THE TOP-17 NEWS OF THE END OF SEPTEMBER
Armenia
Weekly reflects on the need of transformations in Armenian schoolbook sphere. Reflecting on the statement of Armenian education and science minister Armen Ashotian about government’s intentions to comprehensively review school curricula in Armenia, weekly Piatnitsa assumes that transformations may also target the sphere of country’s schoolbooks. Referring, among others, to experience held in England, where, according to the weekly, the government once decided to give up using schoolbooks, Piatnitsa is searching for the ways to improve distribution and quality of schoolbooks in Armenia, linking finally all aspects related to these school-related items to the future level of professional behavior in the country. Piatnitsa
German land minister is satisfied with German-Armenian cultural ties. In an interview with Armenpress, Stephan Dorgerloh, culture and education minister of Germany’s Saxony-Anhalt land, expressed his satisfaction with the level of development of Armenia-Germany cultural co-operation. “We have years-long tradition of cultural co-operation with Armenia,” he emphasised, arguing that initially it was only on school level, but afterwards two countries became co-operating in several sectors of science, education and culture. “The co-operation has expanded during these years,” Dorgerloh concluded. Armenpress
Azerbaijan
CIS experts discussed amendments to CIS Cultural Capitals Programme. On 22-23 September in Minsk, an expert group met to discuss amendments to the Provisions of Interstate Cultural Capitals of CIS Programme, Azertag reports. Thus all Programme-related remarks and suggestions are expected to be made by 30 October. Azertag
Source reports about the opening of Eurovillage-2015 festival. Azertag reports about the opening ceremony of the Eurovillage-2015 festival in Icherisheher, Baku’s historic downtown. The aim of the festival, which is organized jointly by the Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan and EU member states’ embassies, is to raise public’s awareness about traditions and culture specifics of European people. This festival, which includes different shows, various competitions, quizzes, karaoke, concerts and museum tours, has been held in Azerbaijan for the third time, the source adds. Azertag
Belarus
Expert points at the lack of cultural policy in Belarus. Reflecting to the report on Belarus’ implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, Tatiana Vodolazhskaya, an expert of the Center for European Transformation, Belarusian think tank, gave a short interview to Eurobelarus, in which stressed, among others, that “in fact, there is an absence of cultural policy in Belarus.” “There is planning, resource management, distribution, but there is no [cultural] policy.” Speaking about culture-related problems in Belarus, Vodolazhskaya pointed at “the monopolisation by the state of management in the sphere of culture,” as well as state’s involvement in “determining culture’s development, funding methods, etc.” Moreover, according to her, the situation with human rights protection, rule of law and democratic freedoms within the country “hamper the development of culture and its positive influence on the development of society.” Eurobelarus
Film-maker is indignant at the state-inspired cinema law. Andrey Kureichik, a Belarusian film-maker, rigidly criticises new state’s initiative on the introduction of a regulatory approval system in relation to making films in Belarus, Charter97 writes with reference to Kureichik’s Facebook. “This is total end of Belarusian cinematograph, total abolishment of any creative initiative,” Kureichik wrote in his Facebook page. “We, film-makers, are being made illegal residents,” he emphasised, adding, moreover, that such practices do not exist in the world. Charter97
European Heritage Days will be held in Belarus on 24 September. On 24 September, Minsk will host the kick-off of the European Heritage Days, with vintage car exhibition, art market, graffiti festival as well as numerous poets and musicians performances planned to be held within the Days, TV channel CTV reports. The channel reminds that the European Heritage Days is a big campaign, with the participating countries organising events aimed at promoting their own specific topics. Thus the focus of this year’s Belarusian Days is industrial heritage. CTV, Belarus’ culture ministry
Belarus joins EU-CoE-led COMUS project. Belarus joined EU-Council of Europe Community-led Urban Strategies in Historic Towns (COMUS) Project, with country’s deputy culture minister Alexander Yatsko signing the respective document on 18 September in Tbilisi, Belta writes. The Project, which encompasses six Eastern Partnership member countries, is aimed at revitalising historic towns, raising large-scale investments both within and outside the country. Mstislavl has been designated from Belarus as a pilot historic town to take part in the Project. Belta
Belarusian Culture Days will be held in Moldova on 30 September – 2 October. On 30 September – 2 October, Belarusian Culture Days in Moldova will be held, Belta writes. Within the Days, the meeting of Belarus’ officials with the leadership of Belarusian Diaspora in Moldova is planned to be held, among others, the source says. Belta
Georgia
EU will assist EaP countries in developing their cultures. The European Union committed itself to assisting Eastern Partnership countries in developing their cultures, as a conference paving the way for the start of, among others, new EU-funded EU-Eastern Partnership Culture and Creativity Programme had been held in Tbilisi, Sputnik-Georgia reports. EU-Eastern Partnership Culture and Creativity Programme will run from 2015 till 2018, source says, adding that apart from this Programme also COMUS and Creative Europe initiatives were presented during the event. Sputnik-Georgia
Culture minister held meeting with UNESCO representative. Mikheil Giorgadze, Georgia’s culture and monuments protection minister, met with Irina Bokova, the UNESCO Director-General, in Paris, Interpressnews reports, adding that the sides discussed deepening of bilateral co-operation and conditions for recognising monuments in Georgia as UNESCO’s world heritage sites. Interpressnews
Georgian museum was shortlisted for prestigious European award. Unique Georgian Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography was shortlisted for next year’s prestigious European Museum of the Year Award, Dalma writes with reference to Agenda. The European museum authority handpicked 49 museums from all over Europe to contest the prize that recognises overall excellence by judging candidates on their contribution to visitor experience and innovation in presentation. Dalma, Agenda
Moldova
European Heritage Days will be held in Moldova on 24-27 September. According to Moldova’s culture minister Monica Babuc, Moldova is preparing for holding European Heritage Days on 24-27 September, under the motto “Industrial and Technical Heritage,” Newsmaker writes with reference to IPN. The European Heritage Days campaign, which was founded by the Council of Europe in 1999, is being marked in 50 European countries by more than 20 million people, the source adds. According to Point, the Days are aimed at having the meaningful talk about the ways to preserve and promote the Moldovan industrial heritage. Newsmaker, IPN, AllMoldova, Point
Belarusian Culture Days will be held in Moldova on 30 September – 2 October. On 30 September – 2 October, Belarusian Culture Days will be held in Moldova, with various culture-related events planned to be conducted in the country, Vesti writes with reference to Infotag. Vesti, Infotag, AllMoldova, IPN, Noi, Moldova’s culture ministry
Ukraine
Ukraine signed Memorandum of Understanding with EU-CoE within COMUS Project. On 18 September in Tbilisi, Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the EU and Council of Europe regarding the implementation of Community-led Urban Strategies in Historic Towns (COMUS) Project, KMU.gov.ua, an official online resource of Ukraine’s executives, reports. COMUS is designed to enhance the importance of cultural heritage for social and economic development, to bolster co-operation between local authorities and local communities, to improve cultural heritage administration systems, as well as to bring respective documents into the line with European standards and norms. Two Ukrainian cities – Lutsk and Zhovkva – have been chosen as pilot ones to participate in COMUS Project. KMU.gov.ua, UKRINFORM
Ukrainian and foreign experts discussed creative industries’ potential in Ukraine. Foreign and Ukrainian experts gathered together during Creative Economy – Ukrainian Startup International Conference in Kyiv to discuss issues related to specifics of development of creative industries in Ukraine and other countries, newspaper Den writes. The paper quotes Ragnar Siil, an international adviser of Georgian and Ukrainian culture ministries, saying that, according to statistics, “50% of people in Europe are employed in cultural and creative sectors.” These industries, he adds, have great potential to trigger the development of economy. At the same time, David Parrish, famous business adviser for creative entrepreneurs, showed the direct links between business and creativeness, assuring that there is high possibility to get financial benefit if these two concepts are practically connected. Ukraine, however, have potential to boost the development of its creative and cultural industries as the country is preparing to benefit from new EU-Eastern Partnership Culture and Creativity Programme worth EUR 4,2 million. “We believe that the culture development programme is essential for modernising cultural sector through filling the gap there were culture ministry does not work,” Terry Sandell, the Programme Director, said, expressing, moreover, no doubts that newly set up Programme will also “promote the dynamic development of culture” in Ukraine. Den, Ukrainska Pravda
Well-known British creative economy expert shares his experience in the sector with Ukrainians. David Parrish, famous business adviser for creative entrepreneurs, director of T-Shirts and Suits Ltd., gave an interview to Ukrainska Pravda in which shared his experience in developing creative economy. According to him, Ukraine is full of creative talents, and if the country manages to connect “creative passion with business thinking,” it will succeed. Parrish believes it is a mistake to make divisions between art and commercial successfulness, as the development of creative industries allows people to earn much money and, consequently, pay more taxes. In addition, Parrish specified that his approach could be used by connecting creativeness with business, which stimulates economic growth, and by using i-Creative work to help current industries become more innovative and creative in every business sector. Ukrainska Pravda
