CELEBRATIONS are to set to get under way to mark the 20th anniversary of Oxford being twinned with Russian city Perm.

Russian folk group Yarmarka has arrived and will be performing across the city over the next week.

An informal link between the two cities existed from the late 1980s before a government programme set up in 1995 led to the official twinning.

The association’s secretary Mari Prichard said: “We have a whole summer of celebrations, parties and lectures planned but this is the big public kick off.

“The dancers are amazing to watch. People should make sure they get down to see them.

“We have young dancers from Pegasus Theatre who visit Perm each year working with them and learning from each other’s traditions and performing together.”

The last 20 years have seen groups of people from all walks of Oxford life visit Perm and welcome their Russian counterparts back to share experiences and knowledge.

Through the link, a cancer information centre was opened in 2001 and a twinning agreement between Sobell House Hospice in Oxford and Perm Hospice has seen medical staff make the trip to Russia to train local nurses.

Oxford Perm association treasurer Sue Gregory said: “Oxford is very proud of its twin links and the link with Perm has seen a lot of important work done – it is quite a lively link.”

The big interest on Friday and throughout next week will be Yarmarka, who visited the city in 2002.

The group will be busking in the city, visiting schools and performing at the Town Hall on April 23.

Mrs Gregory said: “It’s really exciting. They are a big group and have been here before so are well known.

“They are very colourful and will be doing quite a bit of busking around the city so hopefully lots of people will see them.”

To get involved with the link in either country, email Sue Gregory at sue@pear-tree-farm.co.uk

All about perm

* Perm is a large industrial city situated on the Kama river banks, at foothills of the Ural Mountain range in west-central Russia.

* According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 991,162 – the 13th highest in Russia and more than six times that of Oxford.

* During the Cold War, Perm was a centre for Soviet tank production and became a “closed city” to foreigners before it was reopened to the world in 1988. 

* Modern-day Perm’s leading industries include machinery, oil production – about three per cent of Russian output – oil refining, and timber and wood processing. 

* Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre is regarded as one of the best in the country and the Perm State Art Gallery is recognised for its outstanding collections of paintings from the 15th to 18th-century and wooden sculptures from the region.

* The city generally has a continental climate with warm summers and long, cold winters.