The National Library of Belarus hosted the Russian-Belarusian Forum of New Cultural Initiatives on November 25.
The scientific forum included a plenary session "Cultural initiatives as the basis for the development of creative industries in Russia and Belarus" and round tables on the following topics:
"Improving the competitiveness of creative products and services of domestic entrepreneurs"
"The potential of creative products forming a national value based on the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia and Belarus"
“Culture in the modern information space".
Heads and specialists of federal, regional and municipal authorities in the field of culture of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, heads of cultural and educational institutions, representatives of media communities, foundations and organizations in the creative industries took part in the event.
The participants discussed the issues of organizing and holding joint creative projects, cultural events, exhibitions-fairs, festivals, contests, shared their views on the necessity to develop creative initiatives in the regions of the two countries, mutual promotion and informational support of the projects, exchanged experience in their successful implementation in Russia and Belarus.
All the speakers emphasized that regional cooperation between the two countries is the main direction in strengthening the Slavic cultural space.
A photo exhibition dedicated to the Minsk School of Photography (1960–2000) was presented to guests of the forum by the museum and exhibition centre "Rosfoto". There are 50 images on display, including works by popular photographers: Viktar Butra, Anatol Dudkin, Jauhien Kaziulia, Mikhail Zhylinski, Ihar Sauchanka, Uladzimir Parfianok, Suarhiej Kazhamiakin. The photographic works, although separated by different time periods, show a certain aesthetic similarity and are characterized by a reflection on Belarusian and Soviet history, as well as on the media possibilities of photography.
The modern period of photography in Minsk is represented in the Rosfoto collection by such works as the series "Co-creation" by Daniil Parniuk, the portrait series "Two minutes later" by Andrej Kaliesnikau, and a series of works by Andrej Vazniasienski made in an alternative printing technique – gum arabic. These photographic series, created in the first decade of the 21st century, allow us to speak again about the Minsk School of Photography as a community against the background of the general globalisation of photography and the growing interest in international university schools of photography.
The exhibition can be viewed until 9 December 2021 in the Atrium on the 2nd floor of the Library.
Admission is by the library card or by the Social and Cultural Centre ticket.
For more info: (+375 17) 368 37 37.
Public Relations Department
