The Vitebsk Concert Hall, one of the main venues of the Slavianski Bazaar International Arts Festival, has closed for another stage of reconstruction until June.
"We are now focusing on interior work. About 200 people are working on the site daily. In the near future, we plan to switch to a two-shift work schedule: the last event was held on January 8th, and now mass events will not be held in the concert hall until its reopening after the renovation, i.e., June 2024," said Gleb Lapitsky, General Director of the Vitebsk Cultural Centre.
The facility is included in the state investment program. Funding for the capital repairs is provided from the republican, regional, and city budgets. This year, it is planned to utilise approximately Br20 million. As Gleb Lapitsky explained, a similar amount was allocated over the previous eighteen months. Exterior work has already been completed by 95%. The external appearance of the palace has been transformed, with eye-catching lighting, a LED screen, staircases, and the adjacent territory has received a new design.
Currently, the replacement of internal engineering systems is underway at the facility, and equipment is being procured for the premises. Video projecion equipment and LED screens have already been purchased, now it's the turn of sound and lighting, thanks to which the concert hall will gain technical independence.
"The technical condition of the concert hall does not allow holding mass events, including the "Slavianski Bazaar", the International Festival of Modern Choreography (IFMC), without the involvement of rented equipment," Gleb Lapitsky clarified. - Having purchased this equipment, we will be able to hold events on our own and provide the necessary assistance - technical support not only at city, but also at regional and republican events."
The bulk of the repair work will be completed by June 10, however, the financing will be utilized until the end of the year, after the Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia (Concert Hall "Vitebsk" is one of the venues for the forum) and the "Slavianski Bazaar". It is necessary to solve not only construction, but also logistical issues, so that the equipment arrives on time.
"When we talk about financing, our main task is to utilize the money as profitably as possible. After all, you can do one thing or, having thought it through with the customer, solve several problems for the same amount - this is the rational use of the funding allocated by the state," emphasized the General DirectorDirector of the Center for Culture.
The training process is not interrupted. The groups that previously practiced in the Concert Hall premises have relocated to other cultural institutions in the city.
"Our concert hall will be grand, but at the same time, we strive to preserve a sense of warmth in each of the interiors. After all, the concert hall is an architectural dominant of Vitebsk. Besides being an entertainment venue, it is also a place where about a thousand children come to practice every day. The hall carries a significant educational load through culture and art. We are doing our best to ensure that every person (whether they come just for a ticket, for a corporate event, or a big concert), including people with disabilities, feels comfortable and pleased."
The "Vitebsk" Concert Hall is a branch of the "Vitebsk" Center for Culture and one of the city's main festival venues. Located in Frunze Park, the complex of facilities includes, among other things, a round (dance) hall and a concert hall. During the "Slavianski Bazaar" festival, the venue hosts some solo performances by artists and a children's music competition.
Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by