Press releases

19 Aug 2019

Monument to Leu Sapieha to be unveiled in Slonim on Belarusian Written Language Day

Elena Stelmakh. An archive photo

MINSK, 19 August (BelTA) – A monument to Leu Sapieha will be unveiled in Slonim on Belarusian Written Language Day on 1 September, First Deputy Chairperson of the Belarusian Writers’ Union Elena Stelmakh told reporters, BelTA has learned.

“The festivities will kick off at 11:00 on 1 September. The entire delegation of the Belarusian Writers’ Union will gather at the monument to Leu Sapieha that will be unveiled later. After that we will move in a procession to the main venue where the Belarusian Written Language Day celebrations will solemnly open at 12:00. Taking to the stage will be our colleagues who won the National Literary Award. Each of them will receive a prize money of 100 base amounts,” Elena Stelmakh said.

A recital of the Belarusian Writers’ Union will begin at 14:30. “This will be a kind of presentation of the My Motherland book that was compiled by the Belarusian Writers’ Union for Belarusian Written Language Day. The book is a collection of poetry and prose by contemporary authors. We hope that this book will find its audience, including young readers, students,” she noted.

Slonim will also host an international round-table on 31 August. The session will draw novelists from all over Belarus and abroad. “This will be a kind of review meeting for the Belarusian Writers’ Union. Coming to Slonim will be members of the central office of the union and our colleagues from the regions. They will take part in the international round-table session alongside foreign authors. Top on the agenda of the session will be the role of a writer in public life, the importance and power of words, the messages we send, call for peace and compassion,” she said.

The photo exhibition The Way I See Belarus will open on the same day. “Our authors will join a cultural and educational event that will take place in Zhirovichi. Poems of Belarusian authors will be recited in this sacred place,” Elena Stelmakh said.

The venue Writer’s Word will open at 11:00 on 31 August. “This day will be dedicated to presentations of the Grodno Regional Branch. Taking part in this event will be authors from Baranovichi. The Belarusian Writer’s Union supports local literary associations. The works by fledgling author Maksim Batskalevich will be presented on this day. He is disabled and cannot speak about his books; this will be done by his mother. On the second day, the venue will give the spotlight to authors from other regions. Visitors will be able to meet with writers, purchase their books and attend presentations,” Elena Stelmakh said.