Press releases

MINSK, 27 April (BelTA) – Pinsk has been declared the Capital of Culture of Belarus 2019, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Culture Ministry.

Pinsk is the third biggest city in Brest Oblast with the population of 138,000. Pinsk is the city of rich cultural traditions. It is also home to advanced industry featuring a wide range of enterprises of the manufacturing industry, building, transport, communications, housing and utilities, trade and public catering, banking, insurance and information services.

In terms of the ancient layout, monuments of architecture, urban planning, history, Pinsk is one of the unique cities of the country: 186 such objects are included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Heritage of Belarus. Of particular significance is the historic center of the city where 163 objects form a unique city-planning monument of national importance.

There are 11 cultural institutions with 54 amateur art groups. Twenty of them has the title honored, people’s and exemplary. Pinsk is also one of the lute music renaissance centers in Belarus. The first regional ancient music festival Starazhytnyia Uzory (Ancient Patterns) was held in Pinsk during the city’s 920th anniversary celebrations.

In 2019, Pinsk will host a lot of various events, Belarus’ best artists and art groups, festivals, contests, regional, national and international expos.

The nationwide campaign “The Capital of Culture of Belarus” was first held in 2010. Every host city implements projects to preserve the cultural identity, popularize the traditions and achievements of the national culture, revitalize creativity, and increase tourism attractiveness.

Polotsk was the first Capital of Culture of Belarus in 2010. Gomel took over as the Capital of Culture in 2011, Nesvizh in 2012, Mogilev in 2013, Grodno in 2014, Brest in 2015, Molodechno in 2016, Bobruisk in 2017. This year, the Capital of Culture of Belarus is the town of Novopolotsk in Vitebsk Oblast.