Music, theatre, cinema: How Belarus and Russia deepen cultural ties

“Cultural cooperation with the Russian Federation within the framework of the Union State is one of the most important areas of our partnership,” Dmitry Shlyakhtin noted.

He emphasized that even long-standing joint projects implemented over the past three decades continue to evolve, gaining new components each year to expand their reach and attract audiences.

The first deputy minister highlighted the preservation of shared historical memory, particularly the memory of the Great Patriotic War, as a key area of cooperation.

“This year we are completing the Union State project for the restoration of facilities at the Brest Fortress. This is truly significant. Everything is visible: visitors to the complex can immediately see what has been done,” Dmitry Shlyakhtin added.

Cooperation between museum institutions has also been strengthened. As he noted, one of the landmark projects will be presented as early as next week. “We have been working toward this for a long time. I am more than confident it will take place, and we will have the opportunity to see in Belarus, at the National Art Museum, one of the masterpieces of world painting created by a native of Belarus. This is a great honor for us,” he said.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State has also tasked the cultural agencies of both countries with expanding cultural initiatives across all areas: music, theatre, cinema, and training of talented youth. The Belarusian side has put forward several proposals, which are currently under consideration.

“But we are not making predictions yet, because the review process for Union State projects and events is lengthy. Not everything is straightforward: some projects take several years to move forward, but we are progressing confidently,” Dmitry Shlyakhtin concluded.