U.S. Arts Official to Attend Russia’s Economic Forum in First Visit by American Representative Since 2017
Rodney Mims Cook Jr., chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, will travel to Russia next month to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, marking the first appearance by a U.S. official at the event in nearly a decade, Russian state media reported on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Cook to lead the federal arts and architecture advisory agency in January. Since then, Cook has overseen the approval process for Trump’s proposed White House ballroom expansion project, which has sparked public debate in the United States.
According to Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti, Cook confirmed that both the forum’s organizing committee and the U.S. State Department approved his participation in the event, scheduled for June 3 to June 6 in St. Petersburg.
Cook said he plans to attend the forum’s plenary session and listen to Russian President Vladimir Putin deliver his keynote address. In addition, he intends to hold talks with Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova during the visit.
Former U.S. Ambassador John Tefft was the last American government representative to attend SPIEF in 2017 during Trump’s first administration. However, Western governments and major corporations largely withdrew from the forum after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Cook has previously participated in cultural exchanges in Russia, including a speech at the Hermitage Museum in 2017 and lectures across the country. RIA Novosti also linked him to restoration work connected to a replica of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre outside Moscow.
