Creating holidays for people and enriching them spiritually is a characteristic of the cultural workers' profession

Last Sunday, the workers of an industry related to the spiritual life of society celebrated their professional holiday. They celebrated, as always, at their workplaces, as weekends are the busiest working days for them. They also postponed their celebration to tomorrow, as the day before they organized a big holiday for the villagers – "Dazhynki" in Senno. Our conversation with Larisa Olenskaya, Deputy Head of the Main Department of Ideological Work, Culture and Youth Affairs of the Regional Executive Committee, is about the difficult, but noble and interesting work of cultural workers.

– Larisa Konstantinovna, Vitebsk is called the cultural capital of Belarus, and our region is the most advanced in this sphere. In your opinion, what explains this image?

– It has developed thanks to existing historical and cultural traditions. This is primarily the festival movement, which covers many regions of the area: "Zvinyats' tymbaly i harmonik" in Postavy, "Dnyaprouskiya halasy u Dubroŭne", "Braslaŭskiya zarnitsy", festivals of organ and ancient chamber music in Polotsk. Vitebsk is known in many countries as the capital of "Slavyanskiy Bazar", which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, the International Festival of Modern Choreography, and the Ivan Ivanovich Sollertinsky Music Forum.

It should be noted that this year "Vishnevyy festival" in Glubokoye, "Yablychny fеst" in Sharkovshchina, "Pesni sunichnykh baroŭ" in Liozno have seriously announced themselves, and the festival of children's and youth pop creativity "Khali-Khаlo" in Novopolotsk has been revived in a new capacity. These cultural projects, in terms of significance, number and geography of participants, are not inferior to republican, and sometimes international ones, and become the visiting card of a particular city or district.

Active work is also being carried out on the preservation of historical and cultural heritage, the development of amateur creativity, museum work, and the revival of folk crafts.

– What significant events marked the Year of Culture in the Vitebsk region?

– It began with honoring the laureates of the "Person of the Year of Vitebsk Region" award, which included representatives of the cultural sector. The official start was given at a board meeting to summarize the results of work for 2015 at the regional philharmonic hall with the participation of a symphony orchestra. A significant project of the year was a review and competition of the best creative groups and performers of the region, which encompassed a wide range of participants and revealed unique talents. The gala concert took place at the main concert venue in Vitebsk – the Summer Amphitheater.

Within the framework of "Slavianski Bazaar," a theatrical procession of the best creative groups of the Dvina region, drum majorette ensembles, and brass bands took place. It was a large-scale, vibrant presentation of the culture of Vitebsk Region at an international arts forum. The festival project of presenting the brands of cities and districts, which involved combining the efforts of folk artisans and amateur groups, received further development. We will use this form of regional presentations when holding other large-scale events.

This year is юбилейный for a number of our cultural institutions. The Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theater celebrates its 90th anniversary, the Belarusian Puppet Theater "Lyalka" celebrates its 30th anniversary, the Marc Chagall Museum turns 25, and the "Vitebsk" Cultural Center turns 65.

In general, there were many events, including state and professional holidays, and city and village days.

– How much attention is currently paid to strengthening the material base in the sphere of culture? This is an industry that brings not material, but spiritual values, yet money has to be counted by everyone nowadays.

– Despite all the difficulties, the process of strengthening the material base is not stopping. In this regard, holding significant events for the republic and the region helps. In particular, thanks to "Dazhynki," many district centers have been transformed, and cultural institutions have acquired a new look. This year alone, over 10 billion rubles (before denomination) were allocated for strengthening the material base of cultural institutions in Senno. After reconstruction, it will welcome its first visitors in October 2016.

cultural and recreational complex in Liozno.

In Vitebsk, the Museum of Private Collections has opened its doors, having relocated to the city's tourist center. A very interesting exhibition has been created there, which allows visitors to immerse themselves in a particular historical era by studying ancient artifacts. Renovation work has been completed at Mark Shagal Street, 5a, where the Museum of the History of the Vitebsk Art School will be located. Now, a worthy exhibition needs to be created there, which will require no less funds than the building reconstruction. I believe that this significant cultural object will be opened next year. By doing so, we will pay tribute to the artists who have brought fame to Vitebsk worldwide through their art.

In addition to budgetary funding, approximately 2 billion (in old currency) of sponsorship funds are received annually for strengthening the material base of cultural institutions. It should be emphasized that the Vitebsk region ranks among the first in the republic for extra-budgetary revenue in the cultural sphere. For instance, last year, we earned over 100 billion (undenominated) rubles from providing paid services. For the first 9 months of this year, we are already approaching that figure.

– It's interesting, which paid services are in the highest demand?

– Residents and guests of the region gladly attend concerts, exhibitions, museums, and other cultural and mass events. Products by folk artisans are also in demand, purchased both as souvenirs and for home decoration.

It is gratifying to note that modern young people, on their personal celebrations, wish to connect with centuries-old national culture, hence the increasing number of wedding registrations in folk traditions.

– Has the institution of patronage been established here? Are there people willing to invest their own funds in culture free of charge?

– Currently, we work with enterprises and entrepreneurs on mutually beneficial partnership terms. Among the friends of culture, I would name the enterprises "Belvest," "Marko," "Belinvestbank," "Pridvinye," and, of course, "Vitebskoblgaz." The gas workers themselves are creative people,

there are quite a few amateur art groups, and of a high level.

I would also like to thank the production associations "Naftan" and "Polotsk-Steklovolokno", which maintain their houses of culture.

– What is the current situation of rural houses of culture?

– There are social standards for the cultural services of rural residents, which we adhere to. Like other sectors, culture faces the task of optimizing the network and reducing budget expenditures. This year alone, we had to close more than 30 institutions. This is due not only to the rational use of budget funds, but also to the reduction of the rural population. Therefore, we try to consolidate cultural institutions in large villages and agro-towns, and create mixed-type institutions. At the same time, residents of sparsely populated areas are not left without attention; they are transported to events, and mobile cultural centers and bookmobiles visit them.

– For the Day of Cultural Workers, you are summing up the results of the past year's work. Who would you name among the best?

– We will honor the best in the profession tomorrow at the Vitebsk Music College named after I. Sollertinsky. Among the districts, I would like to mention Liozno, Gorodok, Vitebsk, Dokshitsy, Beshenkovichi, and Shumilino districts, which do not yet have major cultural projects but are seeking their own interesting forms of work. But in general, everyone is doing great! The creative potential of the Vitebsk region is great. We have about 3 thousand groups, 540 of which are folk and exemplary, and 11 have the title of Honored Artists of the Republic of Belarus. More than 40 thousand people are involved in them.

– Can we say that the Year of Culture for the Vitebsk region does not end in 2016?

– Yes. Next year will also be full of cultural events. Among the main ones are the Day of Belarusian Written Language in Polotsk, the 500th anniversary of Belarusian printing. In 2017, Dubrovno will host "Dazhynki". Braslav will host the юбилейный 50th festival "Braslavskiye Zarnitsy", etc.

Creating holidays for people and enriching them spiritually is a characteristic feature of the profession of cultural workers.

From my point of view, culture in a broad sense

in the sense of the word – it is the state of mind of society and each person individually, as it includes education, upbringing, behavior, positive perception of the surrounding reality.

Tatyana Pasternak. Photo by Anton STEPANISHCHEV. "Vitebskiye vesti".