Moscow, St Petersburg, and cities across Russia, are enjoying a creative boom that features design hubs, hotels, cafes and bars
Within Russia, the provinces have traditionally been regarded as a creative desert. But that view is hard to sustain anymore as initiatives bloom. Often working collectively and on low budgets, artists and designers are taking over disused factories, workers' clubs and aristocratic 19th-century mansions to create galleries, shared work spaces, shops and studios. New festivals of architecture, art and photography are helping the regeneration, providing a platform for local talent and attracting international partnerships.
