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MINSK, 30 June (BelTA) - Special diplomas have been presented to Belarus’ nominees for the Union State Literature and Art Award 2015-2016, BelTA has learned.

"All candidates nominated by Belarus and Russia are very deserving people. The Expert Council wil have to make a very difficult decision. All nominated works is a contribution to the strengthening of cultural relations between Russia and Belarus, brotherhood and friendship of the two peoples,” Irina Driga, First Deputy Culture Minister of Belarus, said when congratulating the nominees from Belarus. She stressed that to become a Union State Literature and Art Award nominee is very honorable.

This year Belarus nominated four projects for the Union State Literature and Art Award. Among them is the monument to Patriarch Alexy II at the Church of All Saints in Minsk of the Minsk Eparchy of the Belarusian Orthodox Church. The idea was put forward by Archpriest Fyodor Povny, the senior priest of the All Saints parish in Minsk. The project was implemented by Vladimir Slobodchikov, a sculptor, Professor, honored worker of arts of Belarus, member of the Belarusian Union of Artists, an honorary member of the Russian Academy of Arts; and Igor Morozov, an architect, doctor of science, Professor, winner of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus.

Igor Luchenok, Chairman of the Belarusian Union of Composers, People's Artist of the USSR, People's Artist of Belarus, the winner of State Prize of Belarus, the winner of the special culture and art award of the President of Belarus, has been nominated for the Union State Literature and Art Award for a series of patriotic songs dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, and in recognition of his significant personal contribution to the strengthening of relations of brotherhood, friendship and cooperation between the countries of the Union State.

Another nominee is Mikhail Drinevsky, arts director of the Tsitovich National Academic Folk Choir, Professor, Chairman of the Belarusian Union of Musical Workers, People's Artist of Belarus, winner of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus. He has been nominated for the award for the concert programs of the Tsitovich National Academic Folk Choir of Belarus, active concert activities that have made a significant contribution to the strengthening and development of cultural relations between Russia and Belarus.

The fourth nominee is the song audio album "Where Kalina Blossomed" (for creative embodiment of ideas of friendship between the peoples of Belarus and Russia). The team of authors include Anatoly Yarmolenko, arts director of the Syabry band, People's Artist of Belarus; Oleg Eliseyev, composer, member of the Belarusian Union of Composers, honored culture worker of the Republic of Belarus, the winner of the special award of the Union State Permanent Committee for creative embodiment of ideas of friendship between the peoples of Belarus and Russia; Ivan Yurkin, poet, member of the Belarus Union of Writers, winner of the Golden Cupid literary prize of the Belarus Union of Writers.

“The Expert Council will analyze the results of the public debate which will last until September and will make its decision. The fact of this or that nomination is not so much important. What is important is the cultural phenomenon which has received recognition in the Union State. You don't have to be an art expert to assess the contribution of a creative personality to the spiritual life of the two peoples, the two states or to assess the magnitude of the cultural phenomenon that a work of art has acquired within the Union State,” said Irina Driga.

“The award is a symbol, a sign,” said Lyudmila Antonova, a counselor at the Union State Permanent Committee in Minsk. “The award personifies the long-standing relationship between the two peoples and is a testament to the friendship, cultural cooperation and unity,” she added.

The awards ceremony is by tradition held at the International Festival of Arts Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk. The amount of prize money is fixed and equals RUB5 million. In addition, all nominees for the prize will be awarded commemorative diplomas.

Three awards of the Union State in the field of art and literature are awarded every two years. The main selection criterion is the importance of the contribution of artistic works towards the strengthening of relations of brotherhood, friendship and cooperation between Russia and Belarus. The first award was presented in 2002. Back then, its winners were Russian actor Alexei Petrenko, Belarusian playwright Alexei Dudarev and People's Writer of Belarus Ivan Shamyakin. Other winners include artist Mikhail Savitsky, Leonid Shchemelev, Georgy Poplavsky and Valentin Sidorov, actors Alexander Kalyagin and Rostislav Yankovsky, composer Alexandra Pakhmutova, conductor Mikhail Finberg and other famous cultural figures from Belarus and Russia.