Press releases

18 Oct 2018

UNESCO to consider including Budslau Fest in intangible cultural heritage list in November

MINSK, 18 October (BelTA) - UNESCO will consider including the Budslau Fest in the list of the intangible cultural heritage in November, Belarus Culture Minister Yuri Bondar said at the event to celebrate cultural workers, BelTA has learned.

“UNESCO will consider including the Budslau Fest in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at a session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in November,” Yuri Bondar said. Belarus continues systematic work to detect, study and describe the cultural values with subsequent incorporation into the state list of historical and cultural values. Today it includes more than 5,500 objects.

The minister stressed that Belarus attaches great attention to the development of culture. Extra-budgetary revenue has been increasing. So has the export of services. The Culture Ministry expects that by the end of the year, the export of services will exceed $5 million. It is almost 6% more than in 2017, Yuri Bondar said. He recalled that on the instructions of the Belarusian president the country has revived the manufacture of musical instruments, including “Belarus” piano. The presentation for the head of state took place in September. Experts who were in attendance recognized that the instruments have excellent acoustic performance, and musical characteristics.

The best representatives of the cultural sector were honored during the event. They received diplomas and gifts from Deputy Prime Minister Igor Petrishenko who also read out the president’s greetings on the Day of Cultural Workers.

The Budslau Ice of Our Lady is kept in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the agro-town of Budslau, Myadel District, Minsk Oblast. The icon was painted by an unknown artist in the 16th century. The Mother of God of Budslau is considered patroness of Belarus. The icon is revered as the protector of all Belarusian Catholics. Thousands of pilgrims come to Budslau to take part in the Budslau Fest every year and ask Our Lady for intercession.