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 colour our weekdays 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 honoured.
– I would like 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, back 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 parliamentary body emphasised 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, within the framework of the Culture Workers' Day celebrations, the results of the work of all institutions in the region are summarised. This year, the recipients of the regional executive committee awards and honorary titles of the best in their field were: 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 Historical and Ethnographic Museum; Valentina Grinevich, director of the Ushachi District Centre of Culture and Folk Arts; and Daria Motyazh, head of the Centre of National Cultures – a branch of the Vitebsk Culture Centre. Svetlana Boltrushevich, head of the Polotsk Crafts Centre, and Olga Zagvozdova, head of the folk studio "Spadchyna" at the Shumilino House of Crafts, were recognised as the best masters of traditional 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 Yevdokia Los, were named the best in their nominations. Olga Antonenok, director of the Braslav District Museum Association, received an award for organising paid services to the public.
A number of institutions and employees have been awarded letters of gratitude from the chairmen of the regional executive committee and the regional council of deputies, and have been recognized by the relevant ministry and the regional department of culture.
Veterans of the industry were not forgotten either; the warmest words were addressed to them, and concert numbers were dedicated to them.