Guide School
In the spring of 2025, we launched the Guide School in Nizhnekamsk — a free educational program that brought together residents eager to explore their city’s local context. For three months, participants studied folklore, botany, architecture, industrial heritage, and street art.
The Guide School also became a platform for exchange and growth, shaping a new generation of guides who show the city through a personal and living perspective. Four participants developed their own author-led tours.
The Guide School also became a platform for exchange and growth, shaping a new generation of guides who show the city through a personal and living perspective. Four participants developed their own author-led tours.
In the spring of 2025, we launched the Guide School in Nizhnekamsk — a free educational program that brought together residents eager to explore their city’s local context. For three months, participants studied folklore, botany, architecture, industrial heritage, and street art.
The Guide School also became a platform for exchange and growth, shaping a new generation of guides who show the city through a personal and living perspective. Four participants developed their own author-led tours.
The Guide School also became a platform for exchange and growth, shaping a new generation of guides who show the city through a personal and living perspective. Four participants developed their own author-led tours.
Guide School
Inside the Guide School: How the Training Unfolded
Inside the Guide School: How the Training Unfolded
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Curator of the Guide School
Maria Ushakova
One of our priorities is personal voice. We emphasize that each participant of the Guide School should first turn inward — to their own feelings, perceptions, and life experience. Finding sources and materials for a tour is not difficult; the real challenge is to shape your unique language — and that’s what we focus on.
The Guide School program consisted of four stages. The introductory module was dedicated to getting acquainted and taking the first steps in the guiding profession. Active guides from the "Tales of the Golden Apples" project — Alsu Amirova, Albina Nurgalieva, Zulfiya Khaibullina, and Dina Nurgalieva — led a series of sessions called "Local Context". Participants learned to see their city from a new perspective, to work with personal perception, and to turn it into the foundation of their routes.
Introductory meeting with the curators and mentors of the Guide School
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The Guide School program consisted of four stages. The introductory module was dedicated to getting acquainted and taking the first steps in the guiding profession. Active guides from the "Tales of the Golden Apples" project — Alsu Amirova, Albina Nurgalieva, Zulfiya Khaibullina, and Dina Nurgalieva — led a series of sessions called "Local Context". Participants learned to see their city from a new perspective, to work with personal perception, and to turn it into the foundation of their routes.
- Maria UshakovaCurator of the Guide SchoolOne of our priorities is personal voice. We emphasize that each participant of the Guide School should first turn inward — to their own feelings, perceptions, and life experience. Finding sources and materials for a tour is not difficult; the real challenge is to shape your unique language — and that’s what we focus on.
Introductory meeting with the curators and mentors of the Guide School
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The second module, "Art and the City", focused on the phenomena of public art, street art, and graffiti. Participants attended lectures on the history of classical and contemporary art by Nikita Dobryakov, and explored the city through the perspectives of engineer Lilia Nabiullina, botanist Igor Safiullin, and artist Zulfiya Ilkaeva. This multidisciplinary approach helped participants understand how art is woven into the urban fabric.
Botanical walk with landscape engineer Igor Safiullin
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The second module, "Art and the City", focused on the phenomena of public art, street art, and graffiti. Participants attended lectures on the history of classical and contemporary art by Nikita Dobryakov, and explored the city through the perspectives of engineer Lilia Nabiullina, botanist Igor Safiullin, and artist Zulfiya Ilkaeva. This multidisciplinary approach helped participants understand how art is woven into the urban fabric.
Botanical walk with landscape engineer Igor Safiullin
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The third module focused on public speaking and body awareness. It was led by Nurbek Batulla (choreographer, movement researcher, and Golden Mask award winner), Kamil Gataulla (actor and director), and Radmila Khakova (writer and journalist). The sessions covered acting, voice, speech, and body practices — everything that helps guides become confident, expressive, and engaging storytellers.
The third module focused on public speaking and body awareness. It was led by Nurbek Batulla (choreographer, movement researcher, and Golden Mask award winner), Kamil Gataulla (actor and director), and Radmila Khakova (writer and journalist). The sessions covered acting, voice, speech, and body practices — everything that helps guides become confident, expressive, and engaging storytellers.
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At the final stage, participants attended tour methodology classes with Albina Nurgalieva, developed their author-led routes under the guidance of curator Maria Ushakova, and discussed with St. Petersburg guide Semyon Nekrasov how to build a personal brand and use rhetoric to make storytelling lively and memorable. By the end of August, the Guide School graduates began testing their tours across Nizhnekamsk. Local residents, who had only recently been learning to speak about their city, now tried themselves as guides, leading their own routes.
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At the final stage, participants attended tour methodology classes with Albina Nurgalieva, developed their author-led routes under the guidance of curator Maria Ushakova, and discussed with St. Petersburg guide Semyon Nekrasov how to build a personal brand and use rhetoric to make storytelling lively and memorable. By the end of August, the Guide School graduates began testing their tours across Nizhnekamsk. Local residents, who had only recently been learning to speak about their city, now tried themselves as guides, leading their own routes.
Other sections of the "Garden City. Tatneft Energy" project
Other sections of the "Garden City. Tatneft Energy" project
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Book a tour
To sign up for a tour, contact us via Telegram or WhatsApp.