ABSTRACT
The institutionalisation of culture policy both in the EU and Russia occurred over a number of years with the adoption of documents defining the fundamentals, purpose and priorities of the policy area. Their common feature is the connection of cultural policy with the construction of identities: the EU used cultural manifestations to forge a European identity; Russia was in search of a new post-Soviet identity. The legal basis of EU–Russian cultural cooperation is formed of bilateral agreements between Russia and EU member states, as well as between twin cities and regions. At the beginning of the 2000s, the emphasis in cultural cooperation was placed on the long-term interaction of the Russian and European cultures, but the plans for a common agreement in this area were never implemented. In the 2010s, the tension between the EU and Russia increased and influenced their identity politics. Criticism grew on both sides, as did the desire to emphasise differences between the two. In such conditions, cultural figures and some NGOs became important actors.
