A series of events dedicated to the folk art, daily life, and traditions of Latvia and Belarus may be held in Vitebsk in the summer of 2019.
A series of events dedicated to the folk art, daily life, and traditions of Latvia and Belarus may be held in Vitebsk in the summer of 2019. The Consul of Latvia in Vitebsk, Uģis Skujiņš, told a BELTA correspondent about this idea after the opening of the exhibition "Inspiration in Colour" by Latvian artist Aleksandra Šļahova.
"Next year, we are considering holding a concert by a Latvian choir in Vitebsk; we have a rich tradition of choral music. Additionally, there is an idea to organise a series of events showcasing the folk art, daily life, and traditions of Latvians and Belarusians, including a demonstration of pottery. Several associations of craftspeople from the Latvian side have already expressed their interest," noted Uģis Skujiņš.
A celebration of folk cultures of sorts could take place in the summer of 2019, between the dates of the Belarusian Kupala festival and the similar Latvian festival of Līgo. The exact format of the event has not yet been determined.
Cooperation between Latvia and the Vitebsk region continues in the fields of tourism, culture, education, and sports, with cross-border programmes in operation, the diplomat stated. The number of events is growing every year, and the geography of the regions participating in various projects is expanding. The twin cities of Rēzekne and Vitebsk regularly conduct exchanges of educators, cultural workers, and athletes. "In business, we primarily cooperate in logistics, woodworking, textile, and food production. I hope that the Belarusian-Latvian forum in Vitebsk on November 29 will broaden the range of mutual interest for entrepreneurs from both countries," the consul noted.
The watercolour exhibition, which opened at the Marc Chagall Art Centre, is organised with the support of the Consulate of Latvia in Vitebsk and is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of its proclamation. The exhibition of works by Aleksandra Šļahova, a professor at Daugavpils University, features landscapes and associative-figurative watercolours created between 2014 and 2018.