Hollywood annually celebrates the rich traditions brought to the United States by Russian-speaking immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Each year, the City recognizes Russian Arts and Culture Month to embrace the diverse identities and cultural history of Russian-speaking community members whose origins span wide-ranging territories with varied religious and social traditions.
The former Soviet Union encompassed 15 republics — Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Belorussia, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia — and Russian culture, itself, has withstood centuries. With more than 100 distinct ethnic groups within the former USSR, Russian culture does not represent any one group. For Russian-speaking people, Russian language unites people and serves to connect and deepen a common culture across regions.
This year, as the devastation of war grips Ukraine following unprovoked attack and invasion from Russian military forces, programming for Russian Arts and Culture Month will focus on standing for peace in Ukraine and mobilizing efforts to raise funds to support refugees.
On Sunday, May 22, 2022, the City and its Russian Advisory Board will host a West Hollywood Fundraiser for Refugees from Ukraine in place of its annual Russian Arts and Culture Festival programming. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Plummer Park, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard. It will embrace the opportunity to explore and share the deep historical elements of Russian culture within a broader understanding of empathy and support of Ukraine. Donations will be collected to support organizations assisting Ukrainian refugees. Other events during the month of Russian Arts and Culture Month will also be refocused to serve as fundraisers for people in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees. Details about the event and about additional programming during May are available at www.weho.org/fundraiser.
Additionally, the City has activated its West Hollywood Responds program to help encourage contributions to agencies and organizations that are working to help people in Ukraine. The City has assembled a list of organizations on its website at www.weho.org/wehoresponds and is encouraging community members to take part in donating to organizations that are in urgent need of contributions.
About the Russian-Speaking Community in West Hollywood — The City of West Hollywood is home to a large community of people from regions of the former Soviet Union. According to a 2013 survey of the community in West Hollywood, there are 3,872 people who live in the City who identify a former region of the Soviet Union as their primary ancestry. This represents approximately 11 percent of the City’s total population of 34,399 people.
Many Russian-speaking community members established roots in West Hollywood after fleeing from discrimination and antisemitism. In the early 1970s, the then-USSR experienced a wave of emigration due to the politics of the government. Many people chose to come to Los Angeles to embrace the future opportunities of a free world for themselves and their children. They came here by way of support provided by local programs and nonprofits to assist Jewish immigrants in what would become incorporated as the City of West Hollywood. The City remains a thriving hub for the Russian-speaking community in the region.
Since 2001, the City has recognized Russian Arts and Culture Month to bring to life the cultural and creative traditions of Russian-speaking community members with programming highlighting rich visual arts, performing arts, language, and history.
For additional information about the West Hollywood Fundraiser for Refugees from Ukraine in recognition of Russian Arts and Culture Month, please call the City’s Russian Information Line at (323) 848-6501 or email wehorusevents@weho.org.
Why do they always seem to be so unhappy, angry and mean when I encounter them?
“For Russian-speaking people, Russian language unites people and serves to connect and deepen a common culture across regions.”
This is unconscionable that this is being published at a time when Russia is murdering people and behaving like the new Nazi Nation of 2022
“Russia, uniting murdered people in Ukraine-Georgia.”
maybe it’s bad timing????