The Scotland-Russia Forum was established in 2003 to promote understanding and to encourage contact between the peoples of Scotland, Russia and its neighbouring countries. We aimed to encourage understanding of the language, culture and commercial activities of those countries by means of lectures, entertainments, exhibitions, publications, conferences, meetings, research and other activities. Our plan was that the Scotland-Russia Institute would underpin these aims and in particular help the Forum to support and welcome residents of Scotland and visitors from Russia and its neighbours, with educational, social and information services.

Our predecessors, the GB-USSR Association and the Britain-Russia Centre, had the use of a meeting room and other British Council facilities in Bruntsfield as well as some official financial support. The Scotland-Russia Forum however had always been an entirely independent and voluntary organisation, its only income members’ subscriptions, fees from events and occasional small donations for specific purposes. Until 2008 our committee and officers administered the Forum from their homes and meetings were held wherever we could find, and usually hire, suitable premises.  We therefore sought to find a proper home for the convenience of members, to enable us to develop our activities, to provide a public focus for interest in Russian affairs, and to enable us to administer the Forum more effectively.

In 2008 we received a generous donation from Scottish & Newcastle plc enabling us to rent premises for the establishment of a Russian culture centre, to be called the Scotland-Russia Institute. In June 2008 we rented 9 South College Street, Edinburgh EH8 9AA and began renovation, much of the work being done by SRF volunteers. A generous grant from the Lottery’s Awards for All fund enabled us to furnish and equip the new Institute, and we also received many donations from members and wellwishers of money, equipment, books for our new library and other items.
The Scotland-Russia Institute was formally opened on Wednesday 17 September by Roy Cross, Director of British Council Scotland. Other speakers were:
– the chairperson of SRF, Jenny Carr, who welcomed guests and thanked S&N plc and Awards for All for the generous financial donations which enabled the rental and equipping of the Institute, and other individual donors and volunteers
– the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the Rt. Hon. George Grubb
– the Consul General of the Russian Federation, Mr Vladimir Malygin
A pupil of the Russian Edinburgh school concluded proceedings with a beautiful recital of Russian songs.