Minsk tops CIS list of cities for virtual tours
Tadeusz Kosciuszko as an Artist
4 February marked the 275th anniversary of the birth of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, the national hero of Belarus, Poland and the United States. On this day, the Memorial Manor Museum in Merechevshchina in the town of Kossovo, the hometown of the outstanding military and political figure, rolled out a unique exhibition-project showing the creative side of the famous general. The exhibition features 16 reproductions of Kosciuszko's works made in different periods of his life. Among them is his first paintings - mostly copies of the works by other artists he made while studying at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in France, and replicas of the paintings from a later period. Despite the fact that Tadeusz Kosciuszko connected his life with the military, he continued to paint after the uprising of 1794. In America he gained fame as a portraitist.
When: 4 February – 31 December
Where: Tadeusz Kosciuszko Memorial Manor Museum
108 Kosciuszko Street, Kossovo, Ivanovo District, Brest Oblast
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Artist and City project in Minsk
The 10th season of the Artist and City project has opened in Minsk, this time in Komsomolskaya Street. Its mission is to introduce Minsk residents and guests of the capital to the best representatives of contemporary Belarusian art. This time the open-air exhibition highlights the art of the famous landscape artist Leonid Shchemelev. The people’s artist passed away in January 2021, but his works will live. Many museums, including the National Art and Regional Local History, have his paintings. Guests of the Minsk open-air gallery will get acquainted with the stories behind the landscapes and paintings dedicated to the author's hometown with the help of an audio guide.
When: from 28 May
Where:
View From the Netherlands mini-festival in Minsk
The mini-festival of Dutch contemporary art "View from the Netherlands" will debut in Minsk. The event will open with the screening of Jonathan Elbers' The Club of Ugly Children (26-29 August), the Grand Prix winner of the New York International Children's Film Festival Festival in 2020. The festival will continue with the screening of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge (1 September). Sunflowers (4 September) telling the story of Vincent van Gogh’s world-famous still-life paintings of sunflowers will be a gift for lovers of Dutch art. In his Elektra/Orestes (to be screened on 5 September) director Ivo van Hove brings Euripides' Electra and Orestes and tells the story of unjustifiable evil and soul-killing revenge.
When: 26 August – 5 September
Where: Falcon Club Cinema Boutique, 20 Pobediteley Avenue, Minsk
Gustave Dore’s masterpieces in National Center for Contemporary Arts
The French graphic artist of the 19th century Paul Gustave Doré is knowns as a brilliant illustrator of literary works. His legacy encompasses tens of thousands of works, many of which have earned their place in the world’s arts Hall of fame. For the first time, Belarusian connoisseurs of Gustave Dore’s art will be able to see more than 120 illustrations to the most famous works. Among them are The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen by Rudolf Erich Raspe…
When: 27 August – 24 October
Where: National Center for Contemporary Arts, 47 Nezavisimosti Avenue, Minsk
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TheatreHD: Broadcasts of the world’s best productions in Minsk
In September the Tsentralny Cinema will continue screening the world’s best productions, including drama, opera and ballet, and documentary films as part of the #АртЛекторийВкино project (art lectures on screen) about outstanding artists.
When: from 4 August
Where: VOKA CINEMA by Silver Screen, Tsentralny cinema house, Falcon Club Cinema Boutique, Minsk
Art Minsk 2021 Festival
Art Minsk, one of the largest events presenting the art of Belarus, will bring together contemporary artists, sculptors and photographers for the fourth time… The 2021 edition is expected to gather about 240 artists. The main venue of the festival is the Palace of Art in Minsk. Other locations include the National Library of Belarus, the Art Factory space, the galleries Mastatstva and DK. Art connoisseurs will see more than 800 works in various artistic genres: from classical fine art to digital installations and video art. The festival will feature both the well-known names and also fledgling artists.
When: 3–26 September
Where: Palace of Art, National Library of Belarus, Art Factory space, Mastatstva and DK galleries
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Belarusian Written Language Day in Kopyl
This year the festival celebrating the mother tongue will be hosted by Kopyl, the birthplace of 52 famous Belarusian writers. The festival will be centered around the Year of National Unity. Its program will be packed with events to every taste. The Festival of Books and Press will feature five thematic pavilions: Unity, Memory, Traditions and Modernity, Writer’s Word, We Grow Together with the Book. Each of them will offer photo zones, thematic exhibitions and interactive programs. The Alley of Writers of Kopyl District will solemnly open during the celebrations. Interactive benches with QR codes have already been installed there. These QR codes will give access to the biography of Belarusian authors and their works. At the Literary Bench site visitors will be able to recite a poem or passage in front of a large audience: the online broadcast of the recital will be available on YouTube. An interactive QR quest Kapylski Rog will be meant for those who love quizzes, riddles and want to learn more about Belarusian writers.
When: 4-5 September
Where: Kopyl, Minsk Oblast
Vulitsa Ezha City Picnic
The sixth season of the popular Minsk picnic will wrap up with a big gastronomic event. The food court will feature about 50 cafes and restaurants, 200 dishes representing cuisines from around the world, an exclusive menu. Organic products from farmers will be available at the Local Food Market. In addition, visitors will be offered an open-air cinema, master classes and new recipes from chefs at a cooking school, Ezha Awards for the best entry of the food court, photo zones, prizes, and games.
When: 4-5 September
Where: Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 2v Surganova Street, Minsk
King Stakh’s Wild Hunt premiere in Bolshoi Theater
The Bolshoi Theater will kick off its 89th season with a premiere of the opera based on the novel by outstanding Belarusian writer Vladimir Korotkevich. The national classic was first staged in 1989, with Vladimir Soltan and music director Yaroslav Voshchak working on the production. In 1990 the creative tandem and the main actors Natalia Kostenko, Viktor Skoobogatov and Vladimir Eknadiosov received the State Award of the BSSR. The new production is directed by Anna Motornaya. Ancient castles, clocks symbolizing flowing time, chess as a keynote of the eternal game, colors and images of the Slutsk belts, decorations referring to the icons of the 15th-16th centuries - all these have became symbols filled with a special meaning important for understanding the message of the production.
When: 8 September
Where: National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, 1 Parizhskaya Kommuna Square, Minsk
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Belaya Vezha Theater Festival 2021
The forum celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Independent States will bring together 22 theaters from seven countries - Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia and Tajikistan. The 2021 edition will offer a program full of ballets, musical comedies, melodramas, experimental dramas, plastic performances, and puppet shows for children and adults. The festival will feature four Grand Prix winners of the previous forums, holders of the National Theater Award of Belarus and Russia’s Golden Mask. Due to the ongoing epidemiological situation, the organizers will provide special seating arrangement with observance of other safety measures.
When: 10-18 September
Where: Brest Academic Drama Theater, Brest Puppet Theater and Brest Oblast Palace of Culture of Trade Unions
Trip to Circus World in Minsk
The Belarusian circus invites Minsk residents and visitors to take a trip into a wonderful world of circus art. Spectators will be welcomed in the hall with an exhibition of props and costumes, interactive and photo displays, and also a museum exposition. Just for one day, the circus arena will become a platform for mini-performances, master classes, Q&A sessions with performers and a prize draw.
When: 11 September, shows at 11.00, 14.00, 17.00
Where: Belarusian State Circus, 32 Nezavisimosti Square, Minsk
Boris Grebenshchikov and the Akvarium band
RASTA BASTA! is a new program by the Russian rock-and-roll guru Boris Grebenshchikov and the legendary music band Akvarium. Boris Grebenshchikov has been composing music for over 48 years and has released over 50 albums and about 1,000 songs. He managed to “legalize” rock music back in the day and was the first Russian to adapt Western musical culture to peculiarities of the Russian language. He helped not only Petersburg romances prosper but also Jamaican reggae, African soukous, American folk music, and Irish ballades… Boris Grebenshchikov is not only a philosopher, a composer, and a poet. He is also a cult figure in Russian culture, the founder of Soviet rock music, an idol and an ideologist of young people in the 1970-1990s.
When: 12 September
Where: Prime Hall, 65 Pobeditelei Avenue, Minsk
Minsk City Day 2021
The Belarusian capital city will traditionally mark its key holiday at the beginning of the calendar autumn by inviting guests to impressive meetings in various parts of the city. This year an extensive multiday program is being prepared but the main events will take place on 10-12 September. The key venue of Minsk City Day will be the territory near the Sports Palace where a festive fair will be opened and multiple captivating events will be held. Retail outlets will open at 12:00 on Friday, 11:00 on Saturday, and 9:00 on Sunday and will stay open till late in the evening. A youth music festival will begin at noon on 11 September. An international extreme strength sports tournament Minsk Open Cup 2021 will begin there a bit later. Firefighters will arrange hot competitions for the title of the best firefighter.
A site in the Upper City will attract fans of authentic folk color schemes on 11 September – the 12th Belarusian festival of national cultures will take place there. In the evening fans of classics will enjoy a symphony of sounds by the National Academic Concert Orchestra of Belarus. The main festive day will end with fireworks in Starostinskaya Sloboda Minipark at 22:00.
Sunday will focus on sports and arts for everyone. The long-awaited Minsk Half Marathon will begin at the Sports Palace at 9:00 and is expected to attract a lot of participants. Art muses will reign in the Palace of Culture: a city festival of art by people with disabilities but big dreams, fantasy and talents will take place there.
Every administrative district of the capital city will offer open-air celebrations of its own. There will be lots of noise and merrymaking, delicious food, music, and dancing. The posters are full of festivities for individual backyards, quest games, run bike competitions for children, a strength sport cup, drawing and painting contests, children art festivals, a tourist sprint, photo exhibitions, and exhibitions of arts and crafts.
When: 10–12 September
Where: various avenues in Minsk
Minsk Half Marathon 2021
Minsk Half Marathon, the biggest running event in Belarus, has been held on Minsk City Day since 2013. The route runs through the most beautiful avenues and streets, past the main places of interest in the Belarusian capital city. In 2019, the sporting event had a record-high number of participants. The fifth edition of the half marathon brought together over 40,000 athletes and amateur runners from 68 countries. It is expected that about 10,000 people will take part in the running event this year. The participants will be required to adhere to the specific coronavirus guidelines. All athletes will be required to wear face coverings in the start zone. Protective gear can be removed 500 meters into the race. The 21.097km and 10.55km races will start at 9.00. The 5.5km race will kick off at 11.45.
When: 12 September, 9:00 and 11:45
Where: The race will start near the Palace of Sports at 4 Pobediteley Avenue, Minsk
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“Around the World in 100 Minutes” at Belarusian State Circus
An exciting program “Around the World in 100 Minutes” will kick off the 2021 autumn season at the Belarusian State Circus. Without leaving the city of Minsk, visitors will embark on a journey around the world full of adventures, new impressions, interesting encounters with colorful characters and other events. The show will feature American cowboys, Canadian pumas, camels, lamas and ponies, masterful gymnasts and tumblers.
When: 18 September – 5 December
Where: Belarusian State Circus, 32 Nezavisimosti Avenue, Minsk
New Orleans Jazz: Gregory Boyd Quartet
The Belarusian State Philharmonic will host a concert of Gregory Boyd Quartet which lead singer’s voice amazes the audience by “Cab Calloway’s charisma, Al Green’s soulfulness and Jimi Hendrix’s musicality”. The program will feature the author’s singles in the best traditions of African American jazz, funk, blues and soul, American classical jazz.
When: 24 September
Where: Belarusian State Philharmonic, 50 Nezavisimosti Ave., Minsk
Cranes and Cranberries of Miory District
The ecological festival Cranes and Cranberries of Miory District, one of the most entertaining autumn festivals in Belarus, is held in the famous natural reserve Yelnya in the middle of the cranberry picking season. Every year people in Miory District pick record volumes of cranberries and observe the migration of over 4,000 cranes and 10,000 geese. The program of the festival traditionally includes cranberry picking contests, a tasting of homemade food and cranberry preserves at local farmsteads. Visitors can also take an excursion and watch the flocks of wonderful graceful birds in the sky.
When: 25 September
Where: Yelnya Natural Reserve, Miory District, Vitebsk Oblast