Century-old Palace: History of Tomsk's Oldest Children's Institution
Situated in Tomsk Oblast, the Palace of Creativity for Children and Youth is the largest and oldest educational institution offering supplementary education in the region. As it turns 100 in 2025, a gala concert is scheduled for March 31 at the Grand Concert Hall of the Tomsk Philharmonic to mark the occasion.
According to the Tomsk city hall press service, this educational institution currently educates 9,571 children across 93 programs in technical, scientific, physical, artistic, tourism, and social-humanitarian fields. Some of these programs have been specifically developed for children with special needs.
The institution boasts six children's ensembles, including the "Melody" Music and Vocal School-Studio, the "Gloria" Boys and Youth Choir Studio, the "Buzinka" School for Girls, the "Futé" Dance School-Studio, the "Russian Festivities" Folk Dance School-Studio, and the "Synthesis" Theater Studio. Some of these ensembles are renowned beyond Tomsk Oblast.
In addition to artistic and athletic education, the Palace of Creativity emphasizes civic and ecological education, children's orientation, and the realization of projects under the "Development of Creative Industries" direction. It offers audio podcasts, operates a children's film studio, discusses masterpieces of world cinema, and more.
The history of the Tomsk Palace of Creativity began in 1925 with the opening of the "Young Leninist" Pioneer Club on Ulitsa Rosy Luxemburg, 2. Initially serving as the city's first Dom Pioneerov, it hosted rallies, holidays, concerts, and club activities. The club operated in this building until 1931 and then moved to Ulitsa Karla Marks, 9.
The institution earned the moniker "Palace" in 1940, when it moved into the former "Europe" hotel (now known as "Passazh Vtoroy" or the "1000 Trifles" store on Prospekt Lenina, 111). This period is considered the golden age of the institution, as over 30 clubs were opened at the Palace.
During World War II, the building was converted into a hospital, but the club members continued to entertain soldiers with concerts. In 1946, after the war, the Palace resumed operations on Ulitsa Tatarskaya, 16 with eight clubs and enrolled around 500 children. By 1947, it had become a methodical center for children's activities.
In 1977, the Palace received the name "House of Pioneers and Schoolchildren." Construction on a new building began on Ulitsa Vereshchagina in 1974.
The renovated Palace of Pioneers and Schoolchildren in Tomsk officially opened on February 8, 1980. Following the events of August 1991, the organizations associated with the Pioneer and Komsomol movements ceased to exist. In 1992, the institution adopted its current name – the Palace of Creativity for Children. In 2006, it was renamed the Palace of Creativity for Children and Youth.
The building housing the Palace of Children's Creativity on Ulitsa Vereshchagina, 17, is a notable example of the brutalism style popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Designed by then-emerging architect Victor Novikov, it was initially planned for the embankment of Ushaiky, on the site now occupied by the Tsentr Iskusstv I Zhizni (TsIaZ) shopping center.
Architect Novikov initially proposed a 50-meter swimming pool, a stadium, an amphitheater, and a vast technical complex for clubs and sections. The theater was designed to accommodate 1,000 spectators. This work of Novikov received an outstanding rating at the All-Union Exposition but was not ultimately realized in its entirety. The built structure occupies a central location in Tomsk despite being much smaller than initially planned.
Due to space constraints, architect Novikov had to abandon the swimming pool and stadium. In the modified project, cultural facilities such as museums, exhibition halls, winter gardens, an astronomical observatory, a theater with seating for 500, and rooms for clubs remained. The design also connected the Igumenov Park with the Buff-Sad garden, creating a new public space.
The construction process was delayed for nearly ten years due to the complexity of the design and material shortages in the country. In 1980, Novikov received a Lenin Komsomol Prize for his work on the Palace of Children's Creativity. The building remains admired as one of the most beautiful structures where children learn and create.
Throughout its history, the Tomsk Palace of Children's Creativity has produced many notable and interesting individuals, including the founder of the "TV-2" one of Russia's first non-governmental television companies, Arkady Maiofis, who graduated from its journalism department. In his memories, many staff members of "TV-2" studied at the Palace.
Other graduates include microsurgeon Andrei Baithinger, who expressed gratitude to the Palace in a dedication in a history booklet for its patience, diligence, and persistence instilled in him as a child. He attributes these qualities to his professional success, as surgeries can last up to 12 hours.
The Palace of Children's Creativity was also part of the early life of Tomsk's famous athlete and Grandmaster of Sports, Andrey Belozev. Now a three-time champion of the Russian Team Championships with the "Tomsk-400" team (victories in 2004, 2005, and 2009), he was a regular at the Palace.
Aleksei Щербинин, head of the Department of Political Science at TGU, began his career at the Palace of Pioneers during a critical juncture – in 1991. He was invited to develop a "School of Young Leader" (SYL), a civic education program for high school students. He helped students prepare for university and learn the basics of scientific research and public speaking.
[1] Malyshki 18:22: https://www.instagram.com/malyshki1822/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- In line with its expanding influence, the Palace of Creativity for Children and Youth considers enhancing their lifestyle and education-and-self-development offerings by integrating more programs on personal growth and self-improvement, aligning with the current global trend of holistic learning.
- As part of its centennial celebration, the Palace of Creativity for Children and Youth plans to organize workshops focused on education-and-self-development, inviting renowned speakers to share insights on topics such as leadership, positive thinking, and effective communication, fostering a mature and self-aware generation.
