MINSK, 18 February (BelTA) - Culture is one of the pillars of Belarus' development, national identity, ideology and patriotism, First Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Maksim Ryzhenkov said during the meeting of the Culture Ministry, BelTA has learned.
"Overall, the past year was a difficult year, including for culture: we had to adjust all the plans in the wake of the pandemic. Yet, unlike many countries of the world, Belarus made decisions to keep the industry running even in those conditions. The cultural heart of our country kept beating. I am sure that over time the situation with the coronavirus will normalize, and work on the planned projects will continue," Maksim Ryzhenkov noted.
The countries closed down their borders amid the pandemic, tourist flows shrank. "In such situations smart states always focus on the domestic market and encourage their people to explore their own countries. Visiting museums and cultural sites, interesting lectures, interactive games… We will use these instruments to cultivate the Belarusian identity in our children, culture and love for the homeland,” Maksim Ryzhenkov said. "Tomorrow is a time for the young. Programs to find young talents and to unlock their potential are very important."
Maksim Ryzhenkov also noted that every person of culture should understand their responsibility in accordance with the status. “People look up to representatives of creative professions, leaders of public opinion. They heed to them as to where the society should go and how to interpret this or that event. The country expects people of culture to assess the situation in the country in a balanced way, taking into account the full picture, various sources, the agenda of today and past achievements and the prospects that the industry faces,” Maksim Ryzhenkov said.
The meeting was attended by Culture Minister Anatoly Markevich, representatives of the Council of Ministers, regional administrations and the Minsk city authorities, and heads of subordinate cultural institutions.
