Polotsk, Belarus’ 2010 cultural capital, to showcase its achievements in January

VITEBSK, 13 December (BelTA) – More than 50 exhibitions, concerts, meetings with artists, and festivals were held in Polotsk as part of the country’s first campaign Cultural Capital 2010, the head of the culture department of Polotsk Town Hall Inna Shakhovich told BelTA. At the beginning of 2009 the Belarusian Culture Ministry launched a campaign Cultural Capital of Belarus. The campaign is aimed at relieving regional cultural life, promoting initiatives to support national culture and catching the public eye. This campaign allowed Polotsk residents and town guests to get acquainted with Belarusian cultural achievements. Polotsk welcomed best artistic companies the country such as the Kharoshki dance company, Classic-Avantgarde and Pesniary. The State Art Gallery housed an exhibition of lithographies by Napoleon Orda provided by the Belarusian National History Museum, paintings by Ivan Khrutsky dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of the artist and exhibitions of Belarusian and foreign modern artists. The presentation of Polotsk will take place in Minsk in January 2011. The official capital of the country will get acquainted with creative achievements of its 2010 cultural capital. Minsk will host about 400 amateur and craft artists. It is expected that the 2011 Belarusian cultural capital will be announced at the gala performance in Polotsk. Europe has been choosing its cultural capital since 1985. The first city to be honored was Athens. Since 1990s the American and Middle East cities have been awarded the status of the cultural capital. The 2010 European Cultural Capitals are Pecs (Hungary), Essen (Germany) and Istanbul (Turkey).

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