Press releases

MINSK, 7 September (BelTA) – The third edition of the Belarusians of the World art festival got underway in Minsk on 7 September, Natalia Zaderkovskaya, the deputy head of the culture and analysis department, the head of the department for culture and folk art at the Belarusian Culture Ministry told a press conference on 7 September, BelTA has learned.

The events of the festival which will span Minsk and regional cities will feature the public associations of Belarusians living in Armenia, the UK, Germany, Denmark, the USA, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, France and Estonia. All in all, more than 200 Belarusians living abroad will attend the event.

The interest in the festival has been growing, Natalia Zaderkovskaya said. The first festival saw representatives from eleven countries, the second one from 18 states.

This year the festival is themed around such dates as the 950th anniversary of Minsk, 500th anniversary of the Belarusian book printing and 135th anniversary of birth of Belarusian poets Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas.

The guests are set to attend the presentation of Francysk Skaryna’s Bible printed in Prague in 1517 at the National History Museum on 7 September. The book from the Moscow State History Museum was delivered specifically for the Belarus: Revival of Spirituality exhibition.

The monument to the Belarusians living abroad at Troitskaya Naberezhnaya in Minsk will be unveiled on 8 September.

A meeting of Belarusian writers and poets living abroad with the Belarus’ Writers Union members will take place in the Yanka Kupala State Literary Museum.

Belarus’ National Art Museum will host an exposition featuring the works of art by Belarusian artists from nine countries.

The festival will officially open with a concert “With Love to Belarus” in the Belarusian State Philharmonic Hall on 8 September. The Belarusians living abroad will also join the festivities to celebrate the 950th anniversary of Minsk on 9 September.

The concerts of the Belarusians of the World “Belarus in My Heart” will take place in the regions of the country on 10 September.

The participants of the festival will go on a sightseeing tour and visit the museums of the Belarusian capital city. The festival is another step of the state to support the compatriots living abroad and develop the mutually beneficial cooperation with public associations of Belarusians of the world, Natalia Zaderkovskaya said.

The organizers of the event are the Belarusian Culture Ministry, the Information Ministry, the Office of Belarus' Commissioner for Religious and Ethnic Affairs, the regional authorities, the Minsk City Hall and the Republican Center of National Cultures powered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.