Culture
Komi national art is a special kind of activity, an inalienable part of modern culture of the Republic. Woodworking crafts, artistic working of wood and birch bark have been widely spread since oldest times. Figured knitting, weaving is also very popular as well as traditional fur clothes and shoes making.
Museum network of the republic includes two state items: the National Museum and the National Gallery; eighteen municipal museums with basic fund of 668 696 units. The National Komi Museum is functioning as methodological centre; departments of history, nature, ethnography, literary memorial museum of I.A. Kuratov constitute its structure. The National Gallery collections abound with works of komi, russian and foreign artists. Its funds number more then 5 thousand exhibits of painting, graphics, sculpture and applied arts.
Five professional theatres are functioning in the republic. The oldest one is the State Academic Dramatic Theatre named after Victor Savin. It was founded in October 1930. Its first season was opened timing to the 15th anniversary of Komi autonomy. Theatrical troupe during its artistic activity used to perform national repertoire as well as Russian and world classic.
Special point of theatrical history of the republic was the establishment of musical-dramatic theatre in the system of Vorkutalag in 1943, based on the participation of outstanding cultural actors repressed by the former USSR. In 1951 on the base of this troupe the Arctic dramatic theatre was organized (now the State Vorkuta Dramatic Theatre).
The only theatre which performs specially for children, the republican puppet theatre of Vorkuta, is always on tour all over the region. The largest one is the State Opera and Ballet theatre, functioning in Syktyvkar. The youngest one is the Musical-Dramatic Theatre of the Republic of Komi.
Concert activity is also promoted by the Komi Republican Philharmonic. The state song and dance ensemble “Asya Kya” (“Morning daybreak”) is a great success not only among Russian audience but also abroad.
Five creative groups participate in cultural life of the republic, among them associations of artists, composers, writers, masters, artistic craftsmen, and restorers of musical instruments.
The Republic of Komi is one of the multinational regions of the Russian Federation. It is evidenced by the presence of 13 national cultural autonomies (NCA), among them the German one, the Republican NCA “Belarus”, the NCA “Ukraine”, the Komi Republican public organization “ Armenian Society of the Komi Republic – “Van”.