Проблемы постсоветского пространства (Jan 2020)
Slovak-Belarusian culture relations
Abstract
The Slovak Republic (SR) established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Belarus (RB) in January 1993. Bilateral relations between two Slavic countries, which are historically not burdened with negative experience or problems, are developing in several areas. In recent years, an unprecedented development of Slovak-Belarusian relations can be observed, which is mainly associated with an active political dialogue between the two countries. Bilateral relations are developing in the fields of economics, education, tourism, as well as in the cultural sphere.The main pillar of Slovak-Belarusian cultural ties is the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Culture and Art, which was concluded between the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus in 2005 in Minsk. Currently, there is close cooperation between individual cultural institutions in the field of music, fine arts, literature, as well as intensive cooperation between museums, galleries and libraries. Cultural cooperation between the SR and BR is so actively supported not only by the Slovak and Belarusian ministries of culture, but also by diplomatic missions in both countries.An important milestone in the intensification of mutual cultural ties is the exhibition dedicated to O.P. Mariks, the founder of Belarusian theatrical scenography of Slovak origin, in Bratislava in 2018, the exhibition by Z. Graus Rudavsky “Touch of Slovakia. Picture. Object. Jewel” in Minsk in 2016, the publication of translations of the poems of the great Belarusian poet Y. Kupala in 2017, as well as the publication of publications by the Belarusian author N. Trus about the visit of a Belarusian writer to the territory of modern Slovakia in 1935.Great potential for mutual Slovak-Belarusian cultural cooperation can be observed in the exchange of traditional folklore ensembles. Musical groups present their cultural heritage at various cultural events that are held not only in Slovakia (Slavica Festival, Dozhinki — festival-fair of toilers of the village, etc.), but also in Belarus (Slavic Bazaar in Vitebsk; etc.). Opportunities for cooperation between the SR and Belarus, i.e. culturally and geographically similar countries are very wide. The aim of the article is to identify the specifics and dynamics of Slovak-Belarusian cultural cooperation at the present stage.
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