MINSK, 6 February (BelTA) – Belarus is yet to exploit the full potential of its museums, Belarusian Culture Minister Yuri Bondar noted at a session to sum up the results of the ministry's work in 2017, BelTA has learned.
According to the minister, there are mixed opinions about whether the potential of Belarusian museums has been exploited to the fullest. There is a need to think about some transformations in this sector, taking into account the relevant international experience.
The number of museum visitors went up in 2017. The leaders were the Belarusian State Museum of the Great Patriotic War History, the Brest Fortress Memorial, the National Historical and Cultural Museum Reserve Nesvizh, the National History Museum, and the Mir Castle. Free admissions to the Belarusian State Museum of the Great Patriotic War History accounted for over a half of the total number of visitors (56.5%). The State Museum of the History of Belarusian Literature and the National Historical and Cultural Museum Reserve Nesvizh also reported a high share of free visits. In this regard, Yuri Bondar urged the museums to pay attention to profitability.
Meanwhile the work is underway to arrange museum exhibitions in the regions. Yet, the task to set up a permanent exhibition at the State Museum of the History of Belarusian Literature was failed.
The work of the National History Museum also got mixed reviews. On the one hand, this institution is among the top five most visited museums in the country and among the leaders in raising funds from sponsors. On the other hand, the National History Museum failed to meet the main performance targets, and the average wages are among the lowest among all the national museums.
Yuri Bondar named the top-priority tasks for 2018 in museum affairs: to arrange permanent exhibitions in the Mogilev-based Byalynitsky-Birulya Museum of the Belarusian National Art Museum and in the southeast barracks of Brest Forrest, design a new building of the National History Museum, intensify the informatization process in museum affairs, modernize the automated collection management system, introduce audio guides in regional museums, and revitalize the work of national methodology and coordination centers.
