Armenia
Armenian journalists are encouraged to participate in prestigious media-related contest. Newsarmenia reports about possibilities that open up for Armenian journalists with the launch of new Adami Media Prize, the contest designed to encourage audio-visual journalists and media professionals in the Eastern Partnership countries to focus upon the themes of migration, integration and cultural diversity. It also quotes the director of this media project Stefan Tolz saying that Adami is not something new for Europe. “The same contest, Civis, has been held in Germany for almost 25 year,” he stressed, adding that the end of the competition will be marked in December in Tbilisi. Newsarmenia
Days of Armenian culture are to be held in Belarus. According to the 2014-2017 co-operation deal signed between the culture ministers of Belarus and Armenia, in 2016 Days of Armenian culture are planned to be held in Belarus, Hayastannews reports. At the same time, Armenpress specifies that the deal provides for the parties to facilitate the exchange of touring theaters, musical and choreographic bands from Belarus and Armenia. Also film festivals and exchange of days of cinema are planned to be conducted within these Days. Hayastannews, Armenpress
Gyumri is named 2016 Armenian Youth Capital. Following the decision of respective authorities, the city of Gyumri was awarded with the title of Armenian Youth Capital of 2016, Hayastannews writes. Online source also recalls that this contest has been held since 2013. Hayastannews
Azerbaijan
Programme of Eurovillage-2015 festival is revealed. The programme of Eurovillage-2015, the European culture festival, was revealed, Azertag reports. According to the Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan, the festival, which is set to be held on 19 September, is aimed at allowing the EU member states to showcase their culture and traditions. Azertag also adds that the festival has been held in Azerbaijan since 2013. Azertag
Belarus
Russian essay writer praises Belarus state’s treatment of culture. During the celebrations dedicated to the Day of Belarusian writing, Aleksandr Kazintsev, Russian essay writer and deputy editor-in-chief of magazine Nash Sovremennik, said that Belarus state’s treatment of culture is exemplary, Belta writes. Now, according to him, the culture is losing its audience. “Therefore there is a need to rescue the culture,” he stressed, adding that this should be the task not for individuals, but for the state. “If state needs smart population, it will stand by literature, culture, magazines, in particular,” Kazintsev concluded. Belta
Deputy Prime Minister says Day of Belarusian writing enriches the culture. During his opening address at the Day of Belarusian writing, Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Rusiy emphasised the importance of this Day, saying it enriches Belarusian culture, Belta writes. As he argued, this Day indicates the richness of cultural heritage and spiritual traditions of Belarusian people, the source says. Belta
Georgia
Government pledges to rehabilitate over 30 country’s heritage properties by 2015-end. Georgia’s government is developing plans of rehabilitation of more than 20 of the country’s most unique heritage properties, including castles, medieval towns, churches, towers, etc., by the end of 2015, Agenda.ge reports. Moreover, it has also set aside GEL 1,4 million to rehabilitate an additional 13 structures by the year-end, the source says. Agenda.ge
Moldova
Moldovan official awarded with prestigious cultural prize. Ion Stefanita, Secretary General of the Moldovan Agency for Inspection and Restoration of Monuments, was awarded with Europa Nostra Prize as a sign of recognition of the efforts aimed at preserving culture heritage in Moldova, Noi.md writes. The source also quotes Pirkka Tapiola, the Head of EU Delegation to Moldova, saying that Europa Nostra is “a great achievement in country’s cultural life.” The Prize, according to Noi.md, celebrates and promotes the best practices related to heritage preservation, management, research, education and communication. Noi.md, Newsmaker
New culture-related course will be launched in Moldovan schools. As of beginning of new academic year, the Culture of Good Neighborliness course will be incorporated into the school curricula of the elementary schools in Moldova, Newsmarker reports with reference to InfoTag. More specifically, more than 750 pupils in 30 schools along both banks of Dniester river will be studying this course. The project, which will last up to the end of 2015, is designed to improve the relations between Moldovan regions, including Transnistria, as well as to boost intercultural education and foster tolerance, Newsmarker adds. Newsmarker, InfoTag, AllMoldova
The contest on funding cultural projects was launched. Noi.md quotes Monica Babuc, Moldova’s culture minister, encouraging Moldovan NGOs to take part in contest on gaining the funds to implement their cultural projects. As she emphasised, MDL 2 million has been granted by the government for this programme. The priority will be given to NGOs engaged in cinema sphere, culture community, literature, music, culture heritage sector and theater. Noi.md, AllMoldova, Point.md
Ukraine
Adami Media Prize contest kicks-off in Ukraine. The Adami Media Prize contest kicks-off in Ukraine, with its presentation for Ukrainian journalists held in Kyiv on 8 September, Ukrainian TV channel UA:Pershiy reports. The contest’s core idea is to encourage audio-visual journalists and media professionals in the Eastern Partnership countries to focus upon the themes of migration, integration and cultural diversity. The channel also quotes director of this media project Stefan Tolz explaining what Adami means. “Adamiani” in Georgian means “human being,” in Turkish it is also translated as “human being,” and we all recognise that Adam was the first human being. And the project itself is about people,” Tolz emphasised. Ukrainian journalists have time till 25 October to send their applications for participation in the contest, the channel adds. UA:Pershiy
British culture-related expert delivered a lecture in Ukraine; engages himself in ambitious Kyiv-based project. Bill Macalister, a British expert in cultural sector, visited Ukraine in the framework of the EU-Eastern Partnership Culture and Creativity Programme and delivered a speech in Kyiv. He is set to assist new team to transform Kyiv-based Soviet era-styled VDNKh (Exhibition of Economic Achievements) area into the modern space. Sharing his future plans with Ukrainska Pravda on this occasion, he admitted that before going to Kyiv to engage himself into this project he studied the similar transformations that had previously been held in London. In this context, Macalister wants new Ukrainian team to examine such examples; however, unsuccessful cases, according to him, are also useful. He also gave a short interview to Radio Svoboda, in which confirmed his interest to work in Ukraine and said that one of the missions that should be realised within the Programme on Ukrainian soil is to implement new practices into old-fashioned ground. Radio Svoboda, Ukrainska Pravda
Ukrainska Pravda reports about Lviv-hosted EaP Culture Congress. Ukrainska Pravda made a comprehensive report about the Eastern Partnership Culture Congress that took place in Lviv on 4-6 September. The event gathered together about 500 culture activists, local authorities and civil organisations representatives, media, etc. who discussed issues related to culture, its development during crisis times and ways of its integration into economy. The source also quotes Mikheil Saakashvili, the head of Odesa Regional State Administration, saying during the event that “culture is a soft power that brings understanding there where politicians lack tools.” Ukrainska Pravda, Liviy Bereg
