On October 22, Grodno /Elena Stasyukevich - BELTA/. Nominees for the Union State Prizes in Literature and Art will be more actively sought in the regions. This was announced by Lyudmila Kurilovich, a specialist expert of the Social Policy Department of the Social Policy and Information Support Department of the Standing Committee of the Union State, at a round table meeting in Grodno, BELTA correspondent reports. The round table on the topic "Cultural Space of the Union State: Directions of Cooperation between Creative Associations of Belarus and Russia" was held today at the E. Karsky Regional Library. Its participants included representatives of the Standing Committee of the Union State, the Grodno Regional Executive Committee, and creative associations of Belarus and Russia. The event is timed to coincide with the start of the nomination campaign for the Union State Prize in Literature and Art for 2011-2012. As the participants of the meeting noted, close relations are developing between various creative associations of Belarus and Russia. Cultural figures themselves strive to establish ties with colleagues from the neighboring country, and joint projects are successfully implemented. The specially established prize is a recognition of the merits of cultural masters in the process of union building. According to Lyudmila Kurilovich, the immediate plans include "taking" the Union State Prize in Literature and Art beyond the capitals. "The majority of nominees for the prize live in Moscow and Minsk, while at the same time there are many talented people in the regions who are worthy of applying for it," she said. In order to activate the creative unions in the regions for nominating candidates, similar events will be held in Belarus in Mogilev and Polotsk. Among the plans is also to nominate masters of folk art for the prize in the future. The Union State Prizes in Literature and Art are awarded every two years to three figures. The final decision on its award (after assessing public opinion and the expert council) is made by the Supreme State Council of the Union State. The monetary equivalent of each prize is 1250 times the minimum wage in the Russian Federation (about $180,000). It has become a tradition to present it at the "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" International Arts Festival.