PROJECTS

Repair and restore Fort Ross historic and administrative infrastructure.
Enhance awareness of Fort Ross among cultural, educational and policy circles via outreach initiatives.
Advance exchange programs between American and Russian youth and community organizations.
Create new avenues of positive long-term development and awareness of Fort Ross.
Take an active role in efforts on conferences, festivals and cultural heritage initiatives.

Specific Projects 2011

INFRASTRUCTURE
    • Rotchev House, Roof Replacement/Repair

RFRF provided funding to preserve and protect the only surviving historic structure at Fort Ross, the Rotchev House, from further deterioration due to serious leak issues. Through our support the structure could be repaired, needed parts replaced, and artifacts and interpretive items inside the building saved from destruction by outside elements.

    • Fort Ross Historical Orchard, Phase I

Restored and undertook the initial steps to providing the long-term protection to the original historic Russian orchard site including orchard stabilization, fence repair, labor, and materials.

    • Visitor Center, upgrades and enhancements

Improving the interior and functionality of the Fort’s Visitors Center through introducing overall visual and technical upgrades, updating interpretive displays, digitizing Fort Ross library and making it available to the visitors in an interactive format, and creating generally a more comfortable ambiance.

    • Fort Ross Museum, preservation and interpretation cases

This project comprises much-needed updates to the interpretive displays and display cases, such as for the Kashaya basketry and the Russian icons.

    • Fort Ross Library: full digitization of the historical archives

Provided funding for technical infrastructure, library access software and staff time to scan historic photos, historic slides, and original historic documents.

OUTREACH
    • Stanford US-Russia Forum – FRIA Community Service Project at Fort Ross

The event brought 65 students from the Stanford US-Russia Forum to Fort Ross for a day of community service that included working with a conservator and helping “open up” the Rotchev House for the spring season, brush hauling and cleanup in the historic orchard, coastal cleanup in the cove, pulling pines in the coastal bluffs and trail work around the Fort. A special site tour was arranged providing the students with the opportunity to learn more about the Fort firsthand.

    • Hidden Stories Conference: Russian Influences in California

The conference was aimed at exploring the rich history of Russian contributions to Fort Ross, Angel Island and other California state parks via untold stories of Russian groups in California. It was put together by California State Parks Foundation, in association with Fort Ross Interpretive Association, and was designed to serve as a catalyst for discussing concrete ways to build an engaged Russian American constituency for state parks.

    • Cultural Heritage Day at Fort Ross 2011

Renova Fort Ross provided funding for outreach and hands-on materials during Cultural Heritage Day at Fort Ross in July 20122. Renova also brought Russian folk music group “Sibirskaya Vechora from Krasnoyarsk, Russia, to perform at Fort Ross and to share the music traditions of Siberia with American and Russian-American audiences.

    • Fort Ross outreach at the White Nights Foundation Gala

RFRF provided exclusive coverage of Fort Ross at the annual White Nights Foundation Gala in New York City. We introduced Fort Ross wines at the gala as well as provided a unique connecting link between the newest production of Anna Karenina ballet, based on Leo Tolstoi’s famous tale, and Fort Ross’ story.

    • Fort Ross Outreach at USRBC

RFRF has successfully spread the word about Fort Ross during the US-Russia Business Council’s Annual meeting in Chicago, IL and called for action to help Fort Ross cope with its impending difficulties.

    • Feature documentary on Fort Ross by Matsitsa

RFRF provided support to making a bilingual documentary about Fort Ross in Vologda, Russia, involving a number of specialists and professionals.

    • Feature film production dedicated to Fort Ross by Moroz-Film Company

RFRF provided initial funding to Moroz-Film Company for making a feature film based on Fort Ross, to be filmed and completed in 2012-2013.

    • Fort Ross Spring Fest Festival materials

RFRF provided funds for materials and lunch during the Fort Ross Spring Festival.

    • The Pallada’s arrival to Fort Ross

RFRF provided funds to host lunch for the crew of the Pallada, a Russian ship at Fort Ross.

    • Living History Scenarios and Costumes

RFRF provided significant funding to re-create historic costumes for Fort Ross 2012 Celebration and beyond.

ADMINISTRATIVE
    • FRIA administrative personnel funding, through December 2011

RFRF provided financial contribution to the maintenance of FRIA personnel.

  • Administrative support for FRIA and CSP staff dedicated specifically to 2012 Celebration