Culture
Belarus and Latvia develop their cultural relations successfully on the basis of the Agreement between the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia on cooperation in the field of culture and arts of April 18, 2002.
In June 2016, a new Program of cooperation for the period of 2016-2018 was signed during the visit of the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Latvia Ms.Dace Melbarde to Belarus. The document includes the activities aimed at widening cooperation and facilitating direct contacts in music and literature, theatrical and circus art, education, cinemas, libraries, archives and museums, historical, material and intangible cultural heritage, amateur arts.
Latvians are traditional participants of large-scale cultural events in Belarus, such as the International Arts Festival “Slavyansky Bazaar in Vitebsk”, the Minsk International Film Festival “Listapad”, the International Arts Festival “Belarusian Music Autumn”, the International Forum of Theatre Arts “TEART”, and others.
Belarusian art groups and artists participate in cultural events held in Latvia. A student choir of the Belarusian State Academy of Music performed at the Latvian Academy of Music in March 2015. A group “Talaka” of the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts participated in the International Folklore Festival “Baltica” in July 2015. A folklore group “Kupalinka” of the Belarusian State Philharmonic Society and the Belarusian State Academic Musical Theatre toured in Latvia.
In July – September 2016, the exhibition “The Times and Works of Leon Bakst” was opened at the Museum of Arts “Riga Bourse” dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the outstanding artist, stage designer, and book illustrator. The UNESCO General Conference proclaimed 2016 the Year of Bakst on the initiative of Belarus.
In September – November 2016, the exhibition “Belarus and Belarusians” of the National History Museum of the Republic of Belarus was opened in the National Library of Latvia, Jelgava City Council and the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia.
