On December 18th, Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree, declaring 2016 as the Year of Culture in Belarus

On December 18th, Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree, declaring 2016 as the Year of Culture in Belarus. “Our creative unions came up with the initiative to announce 2016 as the Year of Culture, rather than the Culture Ministry of Belarus,” notes Belarus’ First Deputy Culture Minister, Irina Driga.


2016 marks the 125th anniversary of the birth of Maxim Bogdanovich, as well as the 75th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Mulyavin, and special jubilees for Kondrat Krapiva, Ivan Shamyakin and many other Belarusian writers.

2016 is also the 25th jubilee of the Slavianski Bazaar. Ms. Driga believes that each of these events and personalities is worthy of receiving a special range of events.

A concert at the Belarusian State Philharmonic will be one of the first landmark events in the year’s cycle, dedicated to the memory of Vladimir Mulyavin. Works written by the musician will receive a great deal of attention, and the modern line-up of Pesnyary will perform at the Maxim Gorky National Academic Drama Theatre. Meanwhile, the National Academic Folk Orchestra of Belarus (named after Zhinovich) will perform Song about Fate in Minsk, and in other Belarusian cities.

Next year, various events are scheduled to mark the anniversary of Maxim Bogdanovich’s birth, including Reading Bogdanovich Together.