15 culture news headlines from 6 countries in May
Armenia
Concert of All-Armenian Orchestra was held in Yerevan. On 24 April, at the day of commemoration of the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, the first concert of the All-Armenian Orchestra was held in Yerevan. A unique concert united musicians of Armenian origin from all over the world within the framework of the unprecedented project "All-Armenian Orchestra". This was announced at a press conference by Armenian culture minister Armen Amiryan. According to him, this project reflects three main ideas: the unity of the Armenian people, the presentation of the powerful creative potential of Armenia to the world and the idea of revival. Newsarmenia.am
"Renaissance" IX International Contest-Festival is being held in Gyumri. With the support of the Ministry of Culture from 19 April to 30 May, the "Renaissance" IX International Contest-Festival is being held in Gyumri. This year it is dedicated to 25thanniversary of diplomatic relations between Republic of Armenia and other countries and the 20th anniversary of establishment of the branch of Yerevan State Conservatory in Gyumri. Ministry of Culture of Armenia
Azerbaijan
8th Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival opens in Baku. The 8th Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival has kicked off in Baku. Co-organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, it brings together Azerbaijani and foreign musicians. The State Symphonic Orchestra and Azerbaijan State Choir Capella performed at the opening ceremony of the Festival. Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan
Aliyev: reforms in culture sector will be conducted. During the meeting with the representatives of Belarusian culture ministry, Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani President, underlined that reforms of the country’s culture field will be held. During the visit, the delegation of Belarus visited regional authorities, museums, libraries, art galleries, music and art schools. Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan
Cultural cooperation between Azerbaijan and Latvia was discussed in Riga. On 26 April, the Latvian Minister of Culture DaceMelbārde and Azerbaijani ambassador to this country Javanshir Akhundov held a meeting in Riga. At the meeting, the Ambassador informed about recent visits of Latvian high-level delegations to Azerbaijan. Melbārde, in turn, stressed the importance of intensification of cultural exchange and expansion of tourism contacts between Latvia and Azerbaijan. Azertag.az
Belarus
International Festival of Youth Theaters was held in Baranavichy. On 24-30 April, the VII International Festival-Seminar of Youth Amateur Theaters "Parallel Worlds" was held in Baranovichi. The jury selected the best performances of 18 amateur theaters from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Germany. Belta
Festival of Francophone Amateur Theaters was held in Minsk. The 24th Festival of Francophone Amateur Theaters was held on 28-29 April at the Minsk Palace of Children and Youth. The Embassy of France in Belarus provided awards and prizes for forum participants. The purpose of the forum is to provide the opportunities for children learning French to show a performance in French language; it also helps teachers to encourage students to learn French. Belta
Novopolotsk will be the cultural capital of 2018. The significant efforts are made in the city to develop and popularize the achievements of the Belarusian culture and inclusion of the broad sections of population into it, Ministry of Culture of Belarusreports. The efforts also directed to provide the necessary attention to the development of the social sphere. In 2016, the project "From an inclusive school to an inclusive city" was launched, which aims to bring the barrier-free environment institute to a new level in Novopolotsk. Ministry of Culture of Belarus
Georgia
Georgian region got listed to Culture and Creativity-inspired project. Mtskheta-Mtianeti, a Georgian region, along with five other regions and cities of the Eastern Partnership countries, was selected for the participation in the "Creative Cities and Regions" project of the EU-EaP Culture and Creativity Programme "Culture and Creativity". The project’s main aim is to increase the creative potential. Thanks to the initiative, creative industries – performing art, music, cinema, photography, design, architecture, advertising, computer programming, literature and publishing, media – have become a significant contribution to the country's GDP and a source of jobs. Newsgeorgia.ge
President Margelashvili opened an exhibition of Georgia’s historic archive in Paris. On 21 April, President Margelashvili has opened a special exhibition revealing historic documents of the First Republic of Georgia (Democratic Republic of Georgia) in the capital of France. These materials are of high importance for Georgia as they were possessed by high officials of the first Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1918-1921. Georgian President also underlined the close cooperation between Georgia and UNESCO since the country became a member of the organization in 1992. Ministry of Culture of Georgia
Moldova
Moldovan culture minister met her Romanian counterpart. Within the meeting, Monica Babuc and Ionuț Vulpescu discussed the organization of joint cultural events and underlined the public's attention to such events. The parties expressed mutual interest in supporting cultural exchanges and discussed prospects for expanding their cultural co-operation. Ministry of Culture of Moldova
Foreign documentary films were presented in five Moldovan cities. On 27-30 April, the festival of documentary cinema "Chesnok-2017" was held for the second time in Transnistria. The program of the event was presented for the residents of five cities - Tiraspol, Bender, Dubossary, Rybnitsa and Chisinau. It included ten films: six full-length and four short ones. These are works by well-known foreign documentaries from Great Britain, the USA, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Georgia, Romania, Estonia, Switzerland and Peru. Moldovanews.md
Ukraine
Moldova-Ukraine culture co-operation was discussed in Kyiv. On 18 April, Ukrainian culture minister Yevgen Nyshchuk held a meeting with Moldovan ambassador to Ukraine Ruslan Bolbocean. During the meeting, the parties discussed the state of processing of the Program of Cooperation in the field of culture between both ministries for 2017-2021 and considered potential amendments and additions, which can benefit the interests of both countries. Ministry of Culture of Ukraine
Poroshenko signed two cinema-related laws. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed the Law "On the state support of cinematograph in Ukraine" and the Law “On the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation". The first piece of legislation introduces a tax rebate: it is proposed to support both Ukrainian and foreign filmmakers by returning 16.6% of the funds invested by producers and 10% of the cost of acting fees in Kyiv/Sevastopol and 4.5% in other settlements. It is assumed that by acting this way Ukraine will encourage foreign producers to shoot movies in the country. The goal of the second law is to contribute to the development of culture and art of Ukraine. The fund will be engaged in expert selection, financing and monitoring of cultural and artistic projects, granting grants and scholarships, etc. Lb.ua
