Opinion: Direct cultural contacts in the Union State are of crucial importance
Direct contacts between figures of culture and talented young people in Belarus and Russia are extremely important, head of the representation of the Standing Committee of the Belarus-Russia Union State in Minsk Marianna Shchetkina said at the plenary session of the forum “Cultural Space of Russia and Belarus as a basis of the ideology of the Union State” in Brest, BelTA has learned.
“In order to form a single cultural and informational space, we need to work together. Direct contacts, direct links between theaters, museums and other cultural institutions are of crucial importance. First of all, it is the preservation of historical and cultural values, historical memory. We cannot miss out on our young people. We cannot force them to be patriots, we must show historical truth, educate them by our example and by the example of those who gave their lives for the sake of our peaceful life today,” said Marianna Shchetkina.
The forum took place in the Brest Hero Fortress Memorial and was attended by representatives of the authorities, figures of the cultural and humanitarian sector of the two countries. The participants of the event discussed the consolidation of efforts to preserve the cultural heritage of Russia and Belarus, the prospects of developing new cultural projects and programs within the Union State.
According to Marianna Shchetkina, dozens of interesting, important and necessary projects are financed from the Union State budget. Most importantly, all the efforts bring results. She cited an example of already completed work to overhaul, restore and preserve the facilities in Brest Fortress. “As a result, the exposition area of the memorial complex was increased by 88% and three new excursion routes were added. If last year there were about 800-900 organized excursion groups from Russia, there are more than 1,500 of them this year already, and there are a lot of children and youth groups among them. A new project on the reconstruction of the fortress has already been prepared. I am sure that it will be supported by the culture ministries of the two countries,” Marianna Shchetkina said.
According to her, new cultural projects are implemented in all the areas. Thus, the first edition of the Library of the Union State series is almost ready. It is dedicated to the 210th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino and reveals unknown pages in the chronicle of the Patriotic War of 1812, including the participation of Belarusian regiments in the battle. The work on a large almanac is underway as part of the Bridge of Friendship contest of young writers. In September more than 300 representatives of talented youth of the two countries will attend the youth festival organized by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia in the Hero-City of Smolensk. In November, Mogilev will host the festival of creativity of the disabled “Together We Can Do More”.
There was a proposal to resume activities of the Belarusian-Russian youth symphony orchestra and workshops for talented youth “The Union State to Young Talents of the 21st Century”, and to join the Union State budget to financing the mural paintings of the Savior Transfiguration Church in Polotsk on the occasion of the 900th anniversary of the Convent of the Savior Transfiguration.