Writing Letters of Hope to Political Prisoners in Russia

Join us and @themuseumofrussianart for an evening of writing letters of hope. Together, we will send messages to political prisoners in Russia who are detained for speaking out against the war in Ukraine. Many of these individuals are teachers, artists, parents, and students whose only “crime” was telling the truth, sometimes through a social media post, a protest sign, or even a single word. For them, a letter is a lifeline. These simple notes remind prisoners that they are not forgotten, affirm democratic ideals, and even improve how they are treated inside prison walls. Your words may seem small, but they can mean everything to someone enduring isolation for the sake of peace and justice. When you attend, you’ll be provided with writing materials and short profiles of detainees. Russian language skills are not required, volunteers and translators will be present to assist. Once completed, letters are translated into Russian and securely sent through an electronic portal. Prisoners are even able to reply, and their responses are translated and returned to the original writers. The event will take place in the Main Gallery of the Museum. Thursday, September 25 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM | FREE Doors open at 5:30 PM, and the program begins at 6:00 PM, with speakers offering context and instructions at 6:15 PM. Free parking is available across the street at Creekside (formerly Mayflower) Church, with additional street parking nearby. There is no fee to attend, and no registration is required. All are welcome. Design by @natalimaymay