«Guardians of Heritage»: Vitebsk Honors the Best Cultural Workers
This is how the renowned artist and thinker Nicholas Roerich defined culture. How many more epithets and beautiful words do people deserve who make our lives sublime, spiritually fulfilling, and color our everyday lives with bright, joyful hues? On the eve of their professional holiday, these words were heard from the stage of the Vitebsk College of Culture and Arts, where the best workers were honored.
“I want to express my gratitude to the people who carefully preserve and multiply the heritage of our country. Culture is the foundation for preserving the identity of a nation. The Vitebsk region has made a huge contribution to world culture. We are proud of the great masters who, even in the era of Euphrosyne of Polotsk, left murals on the walls of the Transfiguration Church, artists Marc Chagall, Kazimir Malevich, and other cultural figures who have glorified our land,” noted Dmitry Demidov, Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies.
Speaking about the present day, the head of the region's deputy corps emphasized that the Vitebsk region is known as the birthplace of many festivals, including international and republican ones. Our "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" has already become a world heritage.
Traditionally, as part of the celebration of Culture Workers' Day, the results of the work of all institutions in the region are summarized. This year, the recipients of the regional executive committee awards and honorary titles of the best in their field are: Vladimir Tolmach, an artist of the regional philharmonic society; Alexandra Burdilovskaya, an actress of the Belarusian Puppet Theatre "Lyalka"; Olesya Kalacheva, a teacher at the Vitebsk Children's Art School named after A. Bogatyrev; Victoria Mlyavaya, a teacher at the Chashniki Children's Art School; Igor Fyodorov, a researcher at the Glubokoye Museum of History and Ethnography; Valentina Grinevich, director of the Ushachi District Center for Culture and Folk Arts; Daria Motyazh, head of the Center for National Cultures, a branch of the Vitebsk Culture Center. The best masters of traditional crafts are recognized as Svetlana Boltrushevich, head of the Polotsk Center for Crafts, and Olga Zagvozdova, head of the folk studio "Spadchyna" at the Shumilino House of Crafts. Tatyana Voronets, head of the Novopolotsk Children's Library named after Alexander Pushkin, and Anna Shashutkina, head of the Vitebsk Children's Library named after Evdokiya Los, were named the best in their nomination. Olga Antonenok, director of the Braslav District Association of Museums, received an award for organizing paid services to the public.
A number of institutions and employees were awarded letters of appreciation from the chairmen of the regional executive committee and the regional council of deputies, and were recognized by the relevant ministry and the regional department of culture.
Veterans of the industry were not forgotten either; they were addressed with the warmest words, and concert numbers were dedicated to them.