city managers and mayors "The strategy to run a small town. Creation of town image". Also within the frames of the festival the organization of the exhibition-presentation of each of the participating city is planned as well as performances by creative groups.

The venue: Portugal, Lisbon, Setubal

The organizer of the event: The International Cultural Center "Town Square" ("Gorodskaya ploshchady", www.iccmoscow.ru, tel. 499 390 39 30)

www.fest.iccmoscow.ru