THE CHOICE WE MADE:

THE CHOICE WE MADE: PRACTICE OF WORK WITH THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE IN THE EASTERN NEIGHBORHOOD COUNTRIES ISBN 978-617-7263-56-1 «Trek LTD» Publishing House Drogobych town, Ukraine T. Poshevalova THE CHOICE U. Matskevich I. Rakhanski WE MADE: A. Yahorau V. Vialichka PRACTICE OF WORK K. Ramanchyk R. Ter-Martirosyan WITH THE PAST, V. Suruceanu PRESENT AND FUTURE I. Savchak IN THE EASTERN NEIGHBORHOOD COUNTRIES

Authors: Tatsiana Poshevalova, Uladzimir Matskevich, Ihar Rakhanski, Andrey Yahorau, Ulad Vialichka, The book was prepared within the framework Katsiaryna Ramanchyk, Roubina Ter-Martirosyan, of the project CHOICE — Cultural Heritage: Valeria Suruceanu, Ihor Savchak Opportunity for Civic Engagement, implemented with the support of the European Union Editors: in Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine Katsiaryna Ramanchyk, Tatiana Poshevalova

Translated by: Alies Karciel, Alisa Matavilava

Designed by: The project Nastassia Zenovich is co-financed by the European Union Photo credits by the participants of CHOICE project

© 2017 IC «EuroBelarus» choiceproject.eu 2 3

CONTENTS

ABOUT THE CHOICE PROJECT 4 MOLDOVA 112

HERITAGE. The contents of this notion Trajan Walls — cultural resource for the sustainable and the meaning of our work with it 10 cross-border development and collaboration 114 Museum — space for the community PROJECT STORIES 42 and intercultural dialogue 118 ARMENIA 42 History revival — Integration of Duruitoarea Cave in European tourist space 122 Traditional cuisine as cultural heritage 44 Historical site Camp of King Charles XII of Sweden Incorporation of “Kumayri” historic-architectural at Varnita — valorization and promotion (SITVAR) 126 compound of the Gyumri city cultural heritage in modern public life of Armenia 48 Clay of time: A journey of ceramics through ages 130 Cultural heritage conservation as a sustainable development factor among the communities From Remembering to Reconciliation — creating located close to the Shirak Province monuments 52 meeting point for dialogues between Generations 134

More recognizable Lori 56 UKRAINE 138 Engage Vanadzor. Heritage of modernity Galician California 140 and cradle of creative industry 60 Brody town’s community and polycultural heritage: ARMENIA-MOLDOVA 64 Potential, interaction and prospects 144 Crossroads of cultures Dnipro cultural landscapes 148 through the lenses of young photographers 66 Revival of a legend: way to development and consolidation 152 BELARUS 70 The pearls of the past to make the necklaces of the future 156 Art of a sincere heart 72 Digitized actual cultural heritage 160 Brest stories guide 76 “Fellow-countrymen” literary and local history routes 164 Historical and cultural heritage UNOVIS — the cultural code of Vitsiebsk city development 80 Rivne region’s wooden church architecture: Past, present and future 168 Mirages and miracles of Ashmiany town 84 We are the city 172 Color of Belarus: Actualization of the Belarusian tradition as an identity marker 88 CHOICE teaches to be famous 176

The Node of life 92 ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT: Singing Assembly 96 Reflections of the CHOICE project organizers 180

Belarusian art of the XX century CULTURAL HERITAGE: for children and their parents 100 Recommendations for the Eastern Partnership region 190 Shkolishcha (Pakrouski Pasad) as part of the historical- cultural value “Historical center of Mahilou” 104 ANNEX International and national legislative documents, Belarusian poster 108 regulating policy in cultural heritage sector 200 4 About the Project 5

ABOUT THE CHOICE PROJECT

The CHOICE — Cultural Heritage: The project obtained funding or other human settlements were with an opportunity to collaborate Opportunity for Improving Civic within the framework of the involved in the project. with cultural heritage experts, so as Engagement — project has been European Union programme Eastern to continue their engagement in the developed and later implemented Partnership Civil Society Facility and However, beyond that, the CHOICE sphere in a more successful way. in the four Eastern Partnership was implemented in course of two project emphasized the cultural countries: Armenia, Belarus, years: between 2015 and 2017. legacy value for strengthening and The CHOICE project has helped Moldova and Ukraine. A partner development of modern identity and its participants to meet and know consortium was made up of the The project was mainly aimed the European civilisational choice each other and to become aware following entities: at building the capacities and made by its member countries. of the need and opportunities for development of the non-government Therefore, the project participants cooperation and maintenance • Association of Local Democracy non-profit organisations and addressed the contemporary of close communications inside Agencies, ALDA (France); initiatives which are engaged in challenges faced by all of us today, the entire Eastern Partnership • International Non-Government conservation, re-thinking and as well as the issues related to region. Quite often the identical Organisation EuroBelarus promotion of the cultural and cultural heritage conservation and or similar tasks or issues proved (Vilnius, Lithuania); historical heritage, in order they use. These are the challenges which to be momentous for the member • Centre for Cultural would gradually took more and more deal with interpretation, re-thinking countries and, among them, Management (Lviv, Ukraine); part in policy dialogue on issues of and introduction of the past cultural preservation of unique craft • National ICOM Committee heritage in their local communities, achievements in the modern socio- traditions and creative practices; (Chisinau, Moldova); countries, as well as in the East cultural context. upgrading the memory culture; • Educational Research European region. attitude to the Soviet legacy, Foundation Millennium The programme has become as well as cultural heritage work (Yerevan, Armenia); and Beside the civil society for the local organisations and in the conflict areas; combination • Public Association Centre organisations, professional teams communities interested in the of traditions and innovations in for Social Innovations and communities, intellectuals cultural heritage work a much- our lives; collection, digitalisation (Minsk, Belarus). and cultural activists from the anticipated opportunity to exchange and provision of information four nations who focus on cultural information on sore subjects with on cultural patrimony facilities; landscape and its diversity their colleagues in other countries, formation of the local development rehabilitation and preservation, as well as to release their visions, strategies based on a strong as well as correct and efficient use concerns and suggestions to the cultural identity; improving of the cultural patrimony resources public domain. The civil society quality of life by means of culture; for the development of cities, towns organisations were also provided and several others. 6 About the Project 7

Action Infra­ structure In order to navigate these rather Soviet past, design or theatrical The project provided for its sophisticated topics, we have achievements, singing or cooking participants’ professional proposed to the CHOICE project traditions, artistic school or ethnic development. For two years some participants the following activity community patrimony, oral history, debate or educational workshops, Reflection Presen­ tation structure: museums and cultural landscapes. conferences and public discussions were organised in Armenia, Where: All these projects are presented Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine for Action means a creative project in this publication. re-thinking cultural heritage and which targets achievement its role for identity development Fig. 1. of a specific practical outcome Infrastructure means here and preservation, as well as for The CHOICE project participants or product by way of a concise the activity which contributes dissemination of and discussions activity structure activity set. to a sustainable continuance of over the best practices and lessons the new socio-cultural content available in our countries. Through an open competition, created by the project. the CHOICE project selected and Over the long term, we would like supported developers and authors A substantial part of the activities to achieve influence on the cultural of innovative for our region projects was dedicated to capacity building politics pursued in our countries aimed at conservation and currently of the initiatives or professional and to assist the project members central interpretation of the organisations involved in the in reaching the level when a civil national cultural heritage. CHOICE. The project members had society organisation or initiative an opportunity to get an experience could position itself in this The four countries’ non-government of assessing the institutional sphere as a source of constructive organisations and professional capacity and forming a strategy for proposals and sometimes as an communities have implemented their further development under advisor for the local authorities in total 32 projects. Their themes adviser supervision. They improved or the central government. and formats were widely diverse and their knowledge and skills in ranged from archaeological summer the area of project management, Four analytical cultural policy camps to multi-media catalogues financial management, public documents (policy papers) or vocational schools and dealt relations, advocacy and conflict were drafted and proposed for with both tangible and intangible management. public discussions in Armenia, heritage, ancient and recent Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. 8 About the Project 9

While summarising these the framework of a narrow topic The CHOICE project has facilitated The book consists of two semantic documents, the CHOICE project has and put our work related to heritage various publications within the parts. The first, conditionally elaborated a recommendation set preservation and use within the framework of creative schemes: theoretical one contains the for all those who, as a politician, context of momentous socio- articles, films and books on conceptual developments by our donor or investor, display interest political challenges present in our currently relevant practices of experts and participants of the in the Eastern Partnership region, region and in the world at large. handling the cultural heritage. program — this is the result above all from the European Union of the joint intellectual work nations. Presentation means in the One of such products is represented collected at group meetings and diagram a broad public offer and by this extensive publication in the individually. The theoretical Reflection is yet another propagation of a new cultural and website format, as well as in the framework presented in the chapter component which is paramount political content generated by the printed material format. “HERITAGE. The contents of this for us and includes organisation creative project (Action). notion and the meaning of our of places fit for re-thinking the The book (both its printed work with it” has been developed practices applied. Project outcome presentation and online versions) contains by our leading experts Uladzimir to the public took various formats. conceptualisation and Matskevich and Ihar Rakhanski These were not just meetings of These were showcases, exhibitions, generalisation of the project specifically for our project. project organisers and experts updated museum exhibitions and outcomes, which, as we hope, In the second part, we offer the among themselves to track the touristic routes, public discussions, will benefit expert practicians stories of project implementation effects made by the project or its crowd-funding campaigns, theatre in the sphere of historical and from each team: the main content outcomes for the stakeholders performances and book or online cultural heritage conservation of their work, and true admission interested in addressing the product preparation. and promotion; politicians, civil of the difficulties, conflicts and... heritage issues. Jointly with their servants and cultural analysts who ways to overcome them on the way participants, we discussed at the are interested in nascent trends, to their goals. conferences, workshops, seminars processes and decision-making or club meetings the essence and methods in the area; and external contents of the notion of cultural partners and donors who take heritage and culture as a whole, a serious stance to planning new Tatiana Poshevalova, as well as features in common and assessing past socio-cultural Project Coordinator for shared by every nation involved changes. the International Non-Government and their peculiarities. And, most Organisation EuroBelarus importantly, we trespassed beyond 10 Heritage 11

HERITAGE. THE CONTENTS OF THIS NOTION AND THE MEANING OF OUR WORK WITH IT

It is difficult to define heritage with the help of ­socio-cultural projects in We hope that the deeper HERITAGE a historical formation or an event only. On the concrete cities and settlements; understanding of heritage will allow AS contrary — heritage is a process during which • and, at last, to the process of us to leave the perception of it as people use the past as a “discursive construct” mediation of the cultural policy a simple set of problems that need A PROCESS with material consequences1. Therefore, as a in our countries. to be solved here and now. It will characteristic of society, it is ubiquitous, part of serve as a tool for future discussions the dynamics of power, and connected closely On this way, we have changed on national identity, power and with the construction of identity at both societal the focus of our attention from authority in society, not only at and personal levels. narrow-subject and disciplinary the level of our countries, but forms and perceptions of heritage also on European communication Within the framework of the project “CHOICE: to “interdisciplinarity”, and platforms. Cultural Heritage — Opportunity for Civic then — from the protection of Engagement”, there was a certain evolution “monuments” and “significant sites” “Heritage is not a thing; it does of the understanding (perceptions) of the to the interpretation of “elements” not exist of its own accord”. notion “heritage” among both participants and and “connections” of heritage2. It is difficult (or impossible at organizers. During the joint work and two-year all) to define heritage with the communication, all of us have walked a difficult We have tried to broaden help of categories of academic mental activity-oriented way: the time range of perceptions disciplines. The exact scientific of heritage in the post- data, historical chronologies, • from heritage as a sum of properties communist countries correct formulations of events, of a concrete monument; by supplementing the well- and direct citations have little 1 Smith, L. 2006. Uses of Heritage, (London; Routledge) • through heritage formed by the territory known and obvious practices in common even with collective 2 Cultural Heritage and Politics of a significant site; in the field of heritage in memory, let alone the influence of the Past: An Interview with • through heritage used as a product the present, the historical of this knowledge on social behavior Dacia Viejo-Rose (Interviewed by Sherman Teichman) for tourism; experience of treating and social relations. Both are 3 Harvey, D.C. 2008. • to the promotion of heritage so as local heritage in the past, and the regulated by culture, and culture “The History of Heritage,” communities could appropriate it; comprehension of heritage is based in many respects on (in The Ashgate Companion to Heritage and Identity) • to the implementation of complex as a resource for the future3. “fundamental values”. 12 Heritage 13

TIME NEEDED Still, values per se – in their ideal TO APPERCEIVE modus of existence – are not THE VALUE influenced by time. Time, entropy, ageing, decay, and disappearance threaten not values, but the material or informational embodiments of values.

People appreciate the new and Time is successive and the old in different ways. The new continuous, but an imprint of rejoices us; we take care of it; time on things and phenomena we protect and increase it. Then, creates a chronological gap in when the novelty has worn off, our their perception. All things and interest fades away — something phenomena in the world have three that is not new anymore loses its absolutely different conditions — value in our eyes — but only until new, old, and intermediate. We it becomes old. After a certain appreciate new and old, although period of time, the “mold of time” in different ways, but we do not and “patina of time” provide things quite often notice betwixt and and phenomena with new values. between. This very intermediate “Antiques”, “rarities”, “retro”, period of things and phenomena “vintage” — the abundance of in our eyes and in our attitude is specific definitions in different the reason why something new, languages attests a particular which has become old, frequently interest in subjects that became becomes useless as well. “Useless” We appreciate beauty, but Therefore, analytically, we have old. In some enigmatic way, they in the sense that it cannot be beautiful things crumble away to treat separately values that receive new values in the eyes used in the utilitarian way any and the beautiful body withers. define our behavior, life, and of people. Moreover, this added longer to perform the functions We appreciate wisdom, but books activity, and separately the material value is absolutely not necessarily it is supposed to, i.e. it is not able where it is written dilapidate; and informational carriers — connected with utilitarian to independently exist without texts and even languages that the embodiments of these values. properties of new objects! our care and protection. With no pronounce it become forgotten. care and protection, it not just Values are imperishable, while becomes old, but deteriorates and embodiments of values, on the disappears. contrary, are ­short-lived. 14 Heritage 15

It is possible to consider for a In his theory of ethnogenesis, Lev EVOLUTION long time the values in Oriental Gumilyov4 specificates various OF THE NOTION religions, philosophies, and types stages of passionarity. During the of world outlook. It is usually first stage, an active, aggressive, “VALUE” thought that Oriental cultures are and creative generation refuses more traditional and conservative the past, the traditions and habits than the European one. Probably, of ancestors, performs exploits, they are indeed, but all cultures creates, and acts heroically. During We basically sip contemporary Biblical texts say that the main are changeful. Traditional societies the following stage, they are knowledge of values from the values are faith, hope, and love, appreciate the old in a greater replaced with a quieter generation philosophy of Neo-Kantianism of adding wisdom to them later. degree. An open society is open to that does not act heroically, but the 19th century. There is a special the new in a greater degree. Still, honors the predecessors’ heroism; philosophical discipline which Feudal or tribal societies are based innovations and inventions were their activity reveals not in subject is values — axiology. Still, on the values of valor and honor. created in Oriental cultures not conquests, social revolutions, but values were discussed by ancient less often than in European culture, in culture, cultural creativity, which philosophers, too. Christian theologians practiced for e.g. gunpowder, compass, paper immortalizes the achievements a long time the dualistic perception and paper print invented in China, of their aggressive and active The Cynics in ancient Athens liked of values and of the axiological Arabian mathematics... The fact forefathers. When the passionarity to use Diogenes’ metaphor of structure of consciousness, both that Europe picked up the Oriental potential becomes depleted, there “recoinage”. individual and public — it is possible inventions and started to use comes a generations that is not to serve either God, or the devil. It is them widely can be an argument able at all to make revolutions; they This metaphor means that values possible to appreciate the spiritual, proving the Western civilization’s have lost not only their bellicosity, can change. People can appreciate the divine, the heavenly, and it orientation on the values of the but also their creative enthusiasm. this or that, and the purpose of is possible to worship Mammon new. However, this orientation is They are only eager to preserve philosophizing can be a search (riches and carnal pleasures). not absolute and not unconditional. the memory of the “heroic” and for and detection of something Japan in the early 20th century and “creative” generations. that can and should be valued and To complete the picture, it is today’s China demonstrate their something that can and should possible to recall the doctrines of high susceptibility to innovations It is not necessary to apply be depreciated. Thus, for naive the Stoics, the Cyrenaics-hedonists, and use the European inventions Gumilyov's theory to all consciousness, riches are an as well as skeptics who preached sometimes more effectively than historical epochs and all unconditional value, but the Cynics “apatheia” and “ataraxia” — such an the Europeans themselves. cultures and civilizations. taught that health and happiness attitude to the world that excludes Still, it is impossible to ignore cannot be replaced with riches any attachment to values as such, During different epochs, the contradistinctions and and that the values of health and because when one loses values ­ cultures treat the new and oppositely directed positions happiness cannot be bought. They he/she suffers. However, the Stoics the old in different ways. of public consciousness and taught that water and wine are considered apathy (equanimity) and Each culture and civilization has tenets during various epochs. equally tasty (or equally insipid) ataraxy (the absence of passions) periods of “renovations” and irrespective of whether you drink to be values. “conservations” — orientations them from gold plate or from a to progress and orientations to wooden cup. preserve and cultivate traditions. 4 http://gumilevica.kulichki.net/EBE/index.html 16 Heritage 17

Time comes, and some peoples and “We shall renounce the old world; restoration of social relations and material civilizations start to categorically we shall shake off its ashes from objects, there comes “revalorization” — repudiate the past: “We shall build our feet”. Temples and palaces, revaluation of values. our own new world!”. The building rituals, songs, and even children’s material for the construction of traditional names became ashes. It would be an illusion to think that the “new world” can only be the All those had to be “shaken off PARADOXES revalorization is a restoration of values. Even things accumulated by previous from feet” because “We shall build AND when conservatives proclaim a return to former generations. However, these our own new world!”. IRONY OF values, they change these values and fill them accumulated things lose their with other meanings. More often do they value in the eyes of builders who It is possible to attribute such VALORIZING simply apply a value to something that was construct something new. At best, periods to the ideology of the AN OBJECT usual, ordinary, and not appreciated earlier. the old is simply forgotten and Bolsheviks or the radical Jacobins, “Adventures” of values in the processes of disregarded; in the worst case but many other nations had revalorization are very interesting and diverse. scenario — it is destroyed in order to such periods in their history. It Every concrete case can become a plot for a work make room for something new. is necessary to remember the of art or a topic for scientific research. We will catastrophe of China’s “Cultural illustrate it on the examples of sacralization of It was done by the triumphing revolution” and it is possible ordinary things that were turned into Christian Christians who destroyed to recall the globalist crush on relics. heathen temples and sacred sites, disposables and short-lived reconstructed them at their own buildings in the 20th century. Hardly did Roman legionaries, while making a convenience, annihilated the idols cross for the execution of a group of criminals, of old religions and together with Epochs of progressors’ “Sturm und think that these usual logs would ever be looked them — numerous works of art Drang” were replaced with a crush for by the mother of the emperor and that their of ancient civilizations. People on olden times. The Romanticists flinders would become sacred relics. did it not only with material of the 18th century opened for heritage, but also with myths, themselves the Gothic style And those who were buying a canvas for a dead legends, rituals, and national considered barbarous architecture man’s shroud bargained for it as it was just a traditions. The former gods became during Classicism. They started usual canvas and did not care of the safety of the demons. The former values were to collect legends and folklore, Turin Shroud. Even if these relics were specially depreciated, turned into something having found out beauty in made by falsifiers of improvised materials, they sinful, or filled with new meanings. them, and made the things their were the embodiments of values that already predecessors had considered “low existed in human imagination. The “progressors” of the Great genres” valuable. The periods of French revolution behaved revolutions are replaced with the When Christ’s pupils, who came to the Last in the same way. In a greater restoration periods. Restoration — Supper, searched for a cup to drink some wine degree — the Bolsheviks after 1917. in the widest meaning of this together with the Teacher, they sought for a According to the Bolsheviks, in word. Not only old social relations usual cup they would easily forget after the Last order to build socialism, it was and order, but also the material Supper. The pupils could forget. The cup could necessary to demolish everything heritage of former times, are get lost somewhere in Jerusalem. After the lapse that had to do with the past: restored. Together with the of centuries, archeologists could dig it out and 18 Heritage 19

THE SUBJECTIVE IN THE CONTENTS OF HERITAGE

present it in a museum. In this case, It happens to many museum The value of a material object is the cup will possess some value as pieces and monuments. a dependent characteristic — it a museum piece. But quite another During some moment requires the presence of a concrete thing is the Holy Grail. It is the of their existence, they person or a collective subject same cup, but now it is a legendary are declared to be values that provides this object with the cup with the ultra-value. Lots of and society starts axiological contents. An object can different fakes were presented as to treat them differently. become valuable in the eyes of a the Holy Grail. But if these fakes There happens valorization person, in his/her consciousness. are accompanied by a certain of an object. Therefore, the value as a subject fascinating legend, they keep matter of analysis, as an object their value even when the legend Does it mean that before that human activity is aimed at, has is discredited and falsifications this object had no value status? double nature: are proved. And if splinters of the Yes, it may be, but it is necessary to real cup Jesus and his pupils used determine it in each specific case. A material component are found by someone and not of the value: a natural identified as the Holy Grail, nobody For this purpose, it is necessary phenomenon or an object, a thing, Fig. 2. will ever know about it, while to understand the structure of an artifact, a trace, a text, etc. Thing and Imagination the Holy Grail remains valuable values in their ontological life and The basis of objects of non-material regardless of the fact that its genesis, i.e. in the course of their heritage is information: songs, material embodiment is not found, existence, during different periods myths, wise thoughts of classics, that it has been looked for during and stages of their existence precepts, recipes, and know- how; objective part of values and their many centuries and will be searched in the status of values or in any subjective part and contradictions for in the future. other status. An imaginary component inside the objective and subjective of the value: people’s attitude parts. The Holy Grail is the value that has towards material and informational no material embodiment and none objects. Objects of dual nature (such objects of material objects can be declared are sometimes called centaurs- to be the real Grail. And vice versa — This duality of the value can be objects) are always difficult there can be material objects that considered as a unity of contrasts: to analyze. Frequently, during are not declared values. objective and subjective. Still, where their analysis, there appear false there is a unity of contrasts, there problems and paradoxes. E.g. the is their struggle, or contradictions, “problem of antecedence” (what is too, — contradictions between the primary in values — their material 20 Heritage 21

or imaginary?). The fallaciousness other situations, — the violin used the repressions is not formed, of what their creators themselves of this problem has been proved by the fictitious Sherlock Holmes simply cannot treat this place as think about them. It is especially many times — this question can or a goose-quill taken out from a a memorial, a monument. For the vivid in the attitude towards have no answer if it is asked in this bird one year ago, which now is on other part of society, on the contrary, children's creativity. In days of old, way. The psychologism error in Schiller's table. this place is filled with almost a all children's drawings were just the analysis of centaurs-objects is sacral sense. Therefore, one part scribbles of no value. Humanistic less obvious. The imaginary part The aprioristic part of the subjective without any ulterior motive utilizes pedagogics aimed at liberating of values is identified with certain part of values is set by culture, this unique place (inhabitants of the abilities, as it believes that they are mental phenomena and processes; i.e. semiotics and semantics of neighboring areas try to organize initially inherent in the child, has one tries to search for correlates signs, which was taught to people picnics in this wood; officials give changed the attitude to children's of material things in mental and which formed their memory, building licenses); the others drawings. Nowadays, any drawing phenomena. imagination, tenets of perception, painfully perceive even innocent of a one-year-old child can be and thinking. There is nothing approaches of extraneous people presented during an exhibition; The subjective part of values per se in the world, for perception of to the memorial. parents and teachers keep all has difficult nature. Everything that which we would not be ready children’s sheets of paper soiled by we can see, hear, or perceive in the to a greater or lesser degree. The other example is quite ironic. pencils and paints. It is amusing world around by other sense organs We are prepared thanks to our In the center of Minsk, there that this attitude towards children's is treated by us in two ways — education, the books we have is a sculpture of a conditional drawings cannot be transferred a priori and a posteriori. read, and our previous experience. policeman, a usual city sculpture to children's music-making. It is However, this circumstance also of a purely decorative value; there possible to present children’s Any act of perception is regulated has the reverse side — there is are a lot of such small architectural scribbles on a sheet of paper as a by mindsets and presuppositions. no object, monument, or artifact, forms in any modern city. But this creative act, but it is impossible to This is what defines our perception for perception of which it is not very sculpture is near the Ministry do so with a kid’s artless tweedle or prior to the act itself. Thus, different necessary to prepare a person. of Internal Affairs — therefore, cheerful knocking on piano keys, colors, figures, sounds, and smells police officers suddenly began although the manifestations of have their aprioristic values. In Everybody has seen ill-bred to treat it as if a sacral symbol and children's temperament and thirst different cultures, the color of children’s behavior in museums. a usual easy attitude of townspeople for self-expression in both cases are mourning and grief can differ from Well, children are children. Another towards this object is now perceived of the same origin. other cultures — somewhere the thing is the attitude of adults and by policemen as defilement of honor color of mourning is white and active people towards monuments. and pride of the police. The a posteriori part of the somewhere — black. The Soviet and Recently, in Belarus, we have two subjective attitude consists Chinese children have a positive vivid examples. The second example illustrates one of the impressions caused by attitude towards the red color, more paradox of values — the status a person’s meeting with objects whereas in other cultures this color The first example is the Kurapaty of value can be received by any of culture, values, and artifacts, can be perceived as a bad omen. memorial in Minsk. This is a place object a priori, simply due to the fact on the one hand, and of the results (a forest) where victims of Stalin’s that it is said to be having the value. of his/her research work and critical When we go to a museum, we are repressions were killed and buried. attitude towards these objects, ready for special perception of A huge part of society, in which Thus, a priori, all works of on the other hand. exhibits, usual things, which we memory the events of 1937 are not recognized artists and masters are would not pay any attention to in put and which attitude towards considered valuable, irrespective 22 Heritage 23

THE STATUS OF VALUE CAN BE RECEIVED BY ANY OBJECT A PRIORI, SIMPLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS SAID TO BE

HAVING A person’s impression of his/her The research and critical attitude meeting with a monument or an towards an object of culture is the THE VALUE object of a cultural value is always domain of, first of all, professionals, composite. It is formed not only but sometimes they can influence and not so much by an object the attitude of the public, he/she sees, but also by the context, people’s perception. Authenticity, the people who are near at this distinctions of originals, copies, moment, the situation prior to this and fakes, discrepancies between meeting, and many other factors, legends and myths and historical including his/her physiological facts, and difficulties of historical condition and weather conditions. interpretations are important Still, this impression remains in for professionals. Critics’ results his/her memory and makes a basis of research work, investigations of the person’s individual attitude and studies make direct and towards the object. indirect impacts on values and people’s attitudes towards their material embodiments. Therefore, besides the value structure as such, it is necessary to analyze the activity-oriented attitude, the work and manipulations with values. 24 Heritage 25

AN OBJECT OF HERITAGE — AN OBJECT OF ACTION

Values are a subject of the activity- • Person / people; oriented attitudes. There are things • Consciousness, memory, that can be done with them, and imagination; something cannot be done. • Actions and acts of people in relation to material or Fig. 4. Let's consider in the most general informational embodiments of Value as a humanitarian object: work with a double nature of value terms the activity-oriented attitude values; towards values. The elementary • Material and informational perceptions of it are the following: objects themselves. a person’s action aimed at a certain material (or informational) object It does not mean at all that it is While working with actions and is defined by the way this person necessary to get inside a person’s acts of people, we speak about the treats this material object, his/her consciousness or mentality. standards and specifications of memory, imagination, and thinking. The activity-oriented attitude professional work, the rules and towards people means a selection of norms of exhibiting (possible or Still, such perceptions of it are personnel, work with stakeholders, impossible to touch), and legal acts. not full as they do not reflect the beneficiaries, local and professional actual work with values and ignore communities. The variety of actions concerning the subjective part of the structure values can be schematized, of the value. While working with consciousness standardized, and normalized; and imagination, we speak about something can be forbidden; To receive the complete the creation of images and something can be allowed; understanding of the activity- meanings that can be perceived and regulated; the freedom of creativity oriented attitude, one has to acquired by people, literary and art and self-expression can be allowed. consider not only the work with works that form people’s attitude Still, first of all, it is necessary to the material aspect of values, towards something, and their tenets just list, at least, the basic part of but also with the subjective part, and basic beliefs (presuppositions) what it is possible to do with values: imagination, human and social that cause their reactions and are attitude towards material objects, fixed in the memory of communities • To keep, accumulate, the value itself. Then, the object and generations. hide, protect; Fig. 3. of the activity-oriented attitude From the imagination to a material value • To exchange for other values, towards values is: carrier: the intentionality of values to sell, buy, convert; 26 Heritage 27

• To capitalize, restore, update; ethical and moral standards — • To forge, simulate, feign etc.; to allow creative actions and acts HETEROGENEITY • To “pile up” the value, and to forbid the destructive ones. OF THE SOCIAL to make sacral, overestimate, But it is impossible because values SUBJECTIVE reconsider, reinterpret; are involved in economics; they • To exhibit, are an integral part of people’s life ATTITUDE TOWARDS to be proud of, admire; area and the life cycle of objects HERITAGE • To destroy, modernize, of heritage, which do not always profane, diabolize, desecrate; coincide. • To broadcast in upbringing and education, duplicate, Let's imagine that the honoring copy, multiply, to create of ancestors and everything that secondary values on the basis is connected with them is so Different people One of the main contradictions of the subjective of samples and prototypes; valuable and significant that any can absolutely part of values is the presence in society of many • To forget, depreciate. destruction of monuments to differently provide consciousnesses with different attitudes towards ancestors is forbidden. How much both material values. space on civilized territories would and informational People do all of this with values. be covered by cemeteries? In many embodiments The subjective attitude towards values is defined Therefore, values are dynamic — places the dead are buried by and creative and by the fact who possesses the value or what they never remain the same; they breaking older burial places. Thus, destructive actions exactly these or those subjects appreciate in change in time, in space, and in the not only the dead are buried, but with values. Such material carriers. If something is needed by way of action. burial places as well. is the inconsistent the subject as it is the value, his/her subjective nature of values attitude is of one kind and if something is Here, there are both positive Burial places, recycling, destruction and, first of all, considered the value by the OTHER — the and negative actions. Someone are indispensable companions of the subjective part subjective attitude towards the value is already keeps material and informational creation. Culture, manufacture, of values. defined by his/her attitude towards this OTHER. embodiments of values, and creativity are inconceivable someone squanders and destroys without the recycling and burying Thus, the things appreciated by the enemy can them. That is, the activity-oriented of the obsolete. Not everything that be defiled or destructed in case the material attitude towards values per se can is created has an unconditional object is owned by the subject. It explains the be considered from the position value, and not everything that acts of vandalism or defilement of relics of of values. Actions and acts have has to be buried and destructed other religions or heretics. Such is the destiny an axiological expression. Some loses its value. of the Buddhistic sculptures in Afghanistan and actions are more axiological than monuments in Palmira. others; something is absolutely not axiological, and something can have If something that is appreciated by the subject a negative value. is owned by the Other, it can cause not only a desire to buy or exchange, but also the feeling It would be very good if it were of envy, enmity, and aggression. Jerusalem with possible — by means of laws or its centuries-long wars, or Kosovo — the sacral 28 Heritage 29

value for the Serbs, can be typical as belonging to legal entities, The proprietary right can be primary or examples of such an attitude. collectives, and communities, but RELATIONS unconditional and secondary, conditioned by not to a person. More precisely, they OF certain legal actions and procedures. belong not so much to a person, OWNERSHIP For this very reason, but rather to the subject that has How does the primary proprietary right appear? it is impossible to consider the status of judicial personality, CONCERNING We can admit that in today’s world it is almost the variety of attitudes that owns property in this or that HERITAGE impossible to define the primary proprietary towards values without kind, and that makes these or those right; almost any property in the contemporary the variety of relations actions concerning values. world is either secondary, or distributed between of ownership, possession, subjects of different levels. The exception is use, appropriation, alienation, Whatever the subject is, individual only the author's property, or the property of and communization. or collective, it has the subjective the founder and the creator. Still, it is only until attitude to the world and, the author's work is recognized the public value. accordingly, to values. Also, the author's property is often distributed Relations of ownership require between the founder-creator and the orderer, specifications of categories of “Subjective” in this case means not the investor or the institution. Copyrights can consciousness, the subject, and just opposition to the objective, be alienated and transferred. In the areas where subjectness. but first of all the unilateral (the we deal with values, we, as a rule, face the more so as the attitude is always property conditioned by various circumstances, If in the beginning we understand subjective; objective is the being specifications, and conventions. Besides the consciousness as the consciousness of the thing in relation to which an fact that the property on values is distributed of an individual subject, then — attitude appears). As subjectness between various subjects, it is also distributed while considering the relations presupposes the presence of in time. The property passes from hand to hand, of ownership — the subject acts always more than one subject, all and the cycle of life of values is longer than as a participant of the relation. in the world, including values, is the life and existence of owners, both people Participants of the relations of given to any subject from one side and organizations and institutions. Therefore, ownership can be people (carriers that differs from what is given to in today’s world, the most part of property of individual consciousness) and another subject from its side. comes into the hands of subjects as a result of legal entities (collective owners — inheriting. carriers of public consciousness). The subjective approach (various Strictly speaking, in the relations subjects’ view on the same thing The inheriting of property with the status of of ownership, physical persons from different positions) to values value does not exclude all the things it is possible are only a subvariety of legal generates a lot of axiological to do with property: to sell or buy, to exchange, entities (carriers of collective or problems, tensions, difficulties, alienate, divide, etc. public consciousness). Therefore, and conflicts. The most part of hereinafter, we shall treat all these conflicts is in the field of Of course, the inheriting is regulated by the law, notions and categories connected property, possession, and the use and to perform certain procedures is required with consciousness, subjectivity, of values. Relations of ownership in order to have the right to inherit. It is also imagination, and the activity- are defined by the law — they have possible to refuse the right to inherit. These oriented attitude in this way — a legal basis. procedures are needed to protect property so 30 Heritage 31

that it would not be challenged by Heritage is the property distributed is an inheritance subject. Any property can be other subjects. between several owners in different inherited — from unnecessary stuff to works of proportions, with different rights to art, historical monuments, and religious relics. The very notion “inheriting”, use, possess, and manage. Moreover, Something that became private property as a although it is the basis of the the category “heritage” presupposes result of inheritance belongs to the owner until unconditional property (because that amorphous owners, who have it is declared inheritance of a wider circle of an heir can be a casual subject no status of a person or a legal interested people. Thus, many castles in Western who did nothing to inherit this entity and no judicial personality, Europe, which are private property of hereditary property), it presupposes that can apply to use, possess, and aristocracy, can be visited several days per something with a potential value manage, e.g., communities of fans week. At the same time, artifacts, e.g. paintings can belong to nobody or to belong of olden times, groups of interests, of the highest art value, can remain in the full to nobody, at least, during a certain artists, researchers. Typical possession of private collectors. period of time. examples of heritage are public places: parks, castles, monuments, The situation becomes complicated when owners Without plunging into questions architectural ensembles… up to are changed as a result of sales or expropriation. of the law of succession, its facades of houses where windows The terms of sale can be interfered with by other legal side, and remaining within and balconies belong to private subjects interested in national inheritance, the framework of our topic, people who live in apartments, but and the property with rights of using, possessing, we should distinguish between, the whole appearance of houses is and managing can be limited by a number at least, three notions: legacy, an element of public space, which is of conditions. heritage, and inheritance. regulated by other users.

Legacy is the property that passes Inheritance (public, national, The basic problem with heritage is that from one owner to another corporate, etc.) can become any the objects, things, and monuments (a person or a legal entity) in property (private, collective, state, recognized as heritage of several subjects conformity with the accepted or municipal) valuable for a wider (persons, legal entities, or communities) procedure. range of subjects and communities are to some extent socialized. They can be than for its direct owners or those nationalized completely, become municipal who would like to use, possess, property or collective property of several and manage it. Thus, owners of legal entities. buildings, e.g. church communities, establishments, private persons are limited in their possibilities to The right to manage heritage is given to state use the property if the building is structures (the Ministry of Culture) or public declared a monument or if society structures (NGOs, expert structures, research considers this building public or scientific institutions). The right to use can property. be given to professional groups (archivists, art critics, historians, archeologists), contract The law of succession is organizations of builders or restorers, and, in case indifferent to the value of what of exhibiting, tourists and the general public. 32 Heritage 33

The conflict of values: The conflict of fashion and SOCIAL One and the same monument with tendencies: CONFLICTS a long history, in different periods During different epochs and periods IN THE FIELD OF of time, can be of interest for of history, society differently various professional, religious, or builds its hierarchy of values. HERITAGE national communities. Thus, the During one epoch, the values of Temple Mount in Jerusalem or the progress, innovations, and changes Calvinistic Cathedral in Zasłaŭje are preferred; during other times, (given to the Orthodox Church) there are values of preservation, together with a change of the owner antiquity, and conservation. The difficult and intricate Conflicts can be as follows: received new axiological fillings. relations of ownership on objects There are different ways of solving valuable for various subjects and The conflict of ownership The conflict of esthetic such conflicts: social groups lead inevitably and possession: perceptions and tastes: to misunderstanding, problems, Various subjects and communities It takes place quite often in the • The existing social hierarchy and conflicts. can claim their proprietary rights stylization during restorations and takes up the decision- to an object. Thus, the land can in the exhibiting of monuments. making function concerning be owned by one subject and the It can also take place in authors’ points at issue. The higher buildings on it — by another one. disagreements during the carrying- level dictates its decision An object, which is private property, out of tenders and competitions. to the subordinate. can be taken under protection • The solution of conflicts by by the state. The conflict of techniques, means of laws and courts. methods, and ways of carrying • The market way based on the The conflict of interests: out these or those works (e.g. priority of private property An object, which is in private, restoration): over any other kinds and types municipal, or state ownership, can Disagreements between customers, of property; in separate cases, be of exclusive interest for another contractors, scientific curators it presupposes sales of artifacts subject who has no proprietary and artists are usual on issues or objects to a subject who is rights. E.g. former religious of different standards, traditional ready to pay for them as they buildings, icons, sources that are of or modern materials, which are more valuable for him/her. interest for the church, for different generates a gap in terms of work • Public dialogue, mediation, religious groups. A building site of and estimated cost, not to mention advocacy, public relations, a private builder can be of interest the preservation of authenticity. campaigning, lobbying, for archeologists. A person’s archive education.The fourth way is the can be of interest for the police or The conflict of public most universal: through public a professional community. priorities: dialogues and their versions Environmental, scientific, cultural, it is possible to change socially- national, religious, and local hierarchical relations, laws and communities can have absolutely statutory acts, to switch on and different views on the same object. off market mechanisms. 34 Heritage 35

A MONUMENT AS THE KEY NOTION OF HERITAGE

Until now we have considered Therefore, hereinafter, we shall A monument can pass from hand Thus, architectural constructions a generalized notion of values. speak not about values in general, to hand, change owners, and act as can become monuments after In order to pass to the following but about monuments. Not every a source of different active attitudes a certain term of their operation, topic, we concretize perceptions value is a monument, but each of different subjects. The semantic e.g. in 50 years. It is not an absolute of values. Wise thoughts, formulas, monument is valuable for some charge of a monument changes in norm, although it is present in signs and symbols, books, ruins, public group. Monuments are not the course of its existence; forms legislations of many countries. and natural objects can be values. only images and buildings, but of subjective activity-oriented All variety of values requires a also books, drawings, music, i.e. attitudes towards it change as well. Some things become monuments special attitude. Wise thoughts everything that can be perceived by chance — only because they once can be quoted, but deformed or imagined as a monument Actually, the perception of a belonged to cultural heroes, saints, while citing. However, frequently, of an epoch, event, person, etc., certain object as a monument or simply well-known people. Works re-interpretations do not spoil and that is embodied in material is the subjective activity-oriented of art can be called monuments them. The same is with symbols or information. attitude towards it. In this almost right after their creation. and texts, which can be copied. sense, the material object and The meaning of the text remains That is, a monument is a value, the monument are not the same. without changes in a hand-written which: kind, in printing, and in a digitized A certain material object can exist form. The text can be embodied • is embodied in material for a period of time without its in an original manuscript or in or information; monument status simply as a thing, a book, which per se are values. • is owned by a subject or several a building, a place in a landscape. These material carriers of the text subjects; A thing or a construction becomes decay; they need to be preserved • acts as a source or stimulus a monument due to a number and restored. Songs and music of the subjective active of reasons, or they are declared need to be performed. Natural attitude (memory, imagination, monuments for some purposes. objects need to be protected. contemplation, execution, Architectural constructions need transformation, protection, to be reconstructed and restored. restoration, etc.). 36 Heritage 37

Utilitarian (contemporary)

A CYCLE OF LIFE Institutional OF A MONUMENT IS A STORY Scientific-research OF RECEIVING Semiotic Artistic-imaginative pause ITS VALUE Cultural Mythical-poetic catastrophe

Utilitarian (historical) At the first stage of the existence people’s not purposeful behavior of the future monument (when it is towards things, constructions, and not perceived yet as a monument places, which are needed by nobody, Fig. 5. and is not declared to be it), a thing belong to nobody. Scheme 4 puts A cycle of life of a monument or a construction has some practical these events in vertical layers. or utilitarian value. At this stage, one works with it, takes care of it, First, it is a cultural catastrophe. but not as of a monument, but as of Cultural catastrophe is not always a useful and necessary thing. Thus, natural hazards or military a cycle of life of a monument, there rescued by miracle from being burnt a castle for a magnate is a “fortress", operations leading to the destruction comes a semiotic pause. Despite in the furnace). In certain cases, the “residence", “house". People used of the future monument and the its quiet name, this stage in the semiotic pause can be limited to to sing songs and took part in loss of its utilitarian function. It can life of a monument can be much days and hours. ceremonies, trying to influence the be just a change of the owner, when more destructive than a cultural world around them by means of the heir has no idea of what to do catastrophe. Castles and fortresses Only gradually, during several sacral actions. Even works of art, with the received heirdom. Cultural of the Middle Ages, which lost its stages, the future monument will which are declared monuments catastrophes can include fashion defending and military value as be filled again with the subjective right after their creation, were changes (not only in clothes, but a result of widespread fire-arms, meaning and given the status of simply materials of artists’ work. also in architectural styles), changes could be completely destroyed or the value, which needs special We call this level of perception of a technological way (steam simply abandoned. In this unkempt care. A recognized monument “historical utilitarian steady”. locomotives, record players, etc.), desolation, they would deteriorate becomes an object of pilgrimage, changes of the population on this for centuries, during this prolonged a place of carrying out rituals, or — Then, with the loss of their utility or that territory (the Barbarians’ semiotic pause. in the simplest variant — an object and utilitarian functions, something conquests, Shtetlekh in the Pale of contemplation for tourists, happens to the future monument. of Settlement), and changes of The semiotic pause can sometimes experts, and fans, i.e. it receives a Here, it is important to distinguish dominating religions. last for thousand years (a typical new utilitarian use. between people’s purposeful example is the manuscripts of activity and occurring natural Second, irrespective of the reasons apocryphal gospels from the library These stages on the scheme processes such as atmospheric of a cultural catastrophe that led to of Saint Catherine’s Monastery on are designated by horizontal erosion, ageing, rotting, as well as the loss of utilitarian functions, in the Sinai Peninsula, which were layers (levels). 38 Heritage 39

The mythical-poetic level, where the elementary performative act any ruin, any natural object, and of calling something a monument any thing can already be considered or an object of the cultural- a monument, usually passes historical value to the solemn spontaneously — it is projected and opening: scientific researches, work managed by nobody. Then, being with public opinion (PR), legal and inspired by an object of heritage, standard registration (to provide “creators” — painters, poets, writers, it with a status), as well as project, playwrights, and composers — restoration, and construction create literary and artistic images. activities. They not only professionally interpret the already available When certain actions in the field of mythical-poetic images, but also working with valuables-monuments add something “from themselves” are planned and projected, it means, Imagination is often understood as an individual (the artistic-imaginative level). first of all, actions with material mental process, spontaneous and self-sufficient. embodiments, with information We consider imagination to be a social In some cases, the mythical-poetic carriers. Of course, these actions phenomenon that can be initiated and organized stage of the life of a monument is require to the greatest degree from the outside. Objects considered monuments substituted with an ideological one, efforts, resources, organization and by society can heat the imagination and amaze while the ideology itself appears management. But it is bad when the observer. This is a specific ability of art — prior to this monument. Thus, these actions do not presuppose to amaze the observer, to cause catharsis and the death camps of World War II anything else. ecstasy. For the sake of achieving this effect, became monuments after these the numerous professionals are working — territories had been liberated. Still, The subjective part of valuables- those who are occupied in the protection the similar Gulag camps are not monuments requires not less of heritage, restoration of monuments, designing monuments even now. attention — imagination, thinking, of environment, exhibiting of values, education memory. The work of artists, of new generations on the material of these Therefore, special work should historians, philosophers, and many values, and finally, the broadcasting of culture. be organized and started so as to other participants and interested pass from the mythical-poetic or subjects should be organized ideological stage to the moment aswell, provided with resources, of the real use of a monument. and demonstrated to the general This work includes several public for conceptualization stages and directions — from and reflection. 40 Heritage 41

Heritage is something past, we turn it or not into the new that we make THE PAST, status of values in the present. of the old. Working with THE PRESENT In the present, we interpret and it as with something that AND treat the past. we broadcast into the future, THE FUTURE Interpretations and treatments we look at the past in a new cannot change the past as such, but they can provide the inherited fashion and we understand past with values or deprive it it in a new fashion. It may of its value. seem paradoxical, but the work with heritage can One of the most important aspects The very decision to treat of the social organization of the something as values or to refuse create innovations. work with heritage, monuments, something the value status leans and values is the process of not against the past as such, but broadcasting values. the future. We accept axiological decisions (decisions on values) In the work aimed at broadcasting being based on the way we see heritage, there is a regular (imagine) the future. The things we methodological error caused by take into the future and preserve for the domination of the historical the future are considered valuable, approach to the work with heritage. and on the contrary — the things we The essence of this error is that all leave in the past or neglect in the work with heritage is understood present are considered not valuable. and treated as the work with the past, as culture of memory. Or, it is possible to formulate it in But the contemporary approaches another way — the past, the present, will, objects evolve or dilapidate. the borders of the present. In the treat the work with heritage a and the future are connected by Sometimes, we notice evolving present, we work with the material little differently — as the work people’s activity. The things we objects at different stages of their of the past (we remember, we treat, aimed at linking all three time value, appreciate, take care of destruction, but we do not provide we interpret) and with the material modalities: the past, the present, and work with are present in the them with the status of the present, of the future (we project, we and the future. present, are the present. The things we do not consider them in the program, we broadcast). we neglect, do not work with, do modality of the present. All work and activity-oriented not care of, and do not appreciate Legacy and heritage are not only structure of heritage is in the have no present — they slip from On the other hand, the creative and not so much something that present. Only the material of the past into the future without our processes implemented by all the we receive from ancestors, that heritage, things, objects, texts, participation, without our care. social and professional positions, comes to us from the past, but also and information is received by us about which we speak when what we leave to our descendants from the past. Having received Being left without human care, referring to the work with values, and transfer into the future. or inherited all this from the without people’s energy and heritage, and monuments, expand 42 Armenia Project Stories 43

PROJECT STORIES: ARMENIA

We asked the managers of each of the Many of the problems described in 32 projects to share their achievements, the formation of a culture of memory observations, insights and the main are typical for other communities emotions that entered their life together that share our common geopolitical with the implementation of the planned context and mentality. Therefore, we actions. As a result, we have obtained hope that in these stories you will find a motley and very indicative joint many interesting examples of ways “portfolio” that to some extent reflects to preserve and display very different the variety of manifestations of the objects of cultural heritage, to overcome concept of “historical and cultural inevitably arising challenges, to see in heritage”, as well as the processes the authors of these stories possible unfolding around a particular heritage like-minded people and partners, and site: discoveries, oppositions, various maybe to outline a program for personal interpretations, non-recognition professional development. We wish and appropriation. good luck and inspiration! 44 Armenia Project Stories 45

TRADITIONAL CUISINE AS CULTURAL HERITAGE

Context: Issue Addressed by the Project “Tumanyan Inter- Community Union” The Caucasian cuisine is known far beyond our Civil Society mountainous region due to its authentic nature Organisation and surviving traditions. In our ethnicity-specific hospitality we rival with the Georgian or Abkhaz Location cultures, but this is a noble kind of competition, Tumanyan District because you have to admit that no other reason for of Lori Province rivalry can be more dignified than kindliness of our Province, while being aware and revive their memories of the Armenian homes. This being said, it has to be recognised that maintaining aspirations that our traditions, such as Vardevor summer Implementation the traditional Armenian cuisine, which was far-famed work will also inspire other regions of festivity, during which young villagers period not so long ago in the Soviet times due to the common Armenia, because many of them have usually cooked such special dishes as April 2016 — political space, in our days in reality lingers on in quite a few unique recipes to boast of. “agdak”, “klor gata” or “veal hashlama”. November 2016 some families that are few and far between. Finding an The custodians of our national culinary At the village of Met Ayrum we met authentically traditional Armenian cuisine represents heritage are represented by the elderly 85-year old Granny Marus, who was Coordinator an ever bigger challenge because of the global market female family carers residing in the cooking “doshab” at the time of our Melania Pepanyan influences, but in Armenia’s rural areas it is still a local villages, which is why they were visit. We have filmed an extremely realistic possibility. It has become critically crucial not picked up as our primary target group. inspiring video how she cooks the to miss the right moment to look into our culinary and “doshab” using the white mulberries gastronomic traditions, to collect recipes and promote Project Contents growing in the area. Another fascinating some one-off Armenian foods. The Armenian cuisine case was meeting an old lady, who was is our nation’s huge wealth and a resource, which can All through the summer of 2016 we cooking the “chil panir” cheese used be utilised in a beautiful, environmentally-friendly and had a number of meetings with the to make fried cheese, which is one of efficient way both for the local economy development residents of the 31 target communities of the most widely spread, often eaten due to the domestic or foreign travel business activity, Tumanyan District, talked with them and and favourite foods in the traditional and for enhancement of our national identity. And, last collected the indispensable information, cuisine. In the community Shnogh we but not least, for the sake of specific manifestations in particular, some traditional recipes, have witnessed the process of bread of our nation’s uniqueness, which are still literally which are characteristic of the region. baking and could follow the bakers present in our daily lives. We have sought to connect When visiting the communities, we also making dough, setting fire in a special in one the “everyday” aspect and the vital necessity of collected data on the history of these bread baking stove called “pur” and food, given its authentic character, with its concurrent areas, monuments, churches and other baking their fresh breads. fragility and exposure to loss as a tradition, — so that cultural heritage of the communities, any one of our compatriots could sense it from the while the most interesting and inspiring Following this kind of preparation, we inside, in a simple and accessible for her or him way. moments were filmed by us on videos, got involved in the main project part, which are accessible now on the Internet. i.e. arranging 3 gastronomic festivals Since our Community Union has by definition in the communities of Tumanyan, a geographic reference, we have rolled out our It was fascinating to communicate Gyulagarak and Shnogh. The Tumanyan activities in Tumanyan District of Armenian Lori with the elderly people, who could festival became the first and the 46 Armenia Project Stories 47

grandest one. The chief part of each of the Tumanyan region, including festival’s agenda was represented by their historic sites and populations, a taste testing exhibition of the old- recipes collected, video materials, and recipe dishes featuring all the invited information on and structure of the communities, and every dish was to other projects implemented by our be freely tasted. Moreover, in the two organisation. communities, Tumanyan and Shnogh, we held culinary master classes led by Project Significance for the the local old ladies and invited chefs. Communities and Ourselves The master classes have provided a wonderful and, most importantly, We have not acquired great numbers unbelievably spectacular opportunity of new partnerships with new to brush up the older generation’s skills organisations; however, we have and knowledge and pass them over to considerably strengthened the already the young people. Many young people existing links with the members of and older pupils were engaged in the the communities our organisation cooking process and had a chance to represents the interests of. Human learn about their ancestors’ dishes, relations at the level of cordial personal which are now almost forgotten. contacts are something which is really The dishes were cooked in specially valuable for us. We have maintained equipped ovens, and each stage of the relations in course of the project every ingredient’s preparation could cycle, while sharing information be followed live. All the festivals were and experiences obtained. Thus, in accompanied by ethnic dances and June 2016 we arranged an additional singing, which is an inalienable part workshop at the community of Shnogh of the Armenian traditions. with an objective to make the local gratitude for the initiative to stage traditional cuisine public aware of the CHOICE programme festivals, and promised to take over the tradition The festivals generated a lot of contents. Being inspired by the project by holding annual festivities in their communities. impressions for all the participants, participants’ meeting held in Moldova, Many of them (as was our hope) wished to hold such whereas the Tumanyan and Shnogh we could share our experiences and the festivals for Lori Province as a whole. community leaders have declared the conceptual contents of the programme, festival day as a special food holiday to as though personalising the new Some selected recipes have been offered to the be celebrated every year. It will be the approaches and ideas we had come attention of traditional Armenian restaurants, and Korkot Day in Shnogh and the National to know and thus consolidating the the “Nurik” centre situated at the community of Food day in Tumanyan, when dishes absorbed materials. Akhtala was the first one to express desire to use will be cooked after various recipes, several recipes at its restaurant. As for us, we shall including fried cheese, “pasutz tolma”, By way of a live afterword to the project, keep on collecting information on the local traditional traditional BBQ, “nazuk”, “agdak”, we have held a conclusive final meeting cuisine on our blog so that, beyond the exploration “tsandil”, “gonov spas” and other. with representatives of 31 Tumanyan framework, to maintain connections with the local District communities, where we interested residents. At the end of the project cycle presented a general overview of all the we created a blog, www.tumanyan. project events and actions and received This small, but very fascinating project has become vs.am, in Armenian and Russian to an important feedback. The official for us a kind of journey to the historic past of the make the project materials available community leaders, who used to provide Tumanyan community, which is closely interconnected on the Internet for all those who wish their full support in course of the with our present and future. Nothing unites people to access them. The blog contains project and the elderly ladies involved as strongly as the food they share, and we were happy information on all the communities in it extended to us their sincere and privileged to promote such rallying. 48 Armenia Project Stories 49

We saw the new web-site’s INCORPORATION OF “KUMAYRI” objectives in: HISTORIC-ARCHITECTURAL • Creating an accessible and long- COMPOUND OF THE GYUMRI term public information medium on the Gyumri historic and architectural CITY CULTURAL HERITAGE compound’s monuments, which would IN MODERN PUBLIC LIFE serve to identify and further promote OF ARMENIA these monuments among the public; • Providing the indispensable technical information to attract investments in conservation, repair or reconstruction of the Gyumri popular architecture “Third Nature” Civil Project Background monuments; Society Organisation Gyumri’s “Kumayri” historic and architectural • Attracting traveller streams and Location compound is a large urban planning compound, which assistance in tourist infrastructure Gyumri City, Armenia occupies an area of about 1000 hectares and includes development; and more than 1600 architectural monuments dating back Implementation to the 19th and early 20th centuries and formally • Motivation for further monument period provided with the monument status as far back as in research and laying foundations for May 2016 — 1980. These are residential houses, public buildings, monument registration, maintenance May 2017 industrial constructions, workshops, churches, bridges, and protection. military structures, an underground running water Project coordinator system, baths and many others. Rafael Mkhitaryan This historic urban planning compound, which is Project Implementation extremely rich in monuments, is getting ever poorer with every passing year: many monuments are in a In summary, our major efforts critical condition and get gradually destroyed. The have been concentrated on creation Armenian public is not well informed about this volatile of a special topical web-site situation as the media environment or intellectual ­www.cfa.am: Popular Architecture communities lack an appropriate comprehension of the City: Gyumri (Kumayri, Alexandropol compound's real cultural significance. and Leninakan). Concurrently, we have created an additional product It is obvious to us as the city’s cultural and public for a more specialised professional activists that the remaining architectural monuments use: software for registration and are in a dire and urgent need of proper registration description of the historic and and putting on a database, while later all steps should architectural compound’s monuments. be made to ensure an appropriate protection to the compound’s monuments. With this goal in mind, we Both of these vectors of our activities have decided to begin with creation of an information have served to supplement each other in source accessible to a wide range of persons, because terms of their contents and approaches, information-related presence (today on the Internet, since they combined a strictly research- in particular) makes provisions for a start needed to related operation with some technical influence the situation. objectives. 50 Armenia Project Stories 51

The algorithm we chose to follow may • Preserved structures; office research: analysis into the and architecture spheres, as well as some be described using a universal formula • Design and details (a detailed existing online resources, literary and special subdivisions dealing with historic for project management: situation “encyclopaedia” on how unique the archive sources, works by researcher and architectural monuments in the analysis (both research into the material local architectural elements are: facades architects, legislative and legal acts Gyumri local self-government agencies itself, as well as studying the already with their components, cornices and of the Armenian Republic and Gyumri and Shirak Province Administration, available technological solutions) — columns, doors and grand entrances, administration, relevant museum as well as representatives of cultural creation of three draft versions of the windows and their bandelets, gates and materials, works by well-known artists, organisations or interested public material structure and selection of the ornaments, metal door parts, balconies, historic photos and post-cards and organisations, artists, architects and civil best one — technical part proper related ceilings, spring-wells, patios, coats-of- other materials. society activists. to programming, registration and arms, etc.); execution of the information product • New functional applications of the In total, we have collected about 2000 Project Impact (including its multiple editions) — structures and their present technical units of materials: photos, scanned information publication/ distribution on condition; documents, maps or architectural So far it is premature to speak about the product created. • Gyumri artists: Hakob Ananikyan, designs. About 875 of them are the long-term effects, because the Hakob Hakobyan, Minas Avetisyan, Rafael presented on the web-site: research operations related to web-site and When working on the web-site Atoyan, Bagrat Grigoryan, Khachatur summaries, articles, drawings, software product release have just structure, we sought to achieve Vardparonyan, Ashot Melkonyan, Sargis architectural measurements, photos and finished. Yet, already now we can a balance between the scientific Matevosyan and Levon Lachikyan; other materials. notice a trend to growing mass media justification and completeness of the • Building craftsmen; interest, judging by publications on the information on the condition of the Upon the web-site population process Gyumri popular architecture. Likewise, compound’s architectural monuments • Armenian Republic legislation on completion, we moved over to comparing with the project start period, and their legal status, on the one historic or architectural monuments. distributing information on it. Beside there has been a remarkable growth hand, and journalistic attractiveness of This section provides names, as well mass media publications, we made it recorded in interest on behalf of the the materials, on the other hand. We as active Internet links to the 6 major a point to declare officially about our authorities to our city’s architectural have taken the liberty of a ponderable legislative acts of Armenia and to work. We drafted addresses in writing monuments. The Armenian Government share of the web-resource’s artistic one international convention on to the Armenian Ministry of Culture, has launched a large-scale project on poetisation not only because we believe cultural heritage, immovable cultural Armenian Urban Planning Department, formation of a “tourist" neighbourhood ourselves with all our hearts in the monuments and cultural territories; and Shirak Province Administration and in one of the city’s old parts. need for preservation of the “Kumayri” the Gyumri City Authorities, which compound, but also because Gyumri has • Government-sponsored list of the informed them on the active web-site. Despite a colossal significance of always been rhapsodised by artists and Gyumri and Shirak Province immovable the work done both for the compound literary or political figures who visited historic and architectural monuments We have passed a similar technological and to enhance our organisation, we are the place or lived here. This is a value- with active links to the relevant cycle, while working on the piece of well aware that, on the whole, we have oriented component of our heritage, Government decrees. software related to registration of just succeeded in laying foundations which may not be left unheeded. the historic and cultural compound’s under further activities related to All the above has required from our monuments. After many months of search for investors and donors for Eventually, we have made our final experts a thorough research work. close collaboration among researchers, a real rehabilitation of the “Kumayri” choice on the following content We looked into all the accessible activists and technical experts, compound. We have created an structure: international standards related to consultations and testing we were ready information-related pretext, public the creation of online resources to inaugurate the product. attention to which is not a long-lasting • Prominent experts on the Gyumri on immovable cultural heritage one, given the current dense stream of architecture: Varazdat Arutyunyan, monuments (including peculiarities of However, due to its narrow specialisation events. Our further actions, including Samvel Safaryan, Rafael Israelyan and publishing information on individual profile and level of detail, to serve the those to achieve our initial objectives, Sargis Matevosyan; ownership of the architectural purpose, we have launched a special should be reformulated as full-fledged • City formation history; monuments). We needed both field training course to master the software advocacy campaign, which would • Housing construction; studies of the Gyumri monument product. It was taken by 35 responsible require efforts by additional experts • Preserved streets or blocks; preservation status, as well as some representatives of the urban planning to be exerted. 52 Armenia Project Stories 53

Our project was aimed at working with least, the tonir ceramics constitute the CULTURAL HERITAGE specific communities in the towns community’s pride and its business cards; or villages, which are renowned for CONSERVATION their majestic landscapes and unique • The City of Gyumri, which is AS A SUSTAINABLE DEVE­ architectural monuments: Armenia’s second one in terms of its significance. Its history goes 5000 years LOPMENT FACTOR AMONG • Vahramaberd is known due to back and represents a series of endless THE COMMUNITIES LOCATED its numerous “house chapels” and transformations and changed images the Armenia fresco by great Minas or names (Kumayri, Alexandropol or CLOSE TO THE SHIRAK Avetisyan painted in 1972. However, Leninakan) under the influence of the PROVINCE MONUMENTS the village’s major patrimony is the great empires or natural disasters. The legendary Marmashen monastery, a Spitak 1988 earthquake destroyed a whole compound of popular history bigger part of the rapidly advancing monuments; city within just seconds. The USSR “YERKINK [Sky]” Context, Problem and Objective disintegration followed by Armenia’s Civil Society • Harich village situated on the western economic blockade because of the Organisation Shirak Province’s historic and cultural heritage slope of the Aragats mount. Somewhat war with Azerbaijan has impeded the monuments are mainly concentrated in its rural west of the village there is a big Bronze restoration work. It was not until a Location areas. These are remote monasteries and churches Age settlement comprising a number few recent years that the city’s parks Town of Gyumri or picturesque mountain landscapes, visiting which of cultural structures dating back to and streets have again begun their and Shirak Province requires some particular spiritual and emotional the 3rd through 10th millenia BC. The revival process. Communities, pre-requisites on behalf of a tourist. There are all village itself has a medieval Harich Armenia conditions needed for travel business development monastery, an architectural compound, Project Contents present here, and the sector itself is capable, to a large which includes two churches, a chapel Implementation extent, of developing the local communities; yet, the and a cemetery; While pursuing a dual objective: mo­­ti­ period process is very slow, although for the reasons, which vating the local residents to preservation May 2016 — do not seem logical enough. • Anipemza, an industrial town built and revival of the cultural heritage May 2017 after Armenia was included in the USSR, monuments and creating an innovative The International Charter on Cultural Tourism, but its first residents had appeared pattern for these communities’ Project coordinator which has been ratified by Armenia, is based on here much earlier. Some Iron Age sustainable development, we have: Knarik Khachatryan a principle, under which the local public must be artefacts (1st and 2nd millenia BC) involved in operating the heritage sites and in tourism have been found here: arms and a small • Begun with public opinion surveys development. And, indeed, with no participation on lion figurine made of Egyptian paste; among the residents living close to behalf of the local residents the cultural monuments, Yereruyk temple, or Yereruyk Saint monuments (in 2 stages). They exposed tangible and intangible ones alike, are likely to lose Karapet, a monument dating back to the that “economic instability prevents the their living spirit and turn into lifeless structures 4th or 5th century AD, which features communities from appreciating the These places attract the stream of 1500 to 2000 some ancient architectural elements, is cultural heritage as a significant source tourists per year, but the local communities, in also situated here; of revenues.” Based on the survey fact, fail to receive any profit from them. It seems results, we made a number of proposals extremely unjust, because the whole world seems to • Sarnaghbyur village with its St. Hakob to every community; be aware that rural tourism is a crucial resource for a and Apostle Tadeo churches or monastic sustainable economic development. compounds Zaghan and Hogevant, • Conducted a series of training which are famous all over Armenia. sessions involving 125 community We were resolved to support conservation of the Shirak Sanctuaries are to be found even in representatives on protection of Province cultural heritage by using travel business for some houses of the village. Unknown Shirak Province’s historic and cultural the purpose as a possible sustainable development tool Soldier’s monument, picturesque caves heritage, on current situation with the in the hands of the local communities. and holy water springs, and, last but not monuments and on any possible threats. 54 Armenia Project Stories 55

Partnerships Started by the Project

Guest-house and lodge owners are getting ready to a professional-level reception of their first guests. Under an arrangement reached with the Armintour tour operator, in 2018 the start-ups will organise their demo work in order to try and attract tourists. The Public Council has under its discussion a project for creation of a holistic tourist infrastructure to spring up due to a participation, our organisation has make their reservations in the lodges network partnership among the tour plans underway to create an IT project and guest-houses without relying on operators and regional institutions and (as a mobile application) for the local the tour operators’ assistance. IT use by organising conceptual travel routes. authorities to enable informing the remains a main priority in enhancing local public and the stakeholders on the required competences among the Further on, some training participants The Public Council of Anipemza is their decisions. In their turn, those local residents, because now even the were selected for participation in engaged in negotiations with the willing to be engaged in decision- community councils almost do not use business incubators, but the fastest Ingenieria Italia on cooperation with making will be able to speak out their any internet-based technologies (which visible and crucial result was represented the local women’s start-ups. We believe opinions using a smartphone. fact, by the way, has not prevented one by setting up the Public Council for that the new (or revitalised) production of the villagers to make a solar water Monitoring the Decision-Making Process units will contribute to the region’s Project Effects heater using them). in the Area of Cultural Heritage at the sustainable development. and Significance Local and National Level. It is expected By and large, we have succeeded in to be a permanent advisory body related Some unpredicted auxiliary “reasons” Apart from the above-mentioned establishing relations among the local to public monitoring in Armenia’s Shirak for businesses and initiatives have come partnerships, the project public, administration authorities and Province; and about, too. For example, lack of email implementation process has had some the businesses. Businesses are helpful use skills among the local public served other positive consequences, too. The in preserving the cultural heritage, • Launched a business incubator as a motivation to arrange a training Yereruyk archaeological monument while the cultural heritage, as a matter in the master class format, which session series on information technology and the village of Anipemza situated of fact, becomes a driver to develop attracted a lot of interest. A condition use to develop the heritage sector in near it have been included among 7 the local business environment. The of participation provided for founding the region. An appropriate proposal most advanced monuments in Europe. main thing is that the local residents one’s own business based on the needs was sent to the Gyumri Technopark, The Honorary Council of Italy in Gyumri themselves have seen that heritage is a available in the heritage sector. which is managed by the Ministry of headed by Mr Antonio Montalto has clue to personal and public prosperity Transport and Communications of the ordered some products from start-ups, and are learning with enthusiasm how This initiative has started production of Armenian Republic. arranged their sales and follows the to get an income from their businesses. traditional souvenirs and adornments, quality control procedures (to make the The community leaders encourage these woollen blankets and cases, pillows Yet another major challenge is start-ups even happier). The start-ups processes in every possible way. or overclothes (with the decorations, represented by lack of convenient have also received orders from hotels, traditional for the ethnic costumes) mechanism for the public to be engaged restaurants and individual customers. As to our organisation, it has intended for the service sector. All these in the local-level decision-making strengthened its authority in the region local mini-enterprises have evolved processes. Local self-government Betghem and Sargis, Harich village and built up its competences in the area enough to receive regular orders and should provide for a direct involvement residents, inspired by the project of cultural heritage preservation, as well to make profits, part of which being in the decision-making process, but events, are reconstructing their houses as its social capital. We shall need all channelled to conservation of the in fact a citizen is involved in it in a to serve as lodges. Approximately in these inputs in the future, because we Shirak Province cultural patrimony. passive way, only. To encourage public 5 years’ time tourists will be able to are not going to stop here! 56 Armenia Project Stories 57

MORE RECOGNIZABLE LORI

“Rafael” Civil Society Organisation Success Areas Location Lori region, For several years now we have organised The 2016 Summer School was attended Armenia here summer camps for children from by over 80 children aged between 12 socially vulnerable families in various and 15 from various Lori and Shirak Implementation regions of Armenia, in order to give Provinces’ towns and villages. We did our period them an opportunity of a quality best that the days spent by the children June 2016 — recreation, socialisation and, of course, in our camp were filled with positive August 2016 seeing the Lori Province cultural emotions and exciting discoveries. The heritage. Our idea this time was to children took part in sightseeing tours Project coordinator involve the children in a constructive of the Lori Province cultural heritage Hrach Marukyan work with the monuments: developing sites, looked into some historic facts and road sign designs to be tested in the analysed current information on sight Context, Problem and Objective region and to serve the purpose of its accessibility. They also learned about the patrimony promotion, as well as getting standards and principles applicable to The project was intended to contribute to the the children together for the sake of the road signs and, eventually, developed establishment of Lori region as a more recognisable recreation and new impressions. When with the help from their assisting and accessible one. The paradox and injustice of the working with children, we inoculate designers their own prototypes. situation is that the region is rated among the richest to them from a young age love, pride in terms of its history or culture monument abundance and feeling of responsibility for our Further on, the elaborated road sign and mind-blowing landscapes, but accessing it national heritage, as well as willingness design specimens were lobbied by us represents a serious challenge, in particular, for large to work with it: in fact, we use them as at the regional administration level organised groups of people. The regional highway, a medium to engage their families and during training sessions and group which leads its visitors to the major natural sights children of the same age, with whom discussions related to the agenda of the of the region, such as Haghpat and Sanahin, which are these children communicate in their natural, historic and cultural heritage included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well daily lives, which, beyond any doubt, protection. as Qobayr, Akhtala, Dsegh, etc., is in an extremely poor enhances the effects of our work. condition. There is a lack of appropriate signs and Because of certain delays within the plates for the heritage monuments and it means that process of our project implementation, many people simply do not guess how close they may our lobbyist activities were suffered be to the majestic in their greatness and beauty sites, a blow at the stage of local level which represent a national pride. electoral campaigning. On the other hand, an overhaul of the main Lori 58 Armenia Project Stories 59

Province highway was begun, which Organisational and Partner All the above elements have directly highway takes the visitors to most Network Development contributed to the development of our heritage sites; the work is expected managerial and social capacities, since to be completed within 3 years. An We have used our already available all this team will be available to us, if and unequivocally positive piece of news partnership relations to implement when necessary, for implementation of for us is that the newly retrofitted road this project, while enhancing, when other similar projects. We have worked will be equipped with the road signs doing so, our links and intentions in out an efficient operational relationship made after the specimens proposed the direction of a further collaboration. with the local and provincial authorities by the Summer Camp participants. It Thus, the project has been implemented and other organisations or entities active means that the project objectives have in cooperation with the Gugark Diocese in the province. been met in full. of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which provided the facilities to organise Our project did not provide for A broader project effect will be observed the children’s Summer School at. cooperation with other countries in the years to come, upon completion The partnership was initiated several or with any other CHOICE scheme of the main road reconstruction, while years ago, when arranging our first member inside our country, but we shall the road signs showing the travel routes ever summer camps for children from be glad to share our working experience to the cultural heritage sites are to Armenia’s socially vulnerable families. at the local level and, definitely, to learn be placed due to on-going lobbying In addition, our cooperation sphere about successful cases involving other efforts by the Rafael NGO. The issue includes schools and the Lori Regional civil society organisations featuring will remain high on our agenda to State Service for Cultural Heritage some similar objectives and similar reverberate continuously in the local Protection, whose assistance has been conditions. and regional authorities’ offices. instrumental in organising detailed discussions, negotiations and dialogues The Rafael CSO is well known in the The Rafael NGO will keep on applying for a better presentation of the project province and throughout the country the same approaches, while performing idea and for motivation towards more as a strong organisation active in the its further actions and implementing strenuous efforts. spheres of cultural heritage protection any future projects. If we were to rely and making provisions for a proper upon our own resources, only, the We have also involved, for the sake of education and training of children. extent of the projects would be smaller implementing our intended ideas, new Our target group is primarily made up and should fail to involve other regions professional resources, such as experts in of schoolchildren, who learn how to or towns; however, given any additional various areas, viz.: architects, designers, cherish the cultural heritage and the funding becomes available, our NGO’s historians or specialists in cultural natural environment, which is crucial capacities allow us to scale up the heritage protection and awareness- at least for the sake of maintaining our events to cover the entire country. raising in travel business development. national mentality at a decent level. 60 Armenia Project Stories 61

ENGAGE VANADZOR. THE HERITAGE OF MODERNITY AND CRADLE OF CREATIVE INDUSTRY

“Boghosyan Gardens” Project Context and Objectives Non-Profit-Making Organization The chimneys belonging to a chemical fibre factory and a thermal power plant in Vanadzor, which is and assess the modern perceptible and 1970’s, as well as a list of nearly 100 Location Armenia’s third biggest city, welcome its guests from intangible cultural phenomenon of structures, which meet our criteria. We Vanadzor, many kilometres away. The two industrial giants have the city, which phenomenon aspires to have collected a valuable set of archive Lori Province become an integral part of the urban fabric and not so become cultural heritage. materials and relevant photographic long ago used to serve as a symbol of this country’s materials filmed on purpose; and Implementation advanced economy. With our vision of the city’s cultural period landscape we had to be convincing • A crucial role in assessing and April 2016 — This kind of environment, jointly with a mass media- for many potential partners, which is analysing the materials collected was September 2016 transmitted global culture infiltration, has contributed why concurrently we pursued a goal of played by two community meetings to the formation in the area of a strong musical creating the city's visible cultural map. attended by the stakeholders, local NGO Project coordinator subculture: in around 2005 several interesting rock Only this type of visualised information and local authority representatives, Sevada Petrosyan groups appeared, with a certain community of the can provide a basis in the future for as well as by some persons with genre adherents forming around them. Rock music discussing more global strategies of the specific professional interests, such has become a unique example of the Vanadzor urban Vanadzor cultural development. as architects, musicians, managers, culture. etc. The meeting format was used Major Events and Results to discuss the current Vanadzor Can rock music be considered the city’s vital cultural heritage conditions, possible actions heritage? We are sure that it can and has to (while • The first project stage has been to be taken, as well as opinions and the “semiotic pause” stage can even be a dangerous dedicated to exploring and mapping proposals related to a further project one in this respect), because already now it is capable the heritage sites, in the Vanadzor implementation. These discussions have of contributing to the enhancement of the local and case, it is the industrial and modernist provided evidence that the community’s national identity and pride for one’s culture, which architecture of the city, as well as its will to get engaged in preserving the is created here and now. There are lots of examples modern music scene represented by modern intangible cultural patrimony to support the thesis, unfortunately, so far outside rock music. The process related to of the city is very strong. Armenia, only. identifying and comparing the examples of industrial and modernist architecture The meetings were held in the lounge of Vanadzor’s investments in the flourishing local rock was conducted by the project manager the city’s puppet theatre building. The music fall short of the needs, which is why we have and a team of interested Vanadzor building can boast of a long history of made up our minds to assume control of the situation enthusiasts and represented chamber supporting the local rock music, having and suggested that the local musicians’ concerts studies and architectural monument provided a platform for many rock should be held. The format is a simple one, but in fact visits. We have drafted a list of concerts, as well as represents a unique it is a rare opportunity to celebrate, conceptualise architects active in Vanadzor since the example of the Soviet architecture in 62 Armenia Project Stories 63

the city. The above-mentioned two giant differing point of view on the sites, viewpoint of awareness-raising. Other industrial compounds situated at the which the local community saw as effects dealing with the strategic use entrance to Vanadzor may be seen as a obsolete and unworthy of attention, has of heritage as a development resource critical visual identification of the city. caused a certain commotion, but also either are long-term in their essence provided an opportunity to establish and therefore will in reality be assessed Following the results of the two a dialogue with the local authorities. later, or need new cycles of systematic meetings, we have put on the online By and large, against the background activities; in fact, drafting an action map, which was created ad hoc, 20 of a bitter electoral campaigning and programme or advocacy campaign, architectural heritage sites of the disputes initiated by some parties, while ignoring importance of cultural city (accessible on our organisation’s the local authorities have provided to heritage. website www.urbanlab.am), as us their support to the fullest extent. well as released a short documentary The concert was held on Armenia’s One of our priority objectives to remain film based on expert interviews and European Heritage Days and was in the future will be represented by “urban stories” (after several official included on the list of the events promotion of a participatory decision- demonstrations now accessible on promoted also by the Ministry of making process, public at large being YouTube). A similar process of archive Culture of Armenia, Council of Europe involved. Achieving this goal will research and interview video filming and the Delegation of the European serve to ensure the human practice in was also applied in respect of the Union in Armenia. respect of their democratic rights for Vanadzor rock music scene and, upon participation within the processes of a round of consultations with the local Project Extension Needed community building and governance. music amateurs, during the second However, for any continuation and community meeting. The final project presentation was guaranteeing our actions’ sustainability held in November 2016 for more at the early stages we shall need A majestic rock concert was held on than a hundred persons, who are not some outside assistance: cultural the 25th of September 2016 in a park indifferent to the quality of the local and intellectual communities (whose adjacent to the Vanadzor Chemical cultural environment; the presentation loyalties we have won) and the local Factory Community Centre, which park opportunity was used for the short authorities. is surrounded by great many industrial documentary film preview. The positive and modernist sites. Six Yerevan and response was, undoubtedly, important, We are grateful to all those, who were Vanadzor performers took part in a but our project has only brushed against involved in the project implementation: public 5-hour long concert and they the iceberg top. No one worked before volunteers and invited team members, were seen by about 3,000 persons, us in a relatively young industrial who used to help with the archive including competing parties’ nominees city with the issues related to the work, and to the organisations, which at the local elections. cultural resources needed for the urban have ensured the best possible quality development or to the significance of of live sound and video or audio The electoral campaign has had, on the its cultural and creative identity. We materials. A weighty contribution whole, little influence on the project have succeeded in identifying the range has been made by the city’s other roll-out, not to mention difficulties of topics and the amount of work to be NGOs: Rafael, Vanadzor and Peace related to the concert date and place done in the future. and Dialogue, which are active in the selection. However, the discourse on cultural heritage, community capacity rock music as a vital aspect of the local Our general common objective was building or local democracy. We have cultural image and heritage, which to raise awareness about the modern gained some significant contacts with we have initiated, was beneficial and tangible or intangible phenomenon, representatives of other spheres, local used by politicians in their rivalry which may be perceived as heritage. authorities and donors, which contacts (which we estimate to be a positive, We do believe that the project has we shall be only too glad to use for any albeit unexpected effect). A fresh and achieved its intended result from the would-be interdisciplinary projects. 64 Armenia & Moldova Project Stories 65

PROJECT STORIES: ARMENIA & MOLDOVA 66 Armenia & Moldova Project Stories 67

In its turn, at the first stage of CHOICE- photographers from Moldova and Moldova, PRO-RESPIRO presented a Armenia. Sergei Khakobyan, Edgar CROSSROADS concept of the project «Cultural heritage Martirosyan, Anatolie Poiată, and Diana OF CULTURES THROUGH of the Ocnita District — the world that Savciuc carried out a master class in the will be revealed». Popularization of the village of Hagpat, and Vigen Mnoyan, THE LENSES OF YOUNG cultural heritage of the Ocnita District Gor Sevosyan together with Nikolai PHOTOGRAPHERS at local and regional levels by means Miniuc and Ecaterina Caplevaţchi — in of contemporary photography was Gyumri. Their pupils were 20 young the project main objective. However, photographers from the Provinces it did not receive enough points. As of Shirak and Lori, who had passed a a result, PRO-RESPIRO were invited special selection. Their practice was in to participate as partners in the the most picturesque and significant, project with similar main objectives from the point of view of heritage, The international Background presented by the ICHD. The declared locations in Armenia — the village center of human purpose remained the same — dialogue of Akhpat, in the Akhpat monastery, development (ICHD) This project has united the values and purposes of two of national cultures of the two EaP and the monastery of Odzun, Lake (Armenia) organizations from different countries — Armenia and countries and the development of Sevan, and Sevanavank. Gyumri is the “PRO-RESPIRO” Moldova. the non-material heritage of local cultural center of Armenia; it became Public Association ­ communities. an excellent platform for a photo plein (Moldova) • The international center of human development air; at end of the master class, the group (ICHD) founded in 2000 is an institute of independent The basic practical idea of the project is visited the monastery of Marmashen. Location studies and public policy (think tank) that pays its to represent visually cultural heritage Provinces of Shirak major attention to issues of economic development with the help of semiprofessionals and Professionals and amateur and Lori (Armenia), and social safety. Also, the center is engaged in many young amateur photographers; both photographers’ teamwork resulted in Chisinau (Moldova) creative and social projects urged to get people, organizations think that it can get youth two exhibitions organized in Yerevan particularly young ones, interested in the conscious, interested in non-material heritage and and Chisinau. Besides works of Implementation qualitative, and active influence on environment, to make them respect features of culture of participants of the master classes, there period strengthen the feeling of local identity and connection other people. were creative works of professional August 2016 — with previous generations through tradition. photographers from Armenia and November 2016 Project Contents Moldova; 120 photos were presented. • PRO-RESPIRO represents the interests of the The exhibition in Yerevan opened in Project coordinators professional community of young photographers Advancement of the basic values — August 2016 and in Chisinau — in Ani Mnatsakanyan, in Moldova; its tasks are to reveal people’s creative cultural integration between September 2016. Diana Savciuc potential, to help the development of the general generations and nations, intercultural level of culture of the community with the help of solidarity and mutual understanding. The participants’ works reflect various out-of-school and out-of-class programs dedicated We have implemented several important displays of non-material and material to professional activities. The organization was born actions/events from photo courses cultural heritage, including customs inside the professional community during the recent and immersion in the cultural context and traditions of local communities, years after a number of photo exhibition projects. to versatile public representations of monuments of natural and architectural creative works. heritage, vivid and recognizable At the first stage of the competitive selection CHOICE- images of usual inhabitants of Moldova Armenia, the ICHD presented a concept of the project The first stage of the project took and Armenia. Both exhibitions were “Crossroads of cultures of the EaP countries through place in August 2016 in Gyumri, the attended by numerous figures of objectives of young photographers”. The photo project Shirak Province, and the village of culture and art, representatives was aimed at getting the young generation interested Akhpat, the Lori Province, Armenia, of the professional community of in non-material cultural heritage in an interesting and where the ICHD organized a series photographers, and other categories unostentatious way. of master classes with professional of spectators interested in the work of 68 Армения и Молдова Project Stories 69

professional photographers and in the cultural heritages of our countries. In Chisinau, there were representatives of the Armenian Diaspora in Moldova.

The exhibitions were visited by three hundred people; the number of visitors of our joint electronic photo catalog was more than a thousand. During the master classes, the ICHD together with photographers-experts made a decision to create an electronic catalog of participants’ works on the resource www.500px.com. 83 works sent by participants of the project are in the catalog ARMOLDOVA that will become a basis for joint exhibitions. E.g. PRO- RESPIRO plans in the nearest future to organize a number of mobile exhibitions in regional cultural establishments of Moldova, including in Ocnita.

Expansion of the Partner of this partnership, in Chisinau, there In the future, our teams plan to Organizations Network was a photo exhibition in the open air strengthen their administrative in October 2016 — “Chisinau yesterday potential, in particular in the field of Thanks to the implementation of the and today” dedicated to the 580th fund raising and project management, joint international project, the partner anniversary of the city. The overall finance administration and organizations have received not only objective of this event was not only to accountability. We are active enough professional experience in the field of show the beauty of Chisinau during young organizations and have every contemporary photography, but also different periods of time, but also to chance to become noticeable players in important new partnerships in various draw attention of the public to problems the advancement and preservation of fields of culture and heritage. of preservation of the architectural and cultural heritage at the local level and in cultural heritage of the city. the EaP region. We will be glad to have The ICHD has received not only a good new professional contacts and joint international partner — PRO-RESPIRO, It is necessary to separately underline projects! but also a local partner — the National volunteers’ help rendered during each Association of Photographers of step of the project. There were really Armenia that has helped us to organize pleasant surprises: PRO-RESPIRO even master classes and exhibitions in found a bookkeeper who worked as a Yerevan. volunteer.

PRO-RESPIRO became partners with the public organization “Discover Moldova” (“Descoperim Moldova”) that was also chosen to implement a project within the scope of CHOICE. As a result 70 Belarus Project Stories 71

PROJECT STORIES: BELARUS 72 Belarus Project Stories 73

ART OF А SINCERE HEART

Public Association Context and of Art Lovers of Problem Solved by the Project the “Belavezhkaya Pushcha” Region The project is aimed at popularizing and rescuing and the Brest Region from oblivion the creative heritage of the National “TUR” Master of Belarus, woodcarver Mikola Tarasiuk. The ethnographers, local community, and of preserving the national master’s master is known for his unique collection of wooden experts on culture to the problem of heritage and popularizing his creativity. Location works that reflect an original way of life of Belarusian preservation of Tarasiuk’s creative 25 people took part in this event — village of Stoily, peasants in the second half of the 20th century. heritage and to develop a further there were journalists, officials, civic Pruzany District, Tarasiuk created a museum in his manor and called concept of preserving and rescuing from activists, historians, and ethnographers. Brest Region, Belarus it “Memoirs of the native land”. His creativity was oblivion the name of the Master. The audience came to a conclusion the first to be included in the State list of elements of that it was necessary to create Mikola Implementation non-material historical-cultural heritage of Belarus The creation of the play in the Batleika Tarasiuk's foundation. The round period in the Brest Region in 2008. Tarasiuk's wooden figures genre was quite difficult and creative, table decided that the performance April 2016 — are worth being included in the world encyclopedia but it was a really interesting and must be demonstrated in Belarus and May 2017 of naive art and exhibited in the best museums of the unforgettable experience for all. Our abroad as it is extremely important world. There are documentary films about him and a public association unites well-known for the popularization of the name of Project coordinator biographic book, but the museum itself is on the verge masters of arts and crafts, artists from Mikola Tarasiuk and preservation of his Larysa Bytsko of disappearance. the Brest Region. The preparation of the memory and creativity. play united our organization and made The overall objective of the project was to preserve it more significant and known. Partnerships (and Conflicts) and develop traditional regional culture by teaching the art of woodcarving and comprehension of the The premiere of the performance was Together with the implementation uniqueness of the historical-cultural heritage of on May, 13th, 2017 in Stuly. It was of the project within the scope the region, the creativity of the famous master of dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the CHOICE program, we have woodcarving Mikola Tarasiuk as an element of the of Mikola Tarasiuk. There were more implemented one more project — local tradition and cultural heritage of Belarus. than 60 spectators who came not only “Mikola Tarasiuk-2016”, the winner of from the Brest Region and Minsk, but the contest SOCIАL WEEKEND-7. As a What We Implemented also from Russia and Poland. There result of this project, in the village of were representatives of the regional Stoily, a sculptural composition and an The main action of the project is the performance mass media. informational stand about the master’s “Memory Shelter” in the genre of the Belarusian life and creativity were installed. And traditional theater Batleika. We wanted to draw After the premiere, there was a at that moment we had a conflict with attention of the public, mass media, researchers, round table to discuss the problem the relatives and heirs of the national 74 Belarus Project Stories 75

been engaged in this art for more than 25 years. Anna became one of the main advisers during the creation of our Batleika performances. She advised our creative group — before to present a performance about Mikola Tarasiuk's creativity and life, to create the classical Batleika play “Herod the Great”. Active members of our organization began to create this performance — it united us very much. It was the first joint product for the eight years of existence of our association, which was successful and really became an object of pride of each participant of this project. The project team is very grateful to Anna because when we were creating the performance “Memory Shelter”, we already knew master, who claimed the project team life, native tongue, and culture of their subtleties and specificity of Batleika about the use of the name of Nikolai small homeland. plays. When we were creating the play Tarasyuk. For several months we Herod the Great, we actively worked on could not find mutual understanding. Throughout the whole period — from the creation of the main product — the For this reason, we gave our production the text of the play and the course performance about the master’s life a different, more neutral title, of rehearsals to the premiere — the and creativity. The playwright had done “The Shelter of Memory." project team received consultations and really titanic work, having studied all recommendations from the doctor of video and audio archives about Mikola Nevertheless, over time, our efforts art criticism V. A. Labacheuskaya. She Tarasiuk, which had been collected by to preserve the creative heritage of is the author of the book about Mikola the creative group. The work of the N. Tarasyuk brought a positive result, Tarasiuk and one of the main experts on painter and the sound producer also and the conflict has been resolved. his creativity and life history. Her help deserves deep respect. Thus, instead of The master’s successors began to allowed us to present more precisely one, we created two performances in the appreciate and treat their father’s and some important details of the master’s Batleika genre — the first one is pilot, grandfather’s works in a new way: the character and behavior in the play. the other one is the main product. memorial estate “Memoirs of the native land” started to work again. The professionals who worked on The work aimed at actualizing the the play (the director and the sound master’s memory will not end — we will In the course of the project producer) liked to work with the team continue to fill with creative life his implementation, we built interaction of the project so much that they are native places and the performance, as with a secondary school in Shcherchava ready to continue cooperation with we believe, will tell about Tarasiuk far and secondary school №3 in Zhabinka. us free-of-charge in other lines of the beyond his native village. We invited the local community to activity of our organization and our participate in master classes and the partner in Stuly. schools received an opportunity to teach their pupils woodcarving with During one of seminars of the CHOICE the help of eminent masters; the pupils project, there was a meeting with the became interested in the sources of well-known restorer of the Belarusian national traditions, traditional way of Batleika Anna Vyhonnaya who have 76 Belarus Project Stories 77

by the creators of myths and textbooks, BREST but by its actual citizens. STORIES GUIDE Another challenge was the existence of Initially: ANTI-AMNESIA a strict censorship of works of art. The NAVIGATOR Kryly Khalopa Theatre has faced bans of performances, commissions and other restrictions for more than 10 years. We wanted to create a product that would be impossible to make a subject to censorship.

Project Content

“KH Space” Context. Problem. The audio-play, which is a part Cultural Institution Objectives of the Brest Stories Guide mobile application, as well as the web-site changing their image of Brest. The media Location There are many significant parts of the history breststories.com, are the objects expressed their interest at the early Brest, Belarus of Brest, which are not represented in the school of all our efforts. It is based on the stages too: many journalists from the textbooks, museums or tourist routes. The history of materials from archives and the Brest media were asking for an interview Implementation life and destruction of the Jewish community of Brest interviews with the eyewitnesses of already a month before the presentation. period during the Second World War is one of them. The very the events related to the extermination April 2016 — memory of the life and the contribution of the Jews of Jews in 1941-1942, which may Acquired Partnerships May 2017 to the development of Brest has disappeared as result characterize the play as a source for of the Holocaust and the destruction of buildings studying the history of Brest and Working with Yefim Basin, a Project coordinators and places associated with the Jews. Returning these Belarus. In addition the project is an representative of the Jewish Aksana Haiko, memories has become the goal of our project. innovative theatrical and tourism organization Hesed-David gave positive Sviatlana Haidalionak product and it is distinguished by an results. Being an expert and a researcher We could not look past this issue since half of the unconventional approach to work with of Brest and the Jewish topic of the city city’s inhabitants having been killed is the biggest historic heritage. for a long time, he shared the materials disaster in the history of Brest. However the memory yet unknown to wide public such as of these events is not there in the narratives of Brest The viewer / listener is given an books published in New York and history. The word “Holocaust” does not appear in the opportunity to interactively participate interviews with people who left Belarus Belarusian textbooks, and the very topic of Holocaust in the play that takes place in the city. for Israel and the United States. He also is still not being openly discussed. The main material of the production is helped to establish cooperation with comprised of the voices of witnesses of other Jewish organizations for further We decided to “squeeze” the present narrative of events and a map marked with the key possible collaboration on the project. Brest's “heroic” past. The myth of the heroic defense places of Jewish heritage and historical of the fortress overshadowed the incredibly cruel events. The communication and the work with death of the city's residents as well as the tortures and Christian Ganzer, the German historian deaths of thousands of prisoners of war, all of which The project was presented on May 27, who has been involved in the history of is also not common to mention when talking about 2017 and caused great interest from the Brest Fortress for about 10 years and Brest. Neither the Brest citizens nor the tourists have the public. Even at the stage of pre- has publications in the Belarusian media got any clue about another history apart from the presentation the feedback from the as well as a book about the Brest Fortress history of the heroes defending the Brest Fortress. We Facebook followers demonstrated that proved beneficial. He supported us with found it important for Brest to get a history told not people see our important influence in the testimonies of German eyewitnesses 78 Belarus Project Stories 79

a rather difficult period of internal development: we completed the process of registering our initiative as a social and cultural institution, formalized the relations within a very creative team by actually restructuring it, identified the functional “blind spots” in the organization and found new people to fill in these gaps. It was the first time for us to realize a project with so many experts involved — about 20 people. By expanding the circle of experts, we also changed our method of work, which is fairly closed under the usual conditions.

The idea to attract actors from the to the events in Brest and photos from Project Value local drama and puppet theaters — his archive, helped us find materials and for the Organization a community we couldn’t quite reach assessed our project very positively. In out to before — was a big success. As a this particular case fruitful cooperation We came up with an innovative project, result, three Honored Artist of the was established on the grounds of the and many of its tasks were completely Republic of Belarus as well as several similar views on the problem. new for us: creating a mobile other professional actors took part in application and a website, connecting the work on the project. Working on representatives of very diverse fields. The attempt to establish collaboration the audio and the map, other technical audio-play became a new professional To date, we have received an invitation with another Brest historian and an issues, and a deep immersion in archival experience for them as well. to run a workshop on the intersectoral expert on the Jewish history did not sources and documents as well. The projects technology within the have any positive results, as we met a absence of a clear initial idea of the​​ We used the services of Ahniya framework of the European Humanities rather hostile and distrustful attitude workload became our internal problem. Asanovich, an external professional University conference in Vilnius. towards the initiative and the fear that It turned out that we did not fully PR expert, and we can already see We have also been invited to present we would use the materials collected by realize what the workload is and how the benefits of this cooperation. We the project at the Festival of Three the expert for gaining personal profit. much time it would actually take to have reviewed our position on the Cultures in Wlodawa, Poland. Urbanists On the contrary, a Brest historian Irina do everything. As a result, many team information campaign and its impact take interest in the project as well. Vauraniuk helped us with advice and members got much more work, and on the development and the promotion references to the sources. some people took part in the project of the project. The thematic workshop We are planning to continue the almost as volunteers. of the CHOICE program also helped work on the project as it was initially We managed to form a team that worked a lot and allowed us to receive a conceived to embrace broader topics. in harmony and communicated quite In addition to the major boost in consultation with Mariya Hvardzeitsava We hope to translate the play into closely, despite the heterogeneity of the professionalism and project later on. After that we were contacted English with the help of the Jewish tasks (script and direction, IT, sound management skills, the Brest Stories by the Brest experts on social networks community so as to make it accessible record and audio mixing, work with Guide undoubtedly influenced the promotion who kindly suggested sharing to foreign tourists. There are also plans historical materials, etc.). We made organizational development of our their experience of public relations to make other “trails” of the Brest every effort to ensure that everyone theater on the whole. The CHOICE gratuitously. In the end, we conducted Stories Guide, which would be related participated in the decision making project team provided huge support in a much broader information campaign to the women's history of Brest. This is process and the creative component the form of consultations with Aliaksey than it had been originally planned. important to us as women in the history of the project one way or another. We Kanstantsinau, which changed the of the city lack representation, while organized regular working meetings of image of the organization in many ways We already see the interest in tourists and locals bear the “heroic the entire project team. today. In particular, we went through our project coming from the male” image of Brest. 80 Belarus Project Stories 81

Project Implementation

HISTORICAL We have carried out a whole complex of AND CULTURAL HERITAGE events/actions of different character and UNOVIS — THE CULTURAL complexity. CODE OF VITSIEBSK We invited 7 best experts on the history and heritage of UNOVIS from Belarus; CITY DEVELOPMENT 2 experts came from Russia. All of them worked with archival documents and museum artifacts in the funds of the Vitsiebsk State Regional Museum and the Marc Chagall Museum; the results of their researches are: The Cultural- Context: Educational Problems Solved by the Project • “New graphics, sculpture, and Establishment documents of D. Yakerson from “Vitsiebsk For Me” The world-wide recognized founders of the Vitsiebsk VOK funds” (V. A. Shyshanava); national art school — Marc Chagall, Kazimir Malevich, • “UNOVIS Almanac” in the funds Location and El Lisitsky — created almost a century ago the of the Marc Chagall Museum” Vitsiebsk, Belarus association UNOVIS (“The Champions of the New (Y. M. Stsepanets); Art”) that changed the aesthetic-philosophical • “Artefacts from Henry Mandel's Implementation model of the visual world. UNOVIS influenced much collection in the Marc Chagall period fine arts and the art theory, philosophy, literature, Museum — reflection of the topic April 2016 — polygraphic industry, theater, cinema, architecture, of the creative association UNOVIS” May 2017 and city planning. Documentary and art values of (A. M. Shyrokava); UNOVIS heritage are in museums of St. Petersburg, • “Documents and artefacts of the Project coordinator Moscow, Paris, Amsterdam, Strasbourg, Cologne, and creative association UNOVIS in VGOKM Valiantsina Kirylava New York. Meanwhile, Vitsiebsk, the city that is known funds” (A. P. Lyutsko); for its powerful art school, is only getting started to • “Yudel Pen — the final defender recognize its heroes. of UNOVIS” (L. S. Radavaya); • “New documents of GAVO on It is attested by the appearance of the Vitsiebsk the history of the creative association Contemporary Art Center, as well as by scientific UNOVIS” (T. V. Buyevich); readings and plein airs, street art, and the shooting UNESCO world heritage; 2) to involve • “History and chronicle of UNOVIS of the film “Chagall. Malevich”. All these events city communities in the formation in the Almanac and its author” formed the need of heads and townsfolk of Vitsiebsk, of the cultural code of Vitsiebsk by (V. S. Haleyeu). international organizations, to revitalize the heritage actualizing its heritage — to use spatial, of UNOVIS at national and international levels — dynamic, and plastic principles of These works, as well as electronic after all, only the external recognition will allow us UNOVIS for the restoration of historical presentations on the basis of scanned to include our pride of such names in townspeople’s buildings, the conceptual development materials, were used by UNOVIS consciousness. of territories and concrete objects. ACADEMY and meetings of the club All these are called to reveal the true UNOVIS-DIALOGUE on the basis of the In this project, we pursued two purposes: 1) to lobby historical-cultural value of UNOVIS partner art club “Torvald”. This club the inclusion of the world famous heritage of UNOVIS for Vitsiebsk, which practically can (lectures and discussions) united many vanguard art (1920-1922) in the list of historical- serve as a socio-cultural, touristic, and professionals, art workers, archivists, cultural values of Belarus and the list of objects of investment appeal of the city. young designers, teachers, and students. 82 Belarus Project Stories 83

Thanks to the researches, we prepared from 54 participants from 4 countries: Results written statements the idea of including a text of the proposal to include the Belarus, Israel, the Netherlands, and and Effects of the Project the heritage of UNOVIS in the list of heritage of UNOVIS in the list of Russia. The professional jury chose historical-cultural heritage of Belarus. national values and a corresponding set 10 authors whose works were presented Despite the steady skepticism of a The Ministry of Culture is going to of documents that were submitted to in the second round. In each of three narrow group of officials and creative consider this question in the near the commission on historical-cultural nominations, there were authors of experts concerning abstract art and new future. heritage at the Ministry of Culture of three projects. In each nomination, forms of communities’ development, we Belarus. the jury defined the winner who managed to implement the concept of Our communication with other received the right to implement his/ space “UNOVIS-FORUM”. We were fully participants of the CHOICE project was There was a special social effect among her project in Vitsiebsk at the expense and unprecedentedly supported by the very important. During club meetings inhabitants of Vitsiebsk caused by the of means of the city budget. Vitsiebsk Regional and City Executive of the project, as well as international actions connected with the restoration Committees, rectors and directors of seminars, there appeared a platform of of sketches of paintings on 2 trams A separate part of the project was educational institutions, employees of sharing information and best practices and 1 trolleybus made by K. Malevich, the work on 2 guidebooks of special chairs and departments, and children's in the field of heritage in the Eastern N. Kogan, and N. Suyetin in 1920. excursion routes and 4 demonstrational art schools. Our events were covered in Partnership countries. The feeling that In June 2016, a group of designers street stands dedicated to the heritage the mass media and we received many there are adherents inspires and helps (S. Drazdou, I. Hurko, and A. Konanau) of UNOVIS. Senior lecturers of Vitsiebsk positive responses from inhabitants of us to keep working. started to work and in September 2016 Technological University — N. Tarabuko Vitsiebsk. the trams and the trolleybus with and V. V. Vasiliev — became authors of We are immensely grateful to all the historically valuable paintings the texts and design. As a result of our joint work with the partners — separate experts and were seen in the city. We carried out a collective of the depot of the Vitsiebsk organizations that helped us at each special press conference to celebrate it. Tram and Trolleybus Department, its stage. Although the project is formally This event became exclusive not only director V. M. Paulyuchkou created over, in the future there will necessarily for Vitsiebsk, but also for the whole a separate section in the Vitsiebsk Tram be some continuation as we have country — TUT.BY statistics said this Museum. The VTTD fully financed launched all the necessary details of the news had more than 19,000 views. the design and now these trams are mechanism. For a year already, the trams have been free-of-charge.­ working as social advertising — they are free-of-charge. Our efforts were recognized at the international level — the “UNOVIS” In January-March 2017, we had a topic was included in the program contest of sketches “UNOVIS Alphabet” and materials of the Days of European to create playgrounds for children, cultural heritage in Belarus. 10 youth, and recreational zones “Quay professional art organizations and UNOVIS”. There were 36 applications establishments supported with their 84 Belarus Project Stories 85

THE MIRAGES AND MIRACLES OF ASHMIANY

The Belarusian Context. Committee of the Problem. Purpose International Council on Monuments and Ashmiany is a town in western Belarus, one of many Sites (ICOMOS) settlements that survived several state formations, wars, fluxes and refluxes of cross-cultural dialogues, Location bad urbanization, and many other things. Recently, Ashmiany, Hrodna the town center has been modernized — this Region, Belarus “reconstruction” has covered the historical shape of the town with a thick plaster coat and hidden it from Project Contents Implementation townspeople’s eyes. The absence of a restoration period school, which would help to preserve the best and to The basic practical tasks of the project April 2016 — qualitatively present it, instead of simple “repairing”, were to work out a scenario of and September 2016 is a system problem in the heritage field not only in to carry out the theatricalized event Ashmiany, but all over the country — it is mentioned called “The Mirages and Miracles of Project coordinator very often in the mass media as probably the main Ashmiany”. Hanna Vyhonnaya threat to monuments in Belarus. However, another aspect — the history of a site in people’s individual In order to create the future scenario, memory — is often not paid attention to. Therefore, it was offered to try to take memories of in Ashmiany, our team aimed at returning the living the town out of “memory storerooms”, history of the town center — its shape in the memory but not the habitual memoirs, with of local residents, their personal memoirs, local which our official press works, — we legends, and everything that is able to generate an had another goal: it was necessary integral image of Ashmiany, its rich history and to remember your own perception of national importance. Besides its uniqueness, we were the town space, people who live(d) in also interested in the signs of typical Belarusian it, and insignificant, but important cultural paradoxes, e.g. Orthodox churches, Catholic for a person town events. The local churches, and Jewish synagogues standing together newspaper “Ashmianski Viesnik” joined with the Soviet-style Town Administration. Thus, the project — it specially opened the our actions were aimed at forming mythical-poetical column “From Memory Storerooms” perceptions of the historical center of Ashmiany and updated it weekly. There were some in the local population’s consciousness. For this amusing incidents — individual memory purpose, we chose the format of a theatrical play as has its specificity and readers even synthetic narrative art. started to struggle for its objectivity: in their comments they refuted these or those described stories. Together 86 Belarus Project Stories 87

with the newspaper, we had to prepare As a conclusion of the performance, Why has this event taken place? — an article about features of human there was a flashmob — the inhabitants Probably because each inhabitant of memory. People of Ashmiany faced and actors sang the Ashmiany Waltz Ashmiany, who participated in our the unusual for them ambiguousness that had been restored during the project, “was put on buskins” where he/ of treating events in the regional project. This waltz was once loved she became significant and interesting mass media; for them, it was a new by the townspeople; it was written for him/herself and other people. experience of analyzing memory by a local composer; a teacher wrote of a town community. its lyrics in the 1980s, but later it got As a result of the project, we have lost. We managed to find its words gathered good techniques that On the basis of the collected materials, and music. can be reproduced in other places. the first variant of the scenario was Sometimes, not only WHAT, but also written; a process of choosing actors Conclusions WHO is very important. We were lucky from local residents was begun. It was in Ashmiany as in this town there initially supposed that there would Thus, the preparation of the scenario is a considerable layer of creative be about six persons, but there were on the basis of inhabitants’ memoirs, intelligentzia. Although these people many more interested people, and we, the training of amateur actors, are substantially separated as they having corrected the scenario, increased and the carrying-out of the pilot work in different establishments, they the number of actors up to twenty performance were aimed at making are ready to interact. A considerable five. The youngest participant of the the local population understand the role was also played by the fact that we play was seven; the most senior one — historical center as a value, at forming had experiences of fruitful teamwork seventy nine. “imaginative-figurative” perceptions with the local community during our of the element of heritage in the local previous projects — the restoration of It is difficult to say what caused such population’s consciousness. the Halshany Castle; the creation of the an unusual desire of townspeople to exposition of the Ashmiany Museum; — participate during all summer and the The project is over; all events/actions and for this very reason it was possible beginning of autumn in rehearsals that have taken place; actual indicators to implement what we planned during lasted for many hours. Probably, it was correspond to the pre-planned ones; such a short period of time. Without because of the topic; maybe, thanks but actually for us it is this rare project it, it would be impossible to carry this to the talent of the director; or due to that has surpassed our expectations as project out. the unusual experience of rehearsals for the quality of the happened events. on the streets in the town center in At last, the most positive thing is that front of their fellow countrymen. It Yes, we wanted to restore, to update after the project was over, the contacts is unequivocally possible to say that the Ashmiany inhabitants’ perceptions that appeared during the performance all this time the town was filled with of the town and its center and to make in the local community have not talks about the unusual event. Possibly, together with them a quality play vanished. Ashmiany residents have therefore, the performance was with the help of experts: directors, already played this performance on attended not only by the actors’ friends script writers, and painters. Still, a school scene, having adapted the and relatives and the inhabitants our previous experience told us that scenario, actors, and the play itself to who shared their memories, — there the local community usually has suit new circumstances. were much more people than we had complexes about its provinciality and expected. The whole town came to see rejects professionals from the capital Also, the local newspaper “Ashmianski this event. as something alien and foreign. Also, Viesnik” continues its column “From considering a huge list of formal Memory Storerooms”. actions/events, which should be “digested” by our Belarusian regions, we did not hope much to inspire Ashmiany residents at all. 88 Belarus Project Stories 89

the necessary bases, tools in the work style and identity, as we think, promote COLOR OF BELARUS: with the tradition, style-forming cultural decentralization needed today in ACTUALIZATION elements, and markers characteristic Belarus — they establish connections and of our culture and mentality. This relations with representatives of cultural OF THE BELARUSIAN topic is particularly perspective, we elites and activists in regional cities. TRADITION AS AN IDENTITY think, for those who can apply this knowledge professionally — designers, • The lecture course that was read within MARKER artists, architects, cultural managers, the framework of the school “Style and brandmakers, and experts in marketing. Identity” in the beginning of 2017; it is now presented as an independent video As a community of intellectuals, this course on dp.fly-uni.org; it was created project helps us to promote not only a thanks to CHOICE within the pale of the “Flying University” rational and solicitous attitude to the organizational development section. Support and Charity chosen material, but also the value of Foundation the research itself, the intellectual work Evaluating our work, we can mention to restore the tradition and links with now preliminary results only — the Location the present. catalog was sold out faster than we Minsk, Belarus had expected; numerous journalistic Project Contents materials and responses on the Internet, Implementation invitations to have autograph sessions period • The book-catalog “Color of Belarus” in different bookshops in Minsk, April 2016 — is the result of Aniempadystau’s huge inquiries to carry out the exhibition in May 2017 work and the central product of the other cities, and offers to print the book Context, project. This research of the color again — all these attest a high degree Project coordinator Problem, Purpose restores the fundamental bases of of society’s interest, probably not so Yuliya Halinouskaya Belarus’ coloristics; in the contemporary narrowly professional. During several years, the Flying University has been conditions of postmodernism, with its Author studying and actualizing the topic of Belarusian color, esthetic decisions, it is called to The project has given the Flying Michal traditional esthetic preferences (coloristic and become a stimulus to reconsider the University a basis for a new, more Aniempadystau stylistic) in various forms of today’s use (design, questions of style, esthetics. The author integral educational program aimed architecture, environment, media, and culture), in scrupulously restores the lost examples at developing methods of work with mass consciousness and taste. The partnership with of “cultural similarity”, thus reviving cultural and intellectual heritage. Michal Aniempadystau, the exclusive expert in this connections in the cultural continuity area, designer, artist, author in a broad sense of this and stylistic harmony, or, as a matter of Communication word, has resulted in several courses of lectures on fact, creates the tradition anew. Challenges of the Project design, opened for wide interested audiences. It became obvious at some instant that the received • The book was presented to the public Due to the novelty of the topic, we culturological material on traditional visual codes in spring 2017 and was accompanied by did not face any serious substantial is extremely important in questions of our national a special exhibition with the same name. conflicts. However, we felt no obvious identity; besides, except us, nobody deals with this There were presentations in Minsk and reciprocal movement — although this topic openly. the regional centers of Belarus: Vitsiebsk, topic is obviously topical for various Hrodna, and Brest. We are planning target groups — first of all, state-run Thus, there appeared an idea to actualize this area to visit other regional cities with our structures and mass media. At the of knowledge for a wide cultural community; to book and exhibition presentations. institutional level, the topic cannot be show historical canons and styles; the logic of their These events accompanied by open advanced in state-run universities (we appearance, synthesis, and development; to offer discussions concerning the national understood it at the stage of advertising 90 Belarus Project Stories 91

our events). The majority of state-run media as all attention was concentrated Our institutional links and relations (Poland). While preparing the exhibition mass media ignored our invitations to on other topics. In comparison with with the Belarusian Union of Designers and the book, collections of museums the exhibition opening; single cases these force majeur circumstances, our and the public cultural campaign were used only partially — there is of publications about the exhibition work (important for the strengthening “Budzma [Let’s Be] Belarusians!” potential to continue this topic. Also, in the state-run mass media, as a of national identity) in the media have been strengthened. Now there there are plans for the future — to rule, were possible thanks to personal would be considered inappropriate are negotiations with the Union of organize an exhibition in Bialystok. acquaintances with journalists. and even indecent. It is hardly possible Designers concerning our interaction to get prepared for such situations with a remote platform — the As a whole, we quite actively initiate However, the inertness and in advance, especially with strict organization of a number of public new partnerships with the mass media, circumspection of the state sector calendar frameworks; however, it lectures and courses. Within the scope experts, initiatives, and organizations in relation to any representatives of was a valuable experience for us who of the campaign “Budzma”, there will that are also interested in the further independent culture in Belarus is an learnt management flexibility and civic be new publications on the topic of advancement of cultural heritage. unpleasant, but habitual circumstance. tactfulness. coloristics, the Belarusian tradition and We are ready to render intellectual, Recently, there has been a wave of style, and advancement of the value of methodological support and to so-called “soft Belarusianization”. New Partner Connections the intellectual work with the cultural include new topics and experts in our However, priorities of public attention and Relations tradition. The strategic partnership educational program. changed this spring in connection between us can lead to projects with the aggravation of socio-political During the work on the book and the combining education, cultural science, tensions. In parallel with the stage of exhibition, there was rapprochement sociology, and marketing technologies our active advertising campaign of the of a certain pool of experts and for culture. book presentation in Minsk, there were organizations — it gives us hope important cultural-political events: to continue joint research work on Our links and relations with huge protests to protect the Kurapaty this topic. international partners have increased, memorial complex (the place of mass too. During his working trips to gather burial of victims of Stalin repressions), We are grateful for cooperation materials, Michal Aniempadystau met mass detentions of activists on the eve personally to Todar Kashkurevich, Lena the management of the Museum of of March 25th (the Independence Day Mironava, Volha Labacheuskaya, Elina Textiles in Lodz, the Podlachia Museum of Belarus, which is not recognized by Schindler, who work with the tradition in Bialystok, the private museum of power), as well as rallies of so-called and similar topics. Belarusian ethnography in Studziwody “social parasites”. All these affected our work with the independent mass 92 Belarus Project Stories 93

THE NODE OF LIFE

“Mahilou Jewish Context. Community” Problem Solved by the Project Project Contents Public Association Necropoleis of the 17th-19th centuries are places experience of practical participation in We began our project with a joint Location of historical memory with an exclusive atmosphere project actions/events. As a result, we review of local graveyard monuments Mahilou Region, and a powerful educational, emotional, and esthetic managed to build effective interaction in Shklou, Drybin, and Chavusy, the Belarus influence, sources of historical, genealogical, and of people of different nationalities, Mahilou Region. We defined the volume sociological information. Some gravestones are representatives of different and the order of works at Jewish Implementation vivid examples of fine arts and some epitaphs — of organizations, cultural communities, cemeteries and had meetings with period poetic creativity; they can become attractive touristic and generations not only in the representatives of local authorities April 2016 — objects. However, meanwhile neither authorities, specified cities, but also outside of the and the public. In each regional April 2017 nor public realize the value of this kind of historical country. center, there were interested people. heritage. Ancient cemeteries remain a subject of In Shklou — participants of a local Project coordinator interest of not numerous and isolated enthusiasts, as ethnographic initiative; in Drybin — Ida Shenderovich well as businessmen and vandals; their vulnerability journalists, students, and senior pupils; in the light of today’s Belarusian legislation is only in Chavusy — a local organization of increasing. In the cities of Mahilou, Chavusy, Shklou, the BRSM. In Mahilou — members of and other towns in the Mahilou Region, ancient the Belarusian Language Association. epigraphic monuments and old constructions are little Members of Jewish organizations were studied or not studied at all. involved as well.

Our organization is convinced that ancient epigraphic • During the three-day seminar “Value monuments are not only an important part of of ancient cemeteries in the context of historical heritage, but also a resource of cultural, national culture”, we formed a group economic, and ethical development of Belarus; this of public activists “The Node of Life”. project is aimed at returning them in the focus of There were lecturers from Mahilou, public attention, at including them in the actual Minsk, Moscow, Kyiv, and Warsaw; in cultural use. connection with the budget reduction, some of them agreed to work free-of- It was important for us to work with public charge. activists — first of all with youth from towns in the Mahilou Region, who are interested in studying and 30 people joined the work — mainly preserving the history and culture of Belarus, so youth. Unexpectedly, inhabitants that they could receive new knowledge, skills, and of other cities in Belarus and even 94 Belarus Project Stories 95

of contemporaries in Mahilou. All these • About 20 visitors of the web-site from meetings were covered in the mass different countries have expressed their media; they caused city-folk’s wide gratitude for they have found in our interest; we already started to receive catalogs mentions of burial places of responses, messages, and offers of their relatives. cooperation. • Information on the project was in all Results of the Project: official news editions of the settlements Expected and Unexpected involved in the project, the local TV, and the nationwide newspaper “Soviet Even before the project was over, there Byelorussia”. were signs that local residents changed their attitude to ancient cemeteries and What that they were recognized historical- the Project Gave Us cultural objects and memory places. It has extremely enriched us with abroad — Germany, Russia, and They also used documentary and • Before our group arrived, in Chavusy positive experience. The organization Ukraine — got interested in this archival materials and publications in an ancient Jewish cemetery had been has received a strong young team topic. This international structure of the mass media. cleaned. of volunteers and activists who are participants of the project has increased ready to solve new tasks in the field its scientific level; the mass media and • On the basis of this database, the • In one of rural schools, annual of studying and preserving cultural local authorities now demonstrated project Internet resource visiting and cleaning of the Jewish heritage. We have managed to find a more serious attitude towards it. http://mogjewshistory.ru/UZEL cemetery was included in its program of mechanisms of collective decision- For participants of the seminar, we was created. It includes a photo educational work. making and to implement them. The organized a multicultural program catalogue and descriptions of project required close, effective, and in 6 languages, excursions, and necropoleis, video films. • Participants of the scientifically- constructive partnership with various performances of musicians. There were practical seminar from Belarus have state structures and foreign experts. discussions concerning the preservation • We prepared several printed editions, independently conducted researches The organization had no experience of epigraphic cultural heritage. too. Informational and methodical of old Jewish cemeteries in Chervien, of such a scale before. Using our own booklets “The Node of Life” about Smilavichy, Rahachou, and the village of positive reputation, communicative, • Online consultations for participants features of Jewish cemeteries as Starasielle of the Shklou District. professional, and human resources of the project allowed us to expand the historical-cultural heritage were given of volunteers and activists, we have geographical frameworks of our activity to state-run and school libraries, public • The management of the Shklou managed to build not just interaction, and to motivate participants. In total, organizations, and the authorities of Regional Museum initiated the but in most cases real cooperation with more than 50 people were trained by the Shklou, Drybin, Chavusy, and Mahilou. carrying-out of a round table called various state structures and to achieve involved experts from Belarus, Israel, Complex structured catalogs of 4 “Jewish heritage of Shklou: history and positive results. Russia, and Ukraine. ancient cemeteries (not 3 like it was pre- reality”. The materials on the Jewish planned) are on the project web-site.­ history of Shklou were included in the We are confident that the created • The creation of an information base constant exposition of the Museum. positive atmosphere between the public became the third and biggest step. • Presentations of the project results and state structures will allow us not Experts of the project and about 100 were in March-April 2017 in the • Being inspired by the results of only to continue our work in the places volunteers prepared monuments and cities-participants of the project. In cataloguing of the ancient Uspensky where it was already conducted, but also gravestones to be photographed and April 2017, in Mahilou, there was the cemetery in Mahilou, historians and to expand it geographically at a higher translated inscriptions from Hebrew final round table that discussed the regional specialists of the city have professional level. into Russian. Volunteers collected data formation of public city memory and its additionally researched the cemetery on monuments from local residents. influence on historical consciousness and found several valuable tombstones. 96 Belarus Project Stories 97

SINGING ASSEMBLY “SPEUNY SKHOD” in Belarusian

“Singing Assembly” Context: How the “Singing Assembly” Initiative, after Project Appeared registration — “Culture of the Native Land” Several years ago, the project manager Aliaksey Cultural Institution Chubat took part in three ethnographic expeditions. He visited village houses, recorded the conversations song courses in addition to the activities implementation became the key factor Location with the old people. He drew attention to the fact that of the project. Fifthly, we collaborated of our success. By the time we started Belarus despite thousands of authentic songs being recorded with different experts on singing so as working within the international they mostly remain in the archives. At the same time, to ensure that our field continues to project, our initiative has already made Implementation mass art destroys the local traditional song culture develop after the end of the project. a name: the concept was developed, period of Belarus and threatens its diversity before our we carried out the negotiations with April 2016 — very eyes. The majority of young Belarusians do not Probably, it is thanks to high ambitions the partners, and even made a series April 2017 acknowledge the value of the traditional song culture, to become not just a widely known, of events, to which we owe our first which is still alive in Belarus (the phenomenon that branded project, but a mass culture audience. There already was a great Project coordinator many developed Western European countries already phenomenon that we managed to team thrilled with the project idea Aliaksey Chubat cannot boast). achieve so much. We have made a great and ready to act in a state of constant contribution to the diversity of the enthusiasm. Thus, participation in The threat of losing the national song culture amid Belarusian cultural life. We organized CHOICE has significantly helped the generation gap and the influence of globalization about twice as many events as what the project, which was already seemed to be a huge problem — but not huge enough had been planned and not only in gathering pace. for us to give up. We risked to introduce our own way the capital — we are known in many to diversify the cultural life of Belarus, attracting and cities of the country. We managed to Organization and motivating fellow citizens to actively sing folk songs. create a positive image of different Partner Network Development generations singing together: elderly Project Implementation ladies sing along with the young girls, As communication trainings teach it is and both generations need each other. necessary to talk about the successes To solve these issues, we worked in several directions. The growing number of our regular and the results of your cultural Firstly, we organized major thematic events where participants of younger age speaks initiatives as often and as open as people could sing together (100-200 people). Secondly, for itself. We are particularly pleased possible. So, here we have a lot of two regular groups of students (40 people each) for with the popularity of meetings with reasons for being proud: in-depth songs study were formed. Thirdly, within the elderly ladies who are skilled in the implementation of the project, we developed and traditional singing. • We managed to effectively launched “Travelling with the Singing Assembly” — a communicate with government bodies new cultural and commercial product that allowed us The substantial research of the and media, which is not that easy to gain certain stability. Fourthly, we began organizing topic before the start of the project in Belarus, where the state and the 98 Belarus Project Stories 99

NGOs exist almost like in parallel participants of the program from the worlds. The Department of Culture Belarusian side, which allowed us to see of the Pruzhany District Executive all the projects from the inside and to Committee, the Folkloric Center of enrich ourselves with their experience. the Aranchycy village, the National However, the cooperation with the Historical Museum, the Vankovich “Children's Creative Workshops” Museum, the Museum of the RSDLP, the project, which hold contemporary art radio of the Minsk Regional Executive workshops for kids was of the utmost Committee “Minsk Wave”, the Piatrus interest to us. Firstly, we organised Brouka Literary Museum, the Yakub a “Children's Singing Assembly” Kolas Museum (Minsk), the “Kultura” project together. Secondly and most newspaper, Grodno Regional Executive importantly, within this partnership we Committee — all these state institutions managed to express the concept that became our partners. “modern art comes from the traditional art” and we successfully conveyed it to • Apart from the state partners we the participants of this cultural event. On the way to the aforementioned related field. However, as paradoxical as collaborated with a number of for- The connection between the traditional results our team survived a major it may sound, the “Singing Assembly” profit and non-profit organizations: and contemporary art is not always crisis. When the informal civil initiative format proved to be stronger than the branch of “Mova Nanova” in easy to trace, that’s why such a concept was in the process of legalization to human disagreements: new volunteers Vitsebsk, such music bands as Shuma, seemed relevant. form a non-profit organization — the and people who share our values joined Guda, Uniya, the “Chabatuhi” folklore “Culture of the Native Land” institution, the team. The initiative gathered a close ethnographic ensemble, the “Pavaliaki” The name of the project became a a different vision of the further circle of friends — people for whom folk ensemble, the “Interkomtur” and common name. The “Singing Assembly” development strategy of the “Singing the “Singing Assembly” becomes an “ColorLand” travel agencies, the “Grai” is living its own life now: for example, Assembly” between the two authors of indispensable place of social activity. restaurant, the organizing committees Lyuban and Lyubanski District the idea got exposed. The conflict at of such festivals as “Kamianitsa”, organised their own “Singing Assembly” that stage proved to be insoluble for us What's next? The project team plans “Lepelski Tsmok”, “Under the tutelage meetings, though its was not a part of individually, and as a result one team (and has already started the work in of St. Hubert”, the TUT.by Gallery, the the project. Now every Wednesday an split into two, working separately in the some cases) to pursue development in Cultural Center “Gruntounia” (Brest), authentic folklore band from a certain the following areas: the “Joy to Children” public association, village comes to the city itself and all the Student ethnographic community, guests sing songs of a particular region • further work with the intangible the “Vesianchuk” children's studio, together. culture by means of creating a School the “Lohvinau” Book Store children's of Living Heritage; workshops. For instance, the travel We believe that we have created a local agencies acted as market entities that (Belarusian) precedent of innovative • development of the topic of culture can logistically support this type of work in the field of cultural diversity and economy synergy; business, and they were responsible of intangible heritage. We have made for accepting money. The “Singing the singing of traditional folk songs • spreading the knowledge about the Assembly” made an advertising together fashionable. The demand intangible heritage of Belarus, finding campaign to attract those wishing to for such events has grown: singing new approaches and ways of working go on a trip and involved its regular together or, as people call it, the with intangible heritage; participants. “Singing Assembly” has become one of the program items during festivals and • creating the environment for • We closely followed the development other cultural events in the country. the formation of new cultural products of the other projects of the CHOICE We are receiving requests to organize (for example, making hackathons program in Belarus. The project such events from the state cultural for the acceleration of projects in coordinator interviewed almost all institutions as well. the field of culture). 100 Belarus Project Stories 101

BELARUSIAN ART OF THE 20TH CENTURY FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS

Children's Creative Context. Workshops of the Problem Solved by the Project U Contemporary Art Gallery; after Today, Belarusian pupils practically have no chances Project Contents In parallel with the preparation of registration — to get acquainted with contemporary art in a form the edition, we carried out a series of “Embassy of Culture” they are able to understand — school hours to study The main product of the project is classes for a group of children. As a Cultural Institution world and Belarusian art culture are minimized; there the book “Art of Belarus of the 20th result, there appeared a program of are no clear and interesting educational programs; century for children. Vitsiebsk School”. interactive classes for children on the Location museums do not use innovative approaches to attract It is the first book of such a kind for art of Belarus of the 20th century and a Minsk, Belarus target groups. The state basically supports traditional, children in Belarus. It was created by: corresponding methodical manual that realistic, and “convenient” art. Alternative and poet, artist, businessman Adam Hlobus; allows us to popularize Belarusian art in Implementation contemporary art are not known, not remembered, and writer Andrei Khadanovich; musician informal education and to multiply our period not understood. and artist Lavon Volski; philosopher pedagogical experience. Besides, there April 2016 — Valiantsin Akudovich; historian and were seminars on this technique for April 2017 Our overall aim was to promote and popularize art critic Anna Kislitsyna, as well as teachers and tutors in Homiel, Vitsiebsk, the Belarusian art of the 20th century as an important Uladzimir Tsesler, Ruslan Vashkevich, and Lyntupy (in May-June 2017). Project coordinators part of Belarusian culture and identity. The project Aliaxey Andreyeu, and Tatsiana Sofia Sadouskaya, team wanted not only to create a possibility of Artsimovich. Public Relations Iryna Lukashenka involving children and parents in the process of perceiving contemporary art, but also to designate Our financial resources were limited The need of additional resources also the problem — practically the total absence of books and we had to include only seven names forced us to resort to a crowdfunding and programs for children on the Belarusian art of the of artists in the book, concentrating campaign in order to print the book. It 20th century, which form new generations’ culture of on the Vitsiebsk School and its was organized on the platform ulej.by thinking and perception of contemporary art. evolutionary message for the history of and it lasted for two months; it became arts, which is still topical now. We also a basis of our PR strategy. Thanks to Families (children and parents) interested in included names of the Vitsiebsk School this public fund raising, we solved Belarusian culture, museum employees, teachers, followers who worked throughout the the financial problem and generated interested NGOs, educational institutions, and society 20th century. a very loyal audience that waited for as a whole were target groups of the project. The basic the appearance of the book. We had beneficiaries of the project are children and youth The book-textbook is written not only 300 in-advance­ orders (unique users), who have learned more about Belarusian art and in the Belarusian language, but also in more than 500 subscribers on social become active visitors of exhibitions, who are able the “children's” one — in the form of networks during this period, which gave to perceive contemporary art as a part of the cultural fairy tales, poems, biographic stories, us a big share of self-trust in what we do. landscape of Belarus. and interactive games. 102 Belarus Project Stories 103

such books should be, how they should be written, and what artists should be presented. There is again a question of the problem of the quality and quantity of children's educational literature in Belarus and the problems of school education and the way culture is included in school courses.

The sphere of informal education (NGOs sector) is still the most flexible and innovative — that is why it is effective in the context of today’s challenges, which is proved by the increase of a number of art-educational initiatives (circles, classes in museums and art centers, studios, and clubs). We have become one of leaders of the new approach to contemporary art education, created an alternative textbook, an example for museums, studios, and schools. Readers’ further reaction to the book and the methodical manual, their popularity and inclusion It is extremely important to have an in everyday life will make the purpose the U Gallery has become a separate The work on the book became an integrated approach to advertising achievement indicators more palpable; organization — the socio-cultural excellent occasion to start our actions — therefore, during the however, we are already happy with the establishment “Embassy Of Culture”. partnership with the project “Culture preparation of the book, there was a implemented work. It was a certain challenge for the team — for local development” organized by number of supporting actions/events — however, this step was necessary after A. Mickiewicz Institute and European the most important one was the annual Development of we defined our strategy of development. Solidarity Center (Poland), as well as to Christmas festival. Its topic this year the Project and the Organization, Now we work on activity expansion, participate in the EU program “Culture was dedicated to M. Chagall’s paintings New Partnerships including, inter alia, new age target and Creativity”. For each member of the and its program included master classes. groups. One of the nearest educational team, all these became not only useful The festival was supported by the Now we are preparing the following projects will be aimed at working with experiences, but also a precondition Belarusian People’s Bank. The Vitsiebsk- project — a book on Kazimir Malevich, teenagers and students. for further personal and professional based factory of children's clothes “Bell supported by the Malevich Foundation development. Bimbo” became one of sponsors of the (USA). This time, we hope to receive In the course of the implementation book during the fund raising campaign. consultations and support from the of the project, we became experienced Aspiring to changes, we, meanwhile, cultural community of Vitsiebsk. Also, in the publishing activity; began to protect our main values — historical The book presentation became a we plan not only to work on books, cooperate with the Lohvinau Literary empathy and pride of our cultural resonant event, which is proved by a but also to multiply our experience of House, the international consortium heritage, comprehension of our considerable number of the followed classes on Belarusian art. EuroBelarus, the crowdfunding belonging to Belarusian history publications. Of course, the event itself platform Ulej, the “Singing Gathering”, and culture, as well as the vision of is not so important — it is important Thanks to the organizational support and became more recognized and prospects of development in local and that we have offered a media precedent, of the CHOICE project, the initiative integrated in the cultural community of global narratives. an occasion for discussions on what “Children's Creative Workshops” of Minsk as a whole. 104 Belarus Project Stories 105

SHKOLISHCHA (PAKROUSKI PASAD) AS PART OF THE HISTORICAL- CULTURAL VALUE “HISTORICAL CENTER OF MAHILOU”

The Belarusian Context. Voluntary Association The Problem Solved by the Project to Protect Historical- Cultural Monuments Pakrouski Pasad (Shkolishcha) is a unique ancient as possible the platform of further • Having made expositional tablets and territory in the city context of Mahilou, the eastern dialogue. It was necessary to draw the corresponding project albums of Location regional center of Belarus. Today, this former townspeople’s attention — first of all, archival-bibliographic researches and Mahilou, Belarus economic heart of the city is deserted — almost that of the professional community: graphic materials, we put them in the 90% of its historical buildings, layout structure, and historians and regional specialists, Mahilou City Executive Committee and Implementation basic dominants is destroyed: St. Anthony Church, architects, and the main thing — in the city exhibition hall. At the end period Bernardians’ monastery, Pakrouskaya [Intercession of representatives of business, who could of May 2016, we officially presented April 2016 — the Theotokos; Pokrov] Church, and the synagogue. provide new functional contents of this the concept to 70 architects, historians, October 2016 There are only several water fences left, but they do territory. In order to create a platform activists, businessmen, and journalists. not work now. of public-state dialogue and partnership Project coordinator on this question, we were to work out • Later, there were 4 public meetings — Anton Astapovich Formally, Shkolishcha is part of the immovable scientific-research substantiations concept discussions in target groups: material historical-cultural heritage called “The and a concept of regenerating and with the architectural community, Historical Center of Mahilou”, but actually — it is not interpreting the tourist sphere of business circles, real estate developers involved in the city’s social, cultural, and economic Shkolishcha. and representatives of the local processes. Its regeneration is possible only if city- administration. Their major result was folk become interested in this territory. Meanwhile, Project Contents an initiative to create a charitable local our important achievement prior to the project was foundation to manage the cultural that we had managed to get the city’s executive The campaign of popularizing the landscape of Shkolishcha. Then, a power interested in it. Thanks to the adjusted labor Shkolishcha concept was carried out in charter project was developed, and in relations between our association and the Mahilou several stages. In order to achieve our February 2017 we received the physical City Executive Committee, by 2015, we had received goal, we had several steps. and legal address in one of historical- all possibilities to regenerate the Shkolishcha cultural architectural monuments of Mahilou. landscape with joint efforts of the public and the state, • We prepared theoretical and graphic thus involving more and more the local community substantiations of a technical project of • The concept offered by us was actively in the work aimed at protecting and popularizing the the concept of regenerating the territory discussed in the city’s mass media, historical-cultural heritage. of Shkolishcha in Mahilou. It was a including television. Thus, the TV- necessary start. channel BT-4 demonstrated a 25-minute Such possibilities, quite rare for Belarus, could not be documentary film in the series “Familiar missed; therefore, we decided to strengthen as much Strangers” dedicated to the project. 106 Belarus Project Stories 107

An important sign of the successfulness We are grateful to our partners in of the project is that our ideas in the Mahilou. Our key partner — the Museum developed materials are being continued of History of Mahilou — provided now by the local authorities and civil us with its showrooms for a long- society’s participation in this process is term exposition and presentations. not denied, but even welcomed. The Department of Architecture and Building of the Mahilou City Our Organizational Potential and Partnerships

The project has given us a huge share of experience and confidence. The • There was a number of sessions conflict threatened to break our Belarusian voluntary association to with those responsible from the cooperation with the City Executive protect historical-cultural monuments Mahilou City Executive Committee Committee as the authorities supported has become the most authoritative and experts from the state Institute the primary contractor; however, organization in Mahilou and the “Mahilougrazhdanproject” where the after long negotiations, we managed Mahilou Region in the field of prepared materials were discussed. to develop a mechanism of teamwork protecting historical-cultural heritage. with the Ministry of Culture to control The project was an excellent stimulus Challenges the legislation execution on objects of for a professional growth of our and Possibilities restoration and reconstruction. employees — researchers, designers, and experts in communication. We also participated in the preparation Conclusions of the city’s architectural concept of For example, besides the already Executive Committee acted as a bridge Mahilou (Project of detailed planning The materials developed by us and habitual kinds of work: scientific- between our association, the City of the central part of Mahilou, the the work with the local authorities research, design, legal, — we had Executive Committee, the Institute General Layout of Mahilou, and the and the professional architectural to work actively not so much with “Mahilougrazhdanproject”, and concept of architectural development community have made it possible to “the wide public”, but rather many Belarusian State Scientific-Research and of Mahilou). The materials worked out place Shkolishcha in the General Layout different concrete target groups Project Institute of Town-planning. by our team became an organic part of of Mahilou as a territory of perspective (power, business, architectural and this concept, which was later approved regeneration of historical buildings. A academic communities). This focusing Owing to regular club meetings, we by the Chairperson of the Council of the special document, unprecedented in of attention, especially in case with have received closer connections with National Assembly of Belarus and by the history of contemporary Belarusian representatives of business, has Belarusian participants of the CHOICE the President of Belarus. Civil society town-planning, was worked out — the helped us understand partially their program, including even those who demonstrated its interest not only in project of special planning of the motivations and attitudes to historical- did not get in the final contest. Also, the problems of Shkolishcha, but also territory of Padnikolle and Shkolishcha. cultural monuments. we were extremely glad to build new problems of perspective development of contacts with profile organizations the territory of Padnikolle Suburb that As a whole, the real estate developers The big public interest in a number of in Ukraine, among which: the Tustan includes Shkolishcha. and business community are interested volunteering projects prepared by our Museum, the Ukrainian Modernism in perspective investments in objects of organization in Mahilou and the Region Institute in Rivne, the Kremenets During the implementation of regeneration on this territory; however, attests the increased volunteering Environmental League, the Lviv the project, we revealed and fixed it is impossible to ignore the current potential. regional organization of the Ukrainian infringements of the legislation economic crisis in the country, which Society to protect monuments of in the field of heritage protection resulted in the sharp narrowing of the history and culture, the Lviv regional while working on a separate object real estate market and the architectural- saving archaeological service, and the of historical-cultural heritage (the building sphere. Chair of Stone Restoration of the Lviv synagogue, the Jewish school). The Polytechnic University. 108 Belarus Project Stories 109

this lack of attention. Thus, the project about 2,500 works created by more than BELARUSIAN POSTER reveals the full history of the Belarusian 350 authors (about 300 posters have no poster: from the origin of the press authorship). and typographical art in Belarus in the early 16th century, the first playbills — We have collected the greatest possible to not published before posters of volume of the data concerning the the Belarusian artists Y. Drazdovich, Belarusian poster. Our own collection, F. Rushchyts, H. Zmudzinski, collections of establishments in A. Kashkurevich, H. Paplauski, and Belarus and abroad, private collections, B. Zaborau — up to the well-known in and the Internet were our sources. “The Belarusian the world modern Belarusian poster The Hrodna Historical, National Union of Designers” artists L. Gor, E. Kitayeva, U. Tsesler, Historical, and Baranavichy Regional Public Association and A. Shelyutto. Also, we revived Museums, the World War II Museum, the interest in UNOVIS as a world the P. Brouka Literary Museum, the Location phenomenon, which took place in our Belarusian Statehood Museum, the Minsk, Belarus history, and opened the names of artists National Library of Belarus, and the of the 1910s-1930s, little-known or Book Chamber of Belarus presented Implementation forgotten not only in the world, but also digital copies. The web-site plakat.ru period in the Belarusians’ mass consciousness. presented one poster created in Hrodna April 2016 — in the 19th century. We received May 2017 The project underlines Belarus’ posters from members of our union, multiculturalism — poster art has authors of posters, and tutors. In the Project coordinator been influenced by Polish, Russian, Russian State Library, we managed to Dzmitry Surski Jewish, and other cultures. The poster receive pre-war posters published on Context. fixes the history of daily life and its the territory of Belarus: posters from Problem Solved by the Project visual culture, significant events in Hrodna made during World War I, society’s life. posters by A. Bykhouski (Homiel), The project topic is chosen not casually, of course. and H. Zmudzinski's poster. There is The poster is a special art genre, frequently a work Project Contents a preliminary agreement to receive a of art, and a documentary and visual marker of its digital copy of F. Rushchyts's poster time. The Belarusian poster has world recognition — Being guided by the principles of of 1913 — the first poster in the there are numerous, but private examples: more universality and multi-instrumentalism, Belarusian language. than 100 posters have received awards at prestigious we worked on three basic products: international competitions; more than 300 copies are the digital archive, the web-site, and • The web-site of posters plakat.unid. in the best collections of the world. The greatest peak the book, — as well as exhibitions in by is created on the basis of the digital of the popularity of the Belarusian poster is the recent Minsk and regional cities. All these archive; its contents are constantly times — since Perestroika till the present day. Still, tools are interconnected and work for growing. It has the categories “Author”, as a phenomenon, the national school of this special the overall aim. The digital archive and “Title”, and “Year”. We have our own genre of the art and socio-political statement is not the collection of posters have their own thematic classification — three basic present either in the mass media, or in educational value already now and in the future they kinds of posters: social, cultural, environment. It is because the information on our can become a base for a museum of the and commercial. As for the artistic poster artists’ works is scattered and segmental. Belarusian poster, new publications and touch, posters are: font, illustrative/ thematic exhibitions. figurative, and formal/abstract. The Concrete names and historical landmarks of Belarusian following kinds of techniques are used: poster development deserve much more attention, • The digital archive, i.e. a hard disk graphics, paintings, photos, collage, systemization, and representation. We have tried to fill and a cloud (Google disk), includes and computer graphics. There are relief 110 Belarus Project Stories 111

printing, lithography, offset, silk-screen collection of the Belarusian Union of dynamic because today it is the unique printing, and digital printing. Styles Designers allows us to form various platform for poster artists, a source of search is provided. There are also tags thematic collections to be exhibited in information for the mass media and describing visual and semantic contents the future. Also, we have printed several researchers. of posters. The web-site has thematic rare posters, which originals are outside articles, too. of Belarus. We have had exhibitions All these help to preserve and revive in regional centers, which became a poster art, to prepare the public for • The book-album reveals the basic, stimulus for the development of local the idea of creating the Belarusian most prominent aspects of the art platforms and communication of Poster Museum; it strengthens the Belarusian poster that have to do with local communities. The exhibitions have image of the Belarusian poster as a its formation and further development, received a resonance both in the state- special phenomenon abroad. We are technologies and ways of creation. In the run and independent mass media. proud of our contribution to these book, we refused a catalog presentation processes; however, we realize that all in a strictly chronological order or by Conclusions of them require time to turn into more authors as this information is on the significant and appreciable events. web-site. First of all, we wanted to The Belarusian poster is an open show the social, historical-cultural, and project and its completion within the Throughout 20 years the Belarusian technological context of the appearance scope of CHOICE does not mean its Union of Designers has been rather and functioning of this genre and its purpose is achieved — the collection, an important and recognized subject transformation in an independent the digital archive, and the web-site of the cultural policy — it has helped art form. It was important for us to will keep growing. All project activities our activity during the project, rather present the brightest representatives are aimed at motivating the public than being its result. At the same of the Belarusian poster school. Thus, and professional interest in this genre. time, the authority of the organization autobiographical essays, interviews, The web-site became an excellent has increased thanks to this topic. and memoirs reveal a secret part of the resource for art criticism work, creation We have confirmed our status of a process of creating posters, which often of new posters, a tool of interaction competent organization and our remains behind the frameworks of dry of authors and potential customers, professional community has become art criticism researches. and a platform of fast reactions to more consolidated: many graphic important social phenomena. The designers and artists have joined the • Exhibitions in Minsk and regions site is universal; the general public, work on the archive and the web- are a powerful tool of public dialogue, professionals, and potential clients site as authors; designers-teachers popularization of the historical heritage (official bodies, theaters) are interested have shared their students’ works in of the poster. The unique poster in it. It has made the project alive and the field of the poster. 112 Moldova Project Stories 113

PROJECT STORIES: MOLDOVA 114 Moldova Project Stories 115

TRAJAN'S WALL — THE CULTURAL RESOURCE FOR SUSTAINABLE CROSS-

BORDER DEVELOPMENT Contents AND COOPERATION and Results of the Project

To improve our knowledge of the cross-border partnership between Roman ancient defense perimeters, Moldova and Ukraine, we tried to a group of experts conducted develop in the long run an innovative noninvasive researches with the “Sustainable Context. and sustainable infrastructure of help of contemporary geophysical Development Problem. Purposes historical-cultural heritage as a factor and topographical techniques. As a of Cahul” Foundation of a regional economic growth. In its result, we have collected valid data of the Association The Trajan’s Wall is a system of fortifications built turn, it presupposes the development and mapped the Trajan’s Wall in two during the epoch of Ancient Rome in Moldova, of local communities, their engagement aspects — the current condition of these Location Ukraine, and Romania. The Lower Trajan's Wall begins and participation in cultural tourism — ancient defense lines and their integrity Cahul District, in the village of Vadul lui Isac, the Cahul District, a direct stimulus of improving the as historical-cultural heritage. Moldova Moldova, and reaches Lake Sasyk, the Tatarbunary quality of life. Distirct, the Odessa Region, Ukraine. Nowadays, this One of the basic events within the Implementation unique monument of history and culture is in a critical Besides the work with the basic framework of the project was a seminar period condition, being destroyed by time and natural factors. problem, we also paid attention to with 70 representatives of the local May 2016 — the solution of some other tasks — to administration, business circles, local April 2017 In spite of the fact that in both Moldova and Ukraine study, to preserve the Trajan’s Wall, and national mass media, cultural and there is a significant number of establishments which and to popularize its cultural value. educational institutions of the Cahul Project coordinator responsibility is to protect cultural heritage, as a whole Joint efforts of our organization and our District, representatives of Ukraine and Anatolie Nebunu the heritage of southern Moldova and the Odessa Ukrainian partners allowed us to initiate Romania. The seminar consisted of Region of Ukraine is not known in a due measure and a number of actions/events that will two substantial parts. During the first is not evaluated by local communities. When there directly promote a better understanding one, the public was presented several is no effective management per se, the potential of of the importance and protection of the exclusively interesting materials on using historical-cultural monuments remains just a Trajan’s Wall. historical and archaeological questions potential. Poor quality of management is inherent of the Roman defense perimeters on in institutions of both central and local levels. There the territory of Moldova, Ukraine, are practically no examples of cooperation between and Romania. The second part of this ministries, local authorities, and civil society, which, international meeting was dedicated if we look at it from a pro-active position, looks like a to questions of developing a regional huge zone for development in the field of cross-border strategy and launched the creation of a cooperation in cultural heritage questions. corresponding document.

In order to solve this problem, we suggest raising As a result, we have developed and awareness of experts, who work in the sphere of proposed a strategy to activate the local heritage and adjacent sectors, on topical practices, economic development of the Cahul policies, and tools of managing cultural heritage District on the basis of the resource of objects and landscapes in protected areas. Working the historical-cultural heritage of the to increase the number of “points of tangency” in Trajan’s Wall. 116 Moldova Project Stories 117

New Valuable Partnerships

In order to keep regularly exchanging Our basic partners we would like to scientific information and to popularize express our deep gratitude were: the the cultural-historical value of the Cahul Regional Council, Moldova, and Trajan’s Wall on the territory of the public organization “Agency of Moldova and Ukraine, we developed a sustainable development and European web platform of the project on the basis integration “Lower Danube Euroregion” of the web-site of our organization from the Odessa Region, Ukraine. An www.fundatiacahul.md. important part of the working process was our continuous connection with And at last, in order to popularize local authorities in the form of both the object, our technical team has official and informal working meetings developed and created an interactive with representatives of the Cahul 3D-model of the Trajan’s Wall. The Regional Council, the local business innovative app will promote the community (20 companies), and the increase of a number of visitors Ukrainian partner organization. Such What the Project Has Given Us (tourists) of this cultural sight; however, partner relations are an example of the the basic work on its advancement is necessary basis for a sustainable social- The foundation of the association still ahead. economic growth of our region. We “Sustainable Development of Cahul” already plan the future joint and more is gradually becoming one of the This small one-year project conduced ambitious projects as this cooperation main centers of carrying out local and to the strengthening of cultural sectors has to be continued. regional educational, research, and of Moldova and Ukraine thanks to the cultural-entertaining actions/events. preservation of the common cultural Besides the mentioned organizations, Our good dialogue with the local property, organized by common new active members of the local population and the regional government efforts. As a result of the project, cultural community and adherents has allowed us to raise the role of the there appeared a network of sharing joined the process of the project foundation in the popularization of experiences and advanced practices implementation. We created partner the value of the cultural heritage of of managing cultural heritage so that relations with the local state the region and the influence of the it could be integrated in economic administration at the national, regional, organization in decision-making in the development plans of these territories. and local levels (including 12 village cultural sphere. councils), Cahul State University, the Cahul National Theater, the Our team has become stronger Cahul Museum, local television and in project management, strategic radio, local public organizations, the planning, and marketing thinking. National Archaeological Agency, the The foundation’s next activity will be Cahul branch of the Commercial and aimed at implementing the strategy of Industrial Chamber of the Republic capitalizing the Trajan’s Wall as a sign of of Moldova, the National Committee the ancient empire and ancient art. We of ICOM-Moldova, the Cultural have all internal resources for cross- Policy Center, Izmail State University border cooperation and communication (Ukraine), and from Romania — the in this field with the local population, Galati Municipality, the “Paul Paltanea” partner organizations, and authorities. History Museum from Galati, the The planned new set of actions consists History Museum in Braila , and Babes- in closer work with youth and pupils who Bolyai University from Cluj-Napoca. have participated in the current project. 118 Moldova Project Stories 119

Although the participation of MUSEUM — SPACE inhabitants of all age groups is FOR THE COMMUNITY important to us, we paid special attention to the work with children AND CROSS-CULTURAL and youth. First, here the traditional DIALOGUE educational function is important; second, with the help of children we indirectly involve their families, too.

“Honor, dignity Context, and the native Problem, Purpose land” (ODIP) Public Association Moldova, as well as many other countries of our Project • St. Andrew's traditional holiday and region, is characterized by a situation when cultural Contents many other things. Location life in the countryside depends on the activity of village Văsieni, a local “House of Culture” (recreation center) and/ The creation of a children's creative The seminar “Norms of preservation Ialoveni District, or another cultural establishment, which, as a rule, center in one of halls of the museum and revitalization of movable cultural Moldova has difficult times as it has to compete with rural became the central part of the project. heritage” for 20 experts of museum household troubles. If the function of such a center of A bit later we bought Romanian and affairs from all over the Republic was Implementation attraction is given to a museum, the situation usually Moldavian books for it. The creative especially important for the project. period gets aggravated because all museums are associated center will be a place for future actions/ April 2016 — with the severity and reverential silence before the events such as interactive games for The 9th national festival “La Poalele March 2017 past. A rural museum especially risks becoming boring children, trainings, master classes, Țiglei” (“The Root of the Hill”) in and unattractive as its expositions seldom change and public lectures, etc. During the project, August 2016 became the culmination Project coordinator it frequently has problems with financing. we have carried out a number of event of the project. The festival main Corina Bezer actions/events here: objective was the revival of ancient However, the History and Ethnography Museum traditions of our nation. Thanks to good “Anatol Candu” in the village of Văsieni, the Ialoveni • Meeting for children under 15 y.o. advertising and attention of the mass District, is urged to become such a center of attraction. about Easter traditions and customs; media, this event gathered in the court In order to destroy the negative stereotypes and to yard of the museum about a thousand make local cultural life active, we developed a project • Flashmob on the Day of Europe people — it was much more than in that combines directions important for the local (May 9th) to inform local residents on previous years. Representatives of all community: 1) culture, art, and tradition; 2) cultural European values; age categories were participants of the diversity, and 3) civic participation. In other words, we festival — from five-year-old kids to tried to create here a space for dialogue, which would • World day of protection of children; eighty-year-old people. The festival actively and constantly include the local community a specially invited theater presented its status was raised by the participation of in the organization of cultural actions/events aimed theatrical performance; well-known people — representatives of at preserving and interpreting cultural heritage, the Ministry of Culture, the Department festivals, flashmobs, thematic meetings, etc. We • International seminar “on December, of Culture of the Ialoveni District, and wanted to show that a museum can become a platform 1st: history yesterday and today” with the regional administration. for many different types of cultural events and that participation of an international expert presentations of folk customs and traditions, as well as from Romania; In total, our activity within the project the preservation of folk crafts, can be not boring topics! has touched more than 5,000 people. 120 Moldova Project Stories 121

Its basic beneficiaries — inhabitants We would like to thank the people In particular, it is important for the of not only the village of Văsieni, but who performed administrative roles, heritage sphere as our society has also the neighboring villages — are doers, handicraftsmen, and drivers. already got used to see the village as a participants of single actions and the We planned an extensive program of place of traditional national culture. constant activity of the creative center performances of national collectives, for children and youth, festivals and and when some invited actors We have understood the importance of seminars. For a rural museum, it is a suddenly changed their minds, it was thoughtful project management and real success — the museum has become necessary to find replacement urgently. regular meetings to plan what has to a bridge for people’s interaction, a Colleagues from the museum “Anatol be done and to evaluate what has been place where inhabitants come to more Candu” and the local administration done. They help to maintain the right often than two times a year to see an helped us in it. The expansion of a rate of work and very strongly influence exhibition. partner network helped us much as it the motivation of involved people. allowed us to find the best candidates Important to perform concrete functions. Having received people’s trust, we Partnerships already have no right to stop the We also understood how important it started work. Fortunately, we have new It would be impossible to implement is for local projects to invite external ambitious ideas and will search for any everything we planned on the basis of experts, especially if they are people possibilities, at least, to support the the regional museum of history and with a high professional and/or cultural activity at the current level. ethnography “Anatol Candu” without official status or foreign professionals. the cooperation with the collective of During the project, we managed to the museum itself and the authorities — build cooperation with several such the regional and local councils. The experts, which gives us hope to jointly project was supported much by the implement other projects in the future. Ministry of Culture of the Republic of The international seminar acquainted Moldova, which was our basic partner. us with a great historian from Romania, Besides the necessary co-financing, who helped us see and evaluate the leading experts of the Ministry originality of the cultural environment rendered their regular advisory help created here. throughout the whole period of the project implementation. The Minister Value of of Culture of Moldova Monica Babuc the Project for Us was personally present at the opening of the project and underlined the great The project has given us and the people importance of the project “Museum — whom we worked with an evident space for the community and cross- inspiring example of a growth of a spark cultural dialogue” for the development of an idea in a big and harmonious of the local community of the village cultural-educational activity able of Văsieni and, as a whole, marked the to considerably enliven the rural importance of the implementation of humdrum. Our community has felt the European program CHOICE for the that it has its bright and beautiful Republic of Moldova. paints in the general cultural picture of Moldova. Provinciality can be a An invaluable contribution was weak spot in people’s consciousness also made by a team of volunteers only if they themselves believe in it. If from inhabitants of the village, they believe in something else — then who supported us at each stage. absolutely other processes are started. 122 Moldova Project Stories 123

HISTORY REVIVAL — INTEGRATION OF DURUITOAREA CAVE IN EUROPEAN TOURIST SPACE

“Mostenitorii” Public Context: Organization for Problem Solved by the Project Children and Youth The monument of natural and historical heritage Location of the Stone Age “Duruitoarea Veche” is located on Costesti, Riscani the territory of the Riscani District in a picturesque Project Contents District, Moldova zone on the bank of the largest Costesti water impoundment in Moldova. This area has an important Thanks to the presence of several • Presentation and popularization: Implementation historical-cultural value and huge tourist potential, involved partners (the key ones are the opening of a constant exposition in period which remains unrevealed today. Even today it is thelocal council of the Riscani District the local museum; April 2016 — possible to find remains of ancient animals in this and the council of the village of April 2017 zone. In 2008, remains of a mammoth were found, Costesti), in one big working team, Thanks to this project, this and in 2016 here, during an expedition of a summer we worked at once on several steps archaeological object gradually Project coordinator school organized within the framework of this project, and directions: becomes known not only among the Nikolae Moscalu elements of bones of cave bears and horses, which age local population, but also outside can exceed 200,000 — 300,000 years, were found. • Administrative: the formation of a of the country. During the project representative organizing committee; implementation, the TV channels in The project main objective is the preservation and a Moldova made six reports; numerous new, actual interpretation of “Duruitoarea Veche” as • Scientific: noninvasive researches materials were printed in the national an object of natural and historical heritage with the together with invited experts from press and on the Internet. Thanks to unique archaeological value, with participation of the Romania; the project, the strengthening and local community. All these are the necessary condition development of this zone became for the further inclusion of this natural and historical • Communities involvement: the a priority task of the Tourism resource in the European tourist space. In long-term organization of summer schools for Development Plan of the Riscani prospect, here it is planned to create a full-fledged three different groups of citizens; regional council and the regional attractive tourist complex that will include a museum, development agency. The Prime the cave, the canyon of more than 400 meters long, • Infrastructure creation: Minister of Moldova Pavel Filip, who and the 1,000-meter coral reef. the cleaning and preservation of the visited Riscani on January, 30th, 2017, object of cultural-natural heritage marked the necessity to keep developing The preservation and valorization of the cultural with participation of members of this territory and promoting tourism heritage of the Republic of Moldova and the inclusion the community; access improvement; in this region, including on the basis of of monuments of the Republic of Moldova in the designing and installation of the resources of the natural and cultural European tourist network is one of the purposes indicators for pedestrians and three heritage of the Riscani District. supported by the European Union. advertising boards; 124 Moldova Project Stories 125

Summarizing the general experience • Building of reliable partnerships, We have also built partner relations of the carried out work, we can share interaction and support of the with colleagues from Romania: we several checked-up factors of successful project by usual citizens, the regional signed cooperation agreements with implementation of the project: authorities, economic agents, and the local historical museum in Botosani scientific circles of Moldova; and the non-governmental organization • The analysis and correct definition “CarPates”, with which in the summer of strengths and potentials of the • At the initiative of the regional of 2017 we defined and developed joint monument and its active advancement department of education, teachers of tourist routes. at the level of the District and the various schools prepare educational Republic. At the national exhibition materials for additional courses in local Project “Touristic Moldova” in 2016, the first educational institutions for 3-9 grades. Continuation Prospects place was won by the stand of the District dedicated to our object. Results The village of Costesti is situated on the and Effects bank of the water impoundment with the • The received experience of same name where in summer, despite cooperation of our public organization During the project, the initiative and the absence of conditions, there are 5-6 with the inhabitants of the village of activity of the local population became thousand tourists. The development Duruitoarea Veche. During the previous considerably more active as they received of a full-fledged environment-friendly 4 years, with the assistance of the GIZ a hope of further positive changes in infrastructure, including a museum foundation (Germany), we participated the District. At the initiative of a group complex, will make this place more in the building of the system of water of citizens, the coat of arms and the attractive for tourists. Thus, it is already supply and water drain, which allowed flag of the village were developed and planned to create an information point us to solve one of the basic problems of approved. Thanks to local residents for tourists — the increase of a number of the population. the tourist route with signboards and workplaces will improve the well-being information displays has been developed. of the local population. • Transparency of the activity of the For the last 2 years, 16-20 old houses organization is a key to be trusted and were purchased in the village and turned In Moldova, there are lots of natural and supported by the public. Besides, we into touristic objects, which attests an archaeological monuments officially constantly informed the inhabitants of increased interest of economic agents recognized as cultural heritage of the village: on the importance of the in the further development of this zone. the Republic and Europe, but they cave as a cultural heritage monument A group of local activists develops a dilapidate quickly. This project can be (the majority of the local population project of a water club on the basis of the an example of their revival, a change did not know it); on the tasks and Costesti water impoundment which total of citizens’ attitude to them, and their actions/events that were done and will area is 220 km2 and coastal line is more further use to advance national culture. be done; on possibilities of developing than 6 km. Economic sustainability is a strong the village and improving the well- argument for the community — it is being of the population, which will be a It is possible to consider it a success only necessary to use it right. consequence of the development of the that we attracted representatives of tourist sector. the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, It is planned to keep working out the with whom we had not connections project and to continue it. Now, the At present, we plan to implement new earlier. We have agreed with the organization, together with the local long-term objectives, namely: Education Department to continue our authorities, develops a number of cooperation in the field of education projects with participation of several • Further development of the museum and patriotism upbringing among the European partners, including those complex; local population. from Poland and Romania. 126 Moldova Project Stories 127

HISTORICAL SITE CAMP OF KING CHARLES XII OF SWEDEN AT VARNITA: VALORIZATION AND PROMOTION (SITVAR)

“Woman, Hope, Context: Future” Civil Society Problem Solved by the Project Organization Project Contents The historical-cultural object of heritage — the “Camp Location of King of Sweden Charles XII in Varnita” — dates back to preserve them, and to restore the The project was officially launched in village of Varnita, to the early 18th century and is registered as a local commemorative monument; April 2016 in Varnita with the assistance Moldova branch of the National History Museum of Moldova. of diplomatic missions of Sweden, This place is of historical and memorial importance • to landscape the site and the territory Turkey, Ukraine, and Romania, experts Implementation on the peripheral territory of the former Ottoman near to it. in the field of culture and science, period Empire; after his defeat near Poltava (1709) Swedish the administration and the local May 2016 — King was compelled to run here, having stopped first Unlike the previous project, SITVAR community. May 2017 near the fortress of Bender, and then — from 1711 to is aimed at active involving a wider February 1713 — in Varnita. In 1925, the place where circle of interested persons, including During the first stage of the project, its Project coordinator the camp of King of Sweden was situated was marked local authorities that are responsible actions were of a scientific character. Veronica Stefaniuc by a commemorative monument in order to pay for this territory development, as well The following was done: tribute to historical memory, to value the common as representatives of business and the Moldavian-Swedish-Turkish historical past, and to local community. It was necessary to • Historical-documentary studies. celebrate the 300th anniversary of the event called find its own approach to each of these We found a number of important “Kalabalyk” in Varnita, the most tragic one in the groups, still appealing to the common documents in the National Archive history of Turkish-Swedish relations. value of this monument of history and of Romania concerning the camp culture dedicated to King of Sweden of King of Sweden Charles XII that In 2013–2015, the Republic of Moldova, Turkey, and Charles XII in Varnita. provided information on some Sweden implemented a cultural-scientific project historical facts, the scheme of the “When Sweden was ruled from Moldova”, and the For the association, the strengthening camp, and the commemorative project SITVAR is, as a matter of fact, a successor of its role as an important subject in monument. These documents of the actions/events carried out then. Its purpose the field of protecting and using the seriously supported the working-out is to rehabilitate and return this object of historical historical-cultural heritage of this of the project of preservation and heritage to the socio-cultural context of today’s territory was not less important. For the restoration of the monument and were Moldova, i.e.: first time, the association — with local the basis of several scientific reports residents’ support — tried to include the and publications dedicated to the • to carry out scientific and public revaluation of historical monument in the touristic museumification of the camp of King of the camp of Charles XII: archival-documentary and cultural network of the country, Sweden Charles XII. researches, archeological excavations, and to reveal thus actualizing, inter alia, its economic the remnants of stone constructions in the camp, resource for society. 128 Moldova Project Stories 129

of preservation and restoration of the camp, participation of communities, coordination of platforms and lands, ways of finding additional financial sources. Thanks to such system efforts aimed at providing transparency and sustainability of the project, it was easier for us to involve a considerable number of representatives of the local community, pupils of school, and other cultural establishments of the village of Varnita.

• topographical and archaeological of monuments. Huge assistance to studies of the territory, during which the project was rendered by the local the foundation of the building of the council of the village of Varnita and chancellery of Charles XII was found. the administration of the Anenii Noi District Council. • the international scientific conference Conclusions “Camp of King of Sweden Charles XII in The second stage of work was aimed Varnita — researches and valorization” at popularizing and promoting this Our restored historical monument archives concerning mutual relations (April 2017) with participation of cultural-historical sight with the has been somewhat rehabilitated between Hetman Ivan Mazepa and King experts from Romania and Sweden, attraction of the public and the local and introduced into the national Charles XII; whose reports were published in community. We managed to carry out: and international cultural and the collection of scientific materials scientific network. Here are some • The local community is ready to “Historical Site — the camp of King • Restoration and conservation of the received results that justify the idea continue the gardening process on of Sweden Charles XII in Varnita. To monument installed in 1925 and the of continuing this project, possibly, the site, suggesting the creation of restore the memory”. revealed remains of the chancellery already in a new form: a park and conducting of geological of King Charles XII; we built a fence researches. Projects on the preservation of the around it; landscape gardening; • Experts from Sweden we cooperated remnants found at this object, as well with during the project have offered an We are convinced that the project as on the restoration of the monument • A thematic stand at the photo- idea of reconstructing several objects should be continued because the dedicated to King of Sweden Charles documentary exhibition “Historical of the camp, including the house of the already involved local residents want XII, developed by experts in the field Site — the camp of King of Sweden Swedish soldier and the chancellery of to turn this historical monument into of heritage, are approved by the Charles XII in Varnita. History Archive”. King Charles XII; an attractive sight for tourists from National Board on protection of public Moldova and other countries. The local monuments. There were regular publications on the • Representatives of the local community considers that the territory project course in the local mass media intelligentzia who participated in the of the camp of King of Sweden Charles All scientific-research actions within that informed the local community implementation of the project have XII, as an object of historical- cultural the framework of the project were on the researches and what was found started an idea of further researches in heritage of European value, should carried out in close cooperation with during them. We carried out several the segment of the common history of become an alive part of local and our basic partners: the National meetings, discussions with local Moldavian-Swedish-Turkish relations; national history and culture; moreover, Museum of the History of Moldova authorities and invited experts from it is able to bring its contribution to the and with the support of the National Moldova and abroad (Ukraine, Sweden, • Ukrainian experts propose further economic and cultural development Agency on inspection and restoration Turkey) where we discussed questions studies in Russian and Swedish of this district. 130 Moldova Project Stories 131

CLAY OF TIME: A JOURNEY OF CERAMICS Project Contents THROUGH AGES Our team was aimed at becoming 20 students together with tutors and a leading organization in actions/ other experts in the field of cultural events at the joint of archeology and heritage had an opportunity to share art interpretation and becoming a their knowledge and to receive new strong intermediary in the establishing skills in the work with clay and other of long-term connections between materials the way it was characteristic educational institutions and other of Cucuteni–Trypillia culture. “We Open Moldova” Context. organizations in this sphere. (“Descoperim Problem Solved by the Project Participants passed through a full Moldova”) Public cycle of educational actions/events: Association The project is dedicated to the archaeological culture theoretical archeology during of the Cucuteni — Trypillia region (6th–4th centuries presentations and lectures at both Location BC), presented, in particular, by fictile art and unique universities; experimental archeology Chisinau, municipality ceramics, spread on the territories of Moldova, and a visit to the archaeological site Ungheni, Moldova Ukraine, and Romania. In Moldova, these valuable in Stolniceni, the Hincesti District; traces of our ancestors’ culture are not paid proper fact-finding visits to the National Implementation attention by the scientific community and potentially History Museum of Moldova and the period interested public. We have suggested rethinking National Art Museum of Moldova; the May 2016 — openly this national heritage and proposed a simple, scientific seminar «Archaeological April 2017 but integrated interdisciplinary format — to immerse cults in contemporary art» at the in this ancient kind of arts and crafts in a number of History Department of State Moldavian Project coordinator special master classes with a subsequent possibility of University. The first stage of the Alexandru Nicolaescu presenting works at an exhibition. project was ended by a one-week practical seminar in ceramics at the The idea was to create a live and beautiful link fine arts and design department of between various areas of culture: history, applied Chisinau Pedagogical University. crafts, and art. We invited students of two higher Students worked under the direction of educational establishments of the country (State skilled tutors to create their art works University of Moldova; State Pedagogical University) that became a basis of the mobile to participate. The second group included experts in exposition «Ceramics travel in time». the field of Cucuteni–Trypillia culture — historians, Three exhibitions were organized from archeologists, museum employees, and researchers of April to May 2017 in various cultural symbolics and ornaments of objects of the heritage of establishments of the country, including one of the most ancient European civilizations. in the National Art Museum within the framework of the CHOICE public We worked on the concept and administration of this discussion on Moldova’s cultural policy project in partnership with the non-state association in the field of heritage. At the fine arts «Woman for modern society». This initiative was to and design department, there was an become a basis of future cooperation in joint projects official opening of an exhibition and between several organizations involved in the sphere a presentation of the CHOICE project of interdisciplinary education and advancement of attended by students and tutors of art cultural heritage. high schools from Odessa (Ukraine) 132 Moldova Project Stories 133

and Iasi (Romania). In the regional Role museum of the Ungheni Municipality, of the Project for the exhibition was presented to the Our Growth local public. Svetlana Shugzhdy, Marianna Vasilace, First, we ourselves have learned much During the project actions, we saw that and Michaela Dvornik. It became more about Cucuteni–Trypillia culture two areas — theoretical archeology obvious that the vacuum of links and better understood its meaning. and art practice — have much more in between institutions is easily filled Second, the project has made us common than we initially believed and if there are constructive occasions for improve our administrative, logistical, that similar projects are really needed, professional contacts between experts and other competence. For some at least, by professional and intellectual and this is why the project activity members of our team, it was the first communities. is significant. activity of such a kind and scale. However, as a result, having passed Achievements • We have strengthened our some internal re-structurization, We Are Proud of acquaintance with the administration we managed to prove ourselves of the museum in Ungheni and the successfully in the sector of the • First of all, for the first time, village of Vasieni, Ialoveni District, work with heritage and occupied our students received an opportunity of and we hope they are still interested own niche. such a practice and cooperation; their in supporting new initiatives aimed at educational programs do not include cultural heritage actualization. Similar initiatives can be implemented such kinds of activity important for at the regional level and unite educational processes. Also, during actions/events within secondary education establishments the framework of CHOICE, we build such as lyceums and schools. They • At once several cultural spaces contacts with other NGOs that can be implemented in Romania and desired to exhibit works of participants. implement projects in the field of Ukraine, where Cucuteni–Trypillia It is important for higher education cultural heritage, such as PRO-RESPIRO culture existed as well, or used as a establishments as not all students have and ODIP. The project in Vasieni on the model for interdisciplinary work in had a possibility to demonstrate their basis of the local museum became a other spheres. skills and to receive new ones and such good example for us — it allowed us to exhibitions are a stimulus for students understand better how an art exhibition The project has rendered a great to reveal themselves creatively and can become a strong "product" of the influence on my own personal intellectually in the future. community. development as a professional who faced serious problems that • Visitors of all three exhibitions have Our project also demonstrates that the required my full involvement. I could expressed their interest, which makes development of a professional network remotely observe and participate us confident that this work has to be between cultural establishments and in all actions / events, which made continued. educational institutions is necessary for me understand risks and successes; faster and qualitative development of all I cooperated with all participants, • Strong communication between interested parties. Our project can serve listened to their desires, requirements, the fine arts department of State as a good motivation to include similar and responses, which made me realize Pedagogical University and the History projects in future educational programs better the responsibility of the leader Department of State University of of universities at the expense of their of the project, for which I am very Moldova. We are impressed by the own resources. grateful to CHOICE as a whole and teamwork of the strongest experts for the support and trust shown by and advisers from both universities: ­ICOM-Moldova in particular. Andrei Korobchan, Any Simak, 134 Moldova Project Stories 135

significant center of moral upbringing and formation of young generations in FROM REMEBERING TO the spirit of true values of our nation. RECONCILIATION — Our actions were aimed at preserving cultural memory and lessons of local CREATING MEETING POINT history on the basis of development of FOR DIALOGUES conditions for cultural and so-called BETWEEN nostalgic tourism. GENERATIONS The association of former deported persons and political prisoners of Moldova, the local public administration, and the Ministry of Culture of Moldova were our basic partners. “Genesis” Civil Context. Society Organization Problems Solved by the Project

Location The project was born out of our aspiration to provide village Mereni, all interested people with the truthful information on Anenii Noi District one of the most tragic events in the history of the local community and the country as a whole — the history Implementation of deportations and political repressions in Moldova period in 1940–1989. This topic is still a black spot of our May 2016 — recent history for both researchers who study this December 2016 layer of history and people who have no access to the necessary information or have forgotten that the bold Project Project coordinator view on the past can be very important for society’s Contents Natalia Procopii- maturity. Scobioală The open air museum represents a page Our team tried to break some cliches accompanying of local history from the moment such difficult topics by “updating” the image of the of mass deportations. Formally and museum and changing the presentation ways. For this physically, it consisted of several purpose, we offered a new model of developing the semantic and thematic sub-divisions: local museum in the village of Mereni not far from a country house of the 19th century; Chisinau — to create a place where visitors not only a museum archive; “A trip to Siberia by look at exhibits, but also completely participate in the trucks”; “A camp”, and a park. process of education and interpretation of this or that subject or image. Thus, we continued the work of the Then, the whole complex should be founder of our organization — institutionalization of structured into modules that can display the museum and its advancement, the organization of in more details a certain stage in the additional exhibition areas and modules. life of victims of political repressions, which means separate exhibition spaces We concentrated on the creation of the Museum to connected by the same idea. All our the memory of victims of political repressions — searches and experiments can be united a complex called to throw light on the political in one concept — cultural heritage repressions occurred in Moldova and to become a interpretation. 136 Moldova Project Stories 137

We gave a chance to visitors to study these exhibits that were processed and differently. The museum can be seen, included in the exposition. heard, and even felt. Visitors can hear and see exhibits, touch and feel them In the course of gathering subjects, in halls. The design and composition young people received numerous organization of the museum underline professional skills and experience — the major component of the cognitive how to interview carriers of historical system — air. The museum is located at memory of this or that community, a small stream in the central part of the how to define the spiritual value of an village of Mereni. object and to present it to the public in an interesting way. Also, they collected The project team managed to involve important life stories of the people who free-of-charge the best museum gave subjects. guides — representatives of senior generations, who passed through Thanks to these young volunteers, various forms of repressions and teenagers joined the project, too. They terror, which provides visitors with received a unique training platform — the qualitative and effective contents pupils and senior people gathered for Our Other of excursions. After all, only they can discussions on the same topic. Thus, Achievements provide firsthand perceptions of these we created such conditions for dialogue events, experiences, and lessons. and mutual understanding between On July 6th 2016, the museum became a The museum collective has found a way generations, which do not always part of the unique tourist route “Decade to attract additional visitors — a virtual To reveal and present the knowledge appear in everyday life. of deportations”, during which we had trip to the museum on the web-site and life experience of victims of about 300 visitors during one day. www.deportee-mus.eu in three political repressions was the first It is also important to notice that languages, with detailed information substantial step of the project. Thanks within 2016 we found, at least, 7 former Later, in the autumn of 2016, during on the museum, photo gallery, and to our partnership with the association deported people who were ready to help the festival “Flori De Mar In Toamna” virtual tour. of former deported and political with the process of training and to share (“Autumn Apple Color”), all its prisoners of Moldova, which has more their history with visitors. participants became our visitors, One more achievement of the project than 1,800 members, the museum could including representatives of ethno- is the improved infrastructure of the present memoirs of people deported During the project implementation, folkloristic ensembles from 10 districts museum. On the territory of modules 1 from different areas of the country. in the museum, there were individual of Moldova. and 2, there appeared paths with high- Here, it is necessary to mark that the and collective visits. There were not quality blacktop. On the territory of the museum belongs not only to the village, less than 20 official visits (including The museum became attractive for museum, there are works now to install but also the national cultural network. officials), 18 group visits, and about 20 amateur and professional artists. 20 metal information stands. other individual visits. In total, during Museum module №2 became a place of To make a museum more attractive the project implementation, 1,860 meetings and family photos. The museum exposition will soon to today’s public, the project team people visited it. have a new module that will present involved youth to design the exposition. Therefore, it is possible to say that one visitors one of the most tragic parts About 24 young people from Mereni of the project purposes — to provide of the history of deportations. As a were involved in the seeking for subjects favorable conditions for dialogue and result of negotiations between the that are older than 70 years and belong better understanding of the history administration of the village of Mereni to the period of mass deportations, of deportations — has been reached and the Ministry of Transport of the which could be interesting to visitors. substantially. Republic of Moldova, the government More than 80 exhibits were given by ordered to give the museum a railway local residents of senior generations, car where a part of the constant while young people helped to deliver exposition will be placed. 138 Ukraine Project Stories 139

PROJECT STORIES: UKRAINE 140 Ukraine Project Stories 141

GALICIAN CALIFORNIA

Ukrainian Society Context: for Boryslav Historic Issues Addressed by the Project and Cultural Monument Protection Boryslav is a unique town situated on an active oil, gas and native paraffin production field dotted with Location mineral medicinal water springs. It is a historic oil Town of Boryslav and and gas production hub of Europe (late 19th and early Skhidnytsia Township 20th centuries) with its preserved traditional cultural monument limbo status, destruction the register includes 85 monuments environment character. The Boryslav Town Council and vandalism. Accordingly, the project of Boryslav and Skhidnytsia; however, Implementation territory includes a renowned modern balneological seeks to explore, study and protect the upon the project’s completion it can be period resort, Skhidnytsia township, which has also been an local history and culture monuments, supplemented to reach approximately April 2016 — oil production centre of Ukraine’s western region. Due as well as to make a change in the 200 facilities. April 2017 to its rich culture, traditions and unique artefacts, the community mentality, which implies town has massive chances to become an attractive promoting the idea of the monuments’ Following a lengthy debate, 20 facilities Project coordinator tourist destination for Ukraine, as well as for Europe value and boosting the civic initiative were selected out of the catalogued Albertina Buchynska and globally. Multiple areas of unique interest have impact on the formation of the ones, to which information plates been preserved till this very day, such as 1898 Adam regional strategies in the cultural containing data in Ukrainian and Mickiewicz monument, former Roman Catholic 1900 heritage domain. English, as well as an QR code with a St. Barbara church, 1929 building of the Dormition link to a more detailed information of the Theotocos church with its 10 Petro Kholodnyi Project on our Society’s website, have been stained-glass windows, as well as some valuable oil Contents produced and installed; and gas industry facilities, such as one-off hole-type well complete with timber blockings and willow Following the project-related research • 5 topical sightseeing routes: history work intended for oil and native paraffin extraction, results, we have created: and regional natural history, industry, locations of Europe’s first gas processing plant built in literature and arts, Sacrum and religious 1914, 1922 gas-firing power plant, authentic solid- • A catalogue register of the Boryslav pilgrimage. They are supplemented metal riveted telephone communication supports and Skhidnytsia history and culture with a Boryslav and Skhidnytsia made in the early 20th century and the natural reserve monuments, which is accessible accommodation and catering offer stock facilities. on our organisation’s website database; www.boryslav.com.ua, likewise The project targets addressing the region’s two created within the CHOICE framework. • A guide-book related to the historic major challenges in the area of heritage: its The register includes descriptions of and cultural monuments and the monuments have not been properly studied, they each facility’s historic and cultural sightseeing routes developed; are not documented and are not maintained in an significance and present condition. appropriate conservation condition; and a low public The monuments have been divided • A Boryslav and Skhidnytsia map, awareness as to the historic and cultural value of into groups: statuesque, architectural which shows on its one side a Boryslav the local sights, inaction of the local authorities and or urban planning, historic or cultural, map with indicated history and culture a feeble impact of the public initiatives involved in religious, industrial or engineering, and sights along the routes developed and a the cultural sphere, which in combination lead to a natural. At this stage of the research, similar Skhidnytsia map overleaf; 142 Ukraine Project Stories 143

Following the results of the work, we A keen interest in the project results have drafted some recommendations has also been displayed on behalf of on approval and provision to a number the local small and medium businesses: of selected Boryslav and Skhidnytsia talking on attracting investment and history and culture monuments of a increasing numbers of the tourists regional- and national-level significance coming is gaining momentum. protection status and nominating individual unique historic and cultural Involvement in the project has monuments for inclusion on the list of prompted our Society to give up the UNESCO World Heritage Protection its mock modesty and promote our Facilities in Ukraine. The authorities activities in a more pro-active way. have also received for reviewing Gradually, we are becoming an ever some recommendations on the more visible initiative centre, as far as • A training seminar for representatives development strategies of the region’s holding any local and regional training of the local cultural and educational cultural, sightseeing and travelling or educational, history research and institutions, such as schools, upper activities; and cultural or entertaining events is secondary school, museums, libraries concerned. While interacting both and NGOs, and civic activists, has • The conference Cultural Heritage of with the town residents and with caused repercussions. The meeting the Ciscarpathian Petroleum Capital the town authorities, we have not included two parts. The first one was held in April has enriched us with missed an opportunity to upgrade the dedicated to introductory reports new visions in the area of cultural role our Society plays in promotion presented by the organisers on patrimony protection and with new of the regional cultural monument the project itself, on Boryslav and ideas. The discussions both over significance and its influence on Skhidnytsia history, on the present our project results and materials the decision-making process in the condition of the historic and cultural contributed by other experts centred cultural domain. We have succeeded in monuments in the region and on a around new approaches to management establishing robust working contacts possible impact of the civic initiatives in the historic and cultural heritage with the Boryslav History and Regional on the town development in the area of sphere for the region at large. Natural History Museum, with the local cultural heritage. Part two represented civil society organisations Boryslav- a training trip to the Boryslav and Partner Network Growth HUB, Boryslav Oil and Gas Industry Skhidnytsia facilities described and and Organisational Development Museum and Typical Boryslav. New included in the sightseeing routes. active members have joined our The participants selected are seen as Permanent-basis communication with organisation. potential promoters of the historic and the local authorities has represented cultural facilities, and some visiting an extremely important part of the Apart from its chief goals and objectives, tourists were present among them. project. The project provided for two such as research, protection of the The astonishing fact is that even the formal working meetings, as well as local culture and history monuments town intellectuals know surprisingly regular informal consultations with the and communication in the relevant little about their community’s cultural representatives of the Boryslav Town spheres, we shall focus more on working heritage. Furthermore, they have a faint Council and the Skhidnytsia Township with young people and schoolchildren idea how they can assist in preserving Council. Despite financing shortages who were little involved in the current and developing the monuments or in and lack of a clear action plan in the Galician California project. Beyond any influencing the town's development area of the region’s cultural heritage, reasonable doubt, any project is a new strategy in this sphere. The two seminar the local authorities have demonstrated challenge in the project management, days were very long and busy and their readiness to positive changes in strategic planning and marketing culminated in a heated discussion and the town and to a dialogue with the research thinking; and we accept and planning of possible joint actions. civic initiatives. appreciate such challenges. 144 Ukraine Project Stories 145

BRODY TOWN’S COMMUNITY AND POLYCULTURAL HERITAGE: POTENTIAL, INTERACTION AND PROSPECTS

“Kray” Public Context. Association Issues Addressed by the Project

Location Brody has been entered on Ukraine’s historic city and Brody, Ukraine town register and is widely known due to its numerous monuments, prominent personalities and its preserved Implementation planning of an “ideal town” dating back to the 17th Project period century. It accommodates 33 architectural monuments, Contents April 2016 — five of which having a national significance status. A April 2017 number of historic sites have no status at all and have • Research into the Polycultural historic monuments. The website been abandoned for a long time in a desolate condition. Historic Heritage of the Town of Brody informs on the actions and events held Project coordinator This unused cultural potential represents today the (Potential, Problems and Perspectives) within the project framework and in the Vasyl Strilchuk town’s “burden,” rather than its merit. complete with a full list and description town’s cultural life; of Brody’s major monuments, indication The project was intended to energise the Brody at the main problems related to the • The Brodovskie Vesti, a corporate community within the scope of some applied issues state historic heritage registers, newspaper by the Kray CSO, 4 issues related to conservation of the town’s historic positive and negative experience of the with a circulation of 1000 copies each. polycultural heritage. By ‘polyculturalism’ we mean a societal interaction with the historic The publications contain news on stratal multitude of ethnic cultures and subcultures, environment, as well as individual our project and information on the historic epochs with their relevant architectural styles recommendations and suggestions; town’s historic facilities and problems or other visual urban codes; whereas by ‘community’ related to their preservation. The we mean, above all, active representatives of the • Website of the Historic Heritage of publication has been distributed public, brainpower clerisy (educational community: Brody project www.brodyhistory.org. free of charge during the cultural teachers, pupils and students) and profile experts at ua, which contains information on all or educational events, guidance the local museum, regional ethnographers, as well the sights entered on the state registers, association meetings or other events as religious activists and representatives of the local information on the project, Kray CSO held by the educational professionals, authorities or self-government. Our keen interest has and the Brody Regional History Museum among the local council deputies and been likewise focused on some external groups, such and many other things. The photo and representatives of the authorities, as tourists, researchers, potential investors, etc. video galleries are presented separately, NGOs or librarians of Brody District. as well as the Library section which The newspapers are available at the We saw the major expected practical outcome in contains digital copies of individual district library, museum, bookstore elaborating some general proposals on the town local history publications, guide- and newspaper stalls (handed out to development in the sphere of its historic and cultural books, booklets, The Brodovskie Vesti the people who buy the local press). patrimony’s preservation and enjoyment. magazines and a layout of the town’s Electronic copies of the publication are 146 Ukraine Project Stories 147

accessible on the project’s Facebook on behalf of the public of various age access to the video versions of all the page Town of Brody’s Community and categories (for example, the number of project’s public lectures. Polycultural Heritage, as well as on our museum excursion requests has gone organisation’s website; up). Public opinion is gradually formed A prominent role in the project as to the need for preserving the town’s implementation has been played by • The Training workshop cycle historic patrimony: there are some communication with the Cultural Historic and Cultural Heritage cases appearing that the town residents Management Centre (Lviv) and Revitalisation: Practical Experience, bitterly condemn with a lot of public mutual consultations with the Public Involvement and Search for • 24 signs leading to individual historic response private encroachments on the CHOICE project members, such as Resources for civic activists, authorities sites and 33 information plates with the cultural monument integrity, which “Kremenets Environmental League” and and businesses (approximately 100 QR codes at the monuments; and forces the town authorities to influence “Starokostiantyniv Non-Indifferent”. persons). Taras Vozniak, Elena Biriulina the owners. and Oleh Rybchynskyi, renowned • 8 public lectures on territories of Our further plans will prioritise patrimony sector experts, who were the town monuments: in the open air On the whole, the Kray Association has revitalisation of a key cultural heritage invited, briefed the attendants on near some valuable historic facilities, strengthened its professional role in facility in the town, i.e. the Brody castle, the revitalisation experience from in sacral monuments and at the the issues related to the local historic with its possible future museumification. individual facilities, places and towns educational institutions, on preserving and cultural heritage preservation; Jointly with the Town Council and the in Ukraine and Europe. The workshops which we wanted to draw the town our recognisability has been on the Brody Local History Museum, we look have encouraged the active community people’s attention. To participate in the rise, which motivates our organisation into a possible revitalisation of the members to discussing the issues events, 433 persons were registered, members to keep on abreast of the market-place vaults. related to Brody and Brody District while in fact they were joined for regional public life. Our organisation branding and promotion, which fact has discussions by many active passers- has expanded its cooperation network been reflected in meetings of the Active by. Later the popular public lecture with the civic activists, found new Province Club; format has been adopted by the Brody partners and takes part in various Local History Museum jointly with the events or trainings held in our town. • The Brody Quest Local History District Library. Game was included in the programme We are grateful to the Brody Town of celebrating the Brody Town Day in Our project has culminated in drafting Council, which has supported our September 2016. We had elaborated an action plan submitted for reviewing initiative from the very beginning, an appropriate Quest Regulation, by the Brody Town Council with the also in co-financing, and has coordinated our work with the Brody goal in mind of its further utilisation for adopted a relevant programme. The District State Administration’s conservation of the town’s historic and administration representatives and Education Department and with the cultural heritage. deputies have been engaged in the administrations, teachers and pupils project events, as well as in discussing or students of the town schools and Organisational and Partner and addressing some individual issues. teachers’-training college, as well as with Network Development the Town Council. The game included a Information support to the Kray CSO competition among 5 teams of pupils, The work which has been conducted has been provided by the local mass college students and volunteers, while in the heritage sector, as a rule, does media: The Golos Vozrozhdenia and for evaluation purposes we invited not “spring up” fast, but we can be The Brody Vechernie newspapers a special judging panel. The Brody proud of the animation among the have been bringing their coverage of Quest format was appreciated by event participants (judging by the our events and published more local all its participants; and, as a result, questionnaires filled out by the training history materials (which may be seen the Education Department has later session or lecture attendants and as a project side effect). The Brody TV organised two more such events; comments made on the social media and Radiobroadcasting Company has pages). We have identified a general covered the project-related events on its growing interest in the heritage agenda TV and radio air and provided an online 148 Ukraine Project Stories 149

attention level to the generic things: has a semi-forgotten by the city century- space, responsibility and the future. long history, although founded initially as DNIPRO The main idea is to resuscitate an old an ambitious and unique communication CULTURAL LANDSCAPES form by filling it with a new content space for artistic activists; and testing its tolerance of innovation. The major target audience is the young • The “banquet” hall was used every generation, because it is instrumental in day during the festival week by Japanese “Kultura Medialna” Context: what the urban landscapes are going to artist Kenta Nakagawa to demonstrate Civil Society Issues Addressed by the Project become like in the future. his audio-visual performance Inner Mind Organisation Architecture. The large-scale installation The cultural landscape of Dnipro (former Project Contents included multi-layer semi-transparent Location Dnipropetrovsk) is greatly varied. It contains strata screens, which were brought to life Dnipro of historic epochs and traces of various nations • In the first project part, entitled thanks to sound, multimedia beaming, (Dnipropetrovsk) of the world, which have contributed to the city Urban Landscapes, we have dealt with movement of air, smoke and light. development. The architectural and cultural sights the ‘iconic locations,’ i.e. historic and The hall acquired an inimitable magic Implementation include monuments of different conservation levels: cultural sites, by “settling” there for atmosphere, it was filled with digital period palaces, nobility manor houses, commercial apartment the time being some experimental arts. forms and resonated either with the April 2016 — buildings, intellectuals’ clubs, city gardens and In order to attract attention of a wide natural sounds or with electronic music April 2017 small factories of Jewish, German, British or Belgian audience, presentation of the work rhythms and engaged the viewers in an entrepreneurs dating back to the Yekaterinoslav was carried out within the framework interactive performance. The installation Project coordinator times. It is also about the large-scale heavy industries, of the Construction Audio-Visual and was specially adopted to the hall and Yulia Ovcharenko concrete constructivism, rocket and missile New Media Festival in the urban space played with its architecture. A creative engineering, residential neighbourhoods, theatres, between the 30th of May and the 5th of team of 15 active youngsters assisted in movie halls and culture palaces of the Soviet era. June 2016. The festival was held in the setting up and operating the installation. And some modern touches, which have appeared in city for the third time with its audience Involvement of creative young people in independent Ukraine and enriched the city image with growing with every passing year. Each preparation of concerts and installations an aura of a commercial and business hub. Each epoch time it provides an opportunity to is our traditional way to develop civic has also entrenched itself in the cultural background introduce their city to the citizens in activity. The project was seen within a with its stories, legends, habits, memories and myths. a new way, to explore the forgotten week by more than 1300 persons, some Dnipro’s inherent feature is that its ancient strata beauty of habitual places, as well as to of whom attending several times and are rapidly declining, stories are forgotten and huge demonstrate modern art products by bringing along their friends; buildings lie dormant and are destroyed, and, along foreign and Ukrainian artists. with them, the intangible cultural heritage is forgotten. • The 3rd of June saw a presentation Four spots have been engaged, each one at the great hall of the Philharmonic The key problem standing in the way to any systemic of them playing a vital role in the city’s Society of an electroacoustic music changes is the situation is the professional cultural sociocultural life: concert by Tom Terrien’s musician sector. Obsolete infrastructure and outdated methods group (France), TYTO ALBA Duo (Czech of its management no longer meet the needs of a • 2 scarcely used halls of the regional L. Republic), DZ'OB (Ukraine) and VJ Igor contemporary citizen. They perpetuate the old Soviet- Kogan Philharmonic Society: the great Inqit / Blck_Box. The unique acoustics era behaviourist patterns in the society and leave no hall with its unique acoustics, which hall began sounding in a modern way space for the development of new meanings. We were is now undergoing a refurbishment and it was discovered by 250 young perfectly well aware of it at the very start and, therefore, process, and the “banquet” hall, which is spectators, who had never been here at included the problem among the project priorities. occasionally rented to stage commercial concerts before; expositions or private events. In this way Thus, our project targets the physical and mental we sought to introduce to the public the • An atrium of the Scientific Library images of Dnipro City and is intended to open up opportunities provided by its entire space, of the National O. Honchar University, a new view on its peculiarities and stepping up the as well the new arts. The philharmonic which interconnects all its five floors, 150 Ukraine Project Stories 151

and modernisation of the culture Summing-up palaces. However, the vector of the and Way Forward transformations and the needs of the cultural institutions themselves Having performed an extensive work were not obvious to us. This is why we with various cultural institutions, we continued the research by holding a have also had to note that the strongest mini-conference on the 19th and 20th resistance to any reforms is staged by the of November, where we worked with Culture Palace employees themselves, a focus group made up of 14 Dnipro who are driven by fear of changes, and Dnipro Region CP employees experiments or sanctions imposed by and clarified their professional and higher management. Quite frequently accommodates a winter garden with city and Waiting Room with its video personal motivations along with their the fear is underpinned by lack of the palms and lianas. On the 1st of June performance on the life of children in wishes and development prospects. relevant managerial skills and, again it received an experimental music the Dnipro modular settlement; and The conference was supplemented and again, is reduced to dependence on concert by Swedish artists David Sabel with motivation presentations by our the government financing. The objective and Isak Eldh and Danish performer • The project’s second part was Georgian and Czech colleagues on behind our project was to demonstrate Mads Emil Nielsen. Six students from dedicated to “Memory Landscape” transformation experience of similar new experiences and their advantages. various universities were involved and targeted updating approaches to cultural heritage. The focus group We have succeeded in attracting new in preparation for the concert. The cultural patrimony presentation and work results have indicated that the audiences, establishing international musicians positioned themselves rethinking of the Soviet heritage. This circumstances pertinent to a Culture cooperation and providing platforms for downstairs right among the plants and part has been prepared in collaboration Palace’s operations in the regional creative work of the young Ukrainian the entire atrium space up to its glass with the Literary Dnieper Region centre and in its provincial communities artists, while proving that the new roof was filled with electronic music Museum, whose space was used to differ very much. Yet, they are unified working methods are promising and sounds, while the guests listened to stage a discussion programme of the in ignorance of the modern forms of efficient. However, for the sake of long- them from the balconies of all the Construction Festival made up of 4 handling the local residents and their term changes to come about, a strategic five floors. The concert went on until podium discussions in June, as well as generic positive evaluation of their approach to each and every one of the it got dark and the natural lighting a multimedia exhibition CP for Culture activities against the background of a facilities will be a must, along with with unusual sounds transformed the Palace in autumn 2016; and striking poverty and narrowness of their systematic work on their agendas. The library space by providing an outlandish agendas, as well as in their dependence team of the “Kultura Medialna” Civil aesthetic experience to some 150 • The Culturological CP research on obsolete funding forms. Society Organisation has developed a spectators. The children present could has begun with visiting Dnipro short-term plan related to transforming also take part in music creation; and Region’s culture palaces or houses and the city’s philharmonic society into community centres to get an idea of the a modern European cultural centre. • A major exhibition project With No present condition of this post-Soviet The process will be expedited by the Seat Reservation was held at the South heritage. As a result, we have recorded partnerships, which have appeared or Railway Station between the 29th of a series of documentary videos, which have been reinforced during the work on May and the 11th of June 2016. It was demonstrate the entire diversity of the the Dnipro Cultural Landscapes project. dedicated to the topic of internally CP activity forms and programmes, and Artistic interventions in the city’s displaced people and the perception made an analysis into their statistical cultural and industrial heritage sites will of the city as a “home.” The exhibition data. The videos along with some be supported in 2017 by the Cultural was created by the composite authors artistic installations were exhibited Capital programme; whereas the CP of the Kultura Medialna Civil Society at the museum between the 29th of project development will be featured Organisation and covered three halls: October and the 6th of November 2016. among our team’s long-term initiatives Arrival with its Cube spatial installation, for the next three years. With this goal Transit Area containing 6 video Within the process of research in mind, we have established contacts interviews with the displaced people and observation we have seen an with three towns of Kharkiv Region and on their experience of living in a new enormous need for transformation Novoolexandrivsk United Territorial Unit of Dnipro Region. 152 Ukraine Project Stories 153

been lobbying the idea of pulling the • Isle of Jarylhach Lighthouse lighthouse down allegedly because of its First and foremost, we were supposed REVIVAL OF A LEGEND: unsafe condition; to achieve transparency in the Skadivsk WAY TO DEVELOPMENT local authorities’ activities. In 2015 • House of painter Polina Raiko (Oleshky a technical expert opinion of the AND CONSOLIDATION District). Granny Polina began painting lighthouse condition was contracted, aged 69 upon the deaths of her daughter, but the procedure was carried out with son and husband and within a few years no involvement of the Monument “TOTEM” Cultural Context: Issues Addressed by the Project painted her whole house all over (walls, Protection Society, which did not grant Development Centre ceilings and doors). In 2004 the TOTEM permission to dismantling. It became The project framework has provided an opportunity to Centre published a complete catalogue of obvious that the local authorities were Location implement a comprehensive approach to the creation Polina Raiko’s works; however, following reluctant to attract “unwarranted Kherson Region, of a regional cultural landscape and proper conditions her death the same year attempts to attention” to the issue of lighthouse Ukraine for revitalisation of the heritage sites, which are situated set up a museum in the house failed protection. This is why, exactly with the farther away from the town of Kherson, which is the due to lack of interest on behalf of the goal in mind of attracting the attention Implementation regional administrative centre, and, therefore, are in a authorities and a passive position taken of the public, authorities and mass period critical condition. The authorities lack vision as to how by the Monument Protection Society. We media to the issue, a visit to the Isle of April 2016 — they can be revived and filled with a new functional and have succeeded in preventing the house Jarylhach by a team of artists and Society May 2017 axiological content, while the local residents have lost destruction: an heir intended to sell it to experts was organised. The experts interest in them. We have deliberately chosen “difficult” neighbours, who only needed land (the faced a task to evaluate the lighthouse Project coordinator facilities, which, in case of a further passive stance on house would have been destroyed); and condition, whereas the artists were to Elena Afanasieva behalf of the local community and authorities, might be make illustrations to David Burliuk’s Sea destroyed in the nearest future. The objective behind the • Watchtower (Vesele Village, Berislav Novel. This kind of activity could not be project was to draw attention to them, to form a team of District), also known as the Lithuanian ignored by the local Skadivsk authorities. like-minded persons, to identify the ways to saving and Tower or Vitaut’s Tower. The donjon On the activist team visit date, the local developing these historic and cultural heritage sites and tower represents the only fortification authorities organised an action entitled to include their revitalisation in the regional development structure of the type dating back to the Clean Lighthouse: made arrangements plans. The emphasis was made on reviving the site- times Great Duke Lithuanian Vitaut, to ensure access to the island for related legends and on energising the local community: which has been preserved in Ukraine till volunteers, who collected and evacuated researchers, local historians and the public at large. this very day. The tower is facing a threat waste from the natural reserve territory, of destruction due to the plans to build as well as initiated ways to address the Project Contents phase 2 of the Kakhovka hydroelectric waste problem in the future. The TOTEM power plant: the tower gets in the way of team was met at the lighthouse by the During the first stage, assisted by some experts and the construction project. local news people and the Skadivsk local activists, we have formed a Kherson Region administration representatives. The first heritage site database and then pinpointed 13 heritage As a result, the project has provided a discussion with the project activists and sites, which potentially meet our criteria, to have basis for three full-fledged advocacy experts of the Monument Protection selected eventually three of them: campaigns. With regard to each site, a Society was held right there at the site-specific strategy has been developed lighthouse. Thereafter, a special social • Lighthouse on the Isle of Jarylhach (Skadivsk and implemented, which fact has led to media group was created from among District) built in 1902. Components for the lighthouse local community energising and rallying the Skadivsk and Kherson activists, have been manufactured in France and delivered to efforts aimed at their conservation and Monument Protection Society experts, Skadivsk. The lighthouse is closely connected with the revitalisation. Modern artists have been representatives of the authorities and name of famous futurist author David Burliuk, who instrumental in creating an attractive media people. The group has become described it in his Sea Novel. The lighthouse represents atmosphere, while developing new a major communication tool, which a symbol of the Isle of Jarylhach and Skadivsk, but in bicycle routes has served to step up the has enabled transparency of the local the recent years the local groups and authorities have numbers of tourists visiting the facilities. authorities’ actions. As of today, we have 154 Ukraine Project Stories 155

received and placed on the group page brought by the central Ukrainian TV The festival has enabled collecting the results of the lighthouse’s technical channels, the Directorate of Culture has in one spot the like-minded people expert opinion; besides, ideas pertinent agreed with our action plan to enter and dramatically demonstrated the to its preservation are under debate. the house on the cultural monument Watchtower tourist potential, as well register. Now we are getting ready a as informed the attendants on the • Artist Polina Raiko’s house document package to be submitted to threats and issues relevant to the tower Apart from convincing to collaboration the Monument Protection Society. preservation. Beside the power plant the local authorities, we were likewise expansion plans, a serious challenge was to develop jointly with them a salvation The activities undertaken have cropped presented by lack of the tower on the strategy in respect of this one-off cultural in a situation, when in 2017 the regional national monument register. heritage site. Following some futile budget has allocated to founding a attempts to find the house owners, we put Polina Raiko house museum UAH However, due to the efforts exerted by By way of a summary for ourselves as our tasks to be completed 650,000, and creation of Ukraine’s first the working team created, as soon as lobbying the entry of Polina Raiko’s house naive art museum in the house has been by December 2016 the Watchtower had Our key to success was in consolidation of on the cultural monument list, looking entered on the action plan list of the been entered on the register as a local the efforts exerted by the local activists, into the legal possibilities of transferring 2017 Regional Culture and Spirituality significance architectural monument, organisations and creative young its ownership title to the government and Development Programme. while later it was recommended by the people, who have rallied around our creating a museum concept. Ministry of Culture for entry on the shared objective and idea of protecting • Watchtower (Vitaut’s Tower) register with the status of a national the cultural, historic and architectural At the first stage, we had to energise the The strategy relevant to the conservation significance monument, for which patrimony. An attractive atmosphere local community, and so we suggested and protection of this unique facility of purpose an archaeological survey of around the selected sites has drawn the that artists spend one night at Polina historic, cultural and architectural heritage the tower and its adjacent area is to be attention of the authorities and media and Raiko’s home and create their works. has required the creation of a coalition of carried out in 2017, and a protection served to put in place a situation, when all The exercise’s result was an exhibition organisations and activists, since the issue area and a construction work area will the stakeholders take part in the processes named Polina Raiko’s Dreams, which has of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant be determined. related to heritage facility conservation by brought into focus the issue of house expansion has many aspects, including the deploying their own resources. conservation, since all the authors economic one. To inform public at large and to engage made publications of their observations, new allies or partners, our project Beyond any reasonable doubt, the noted the fact of the house and murals’ To begin with, we arranged a high-profile framework has been used to draft and project will be continued, as work on destruction and appealed to the public art event near the tower, which was publish a brochure, which demonstrates each one of the sites described will go for the heritage preservation. Our project attended by more than 30 authors and the importance of the Watchtower for the on. We have redeemed three extremely has demonstrated a possible foundation activists. We also sought support from history and culture of the two countries. valuable heritage facilities and put in the house of a museum, as well as an the Trubetskoys’ farm winery, because Before the archaeological survey rolls out, them again in the sphere of interest of art residence as a revitalisation tool: this the tower is situated on the farm land the project framework will allow providing the local public and authorities, and is exactly the format which would enable and is owned by it (the land, on which the Watchtower with a protection plate; turned them into such an inalienable making it “a living being” and filling the tower stands, is owned by the power we shall also invite the Kherson artists to part of the cultural landscape, that the it with creative activities. Besides, our plant, while the tower itself is owned by assist us in installing some “protection local communities and the authorities project framework has been used by our the Trubetskoys’ farm. This is exactly stones” carrying information and QR will never dare again to ignore their partner organisation Kherson Bike Forum the reason why the farm has failed to codes for demarcation of the protection destruction or to be inactive. Moreover, to develop and launch a bicycle route, include the tower in its reconstruction area boundaries. the project has demonstrated that which has also caused a lot of commotion plans). The Trubetskoys’ farm winery has there are no “missions impossible” in among the travel business entities. granted its support to the festival and the domain of historic and cultural subsequently become our partner in our heritage preservation, whereas the The issue of Polina Raiko’s house actions aimed at the tower protection accumulated experience will be used by preservation has been covered by us and conservation. our partners and us for the development in the local and national mass media. and implementation of campaigns linked Following a series of journalistic stories to conservation of other tangible and intangible culture monuments. 156 Ukraine Project Stories 157

THE PEARLS OF THE PAST TO MAKE THE NECKLACES OF THE FUTURE

“Kremenets Context: Environmental The Issue Addressed by the Project League” Civil Society Organization Kremenets is a town with its history dating more than 800 years back, which, just as recently as a hundred Location years ago, was inhabited by the three dominant Town of Kremenets, communities: Jewish, Polish and Ukrainian; that being Ukraine said, the ratio was as indicated above. Today it is populated by 21,000 Ukrainians, the Polish community Implementation totals about 200 persons and there is not a single period representative of the Jewish community registered. We have achieved these results by June 2016 — The architectural patrimony preserved from the making a few project-related steps: March 2017 previous epochs, because of the economic and political turmoil, is ever more frequently and insistently in a • Research-to-practice conference Project coordinator dire need of reconstruction for any further use. Kremenets Mountains Heritage, which Oksana Tymoshenko was attended by almost 50 contributors. We have set our objectives as follows: rallying the The research results submitted dealt town community around the idea of addressing with the urban architecture, tangible the described problem with the monuments, or intangible heritage monument supplementing the existing tourist route Along the protection (for example, the South-Volyn Paths of Ancient Kremenets with four new facilities sub-dialect in certain Shumsk District and promotion of the route. villages) and maintenance of the natural and environmental balance in the Project Contents contemporary Kremenets Mountains;

The project has focused on the following heritage • Photo exhibition at the Local History sites in the town: Cossack Cemetery, Jewish Cemetery, Museum, which has featured pictures Natural Monument ‘Trough Spring’ and the Kremenets of the town taken in the pre-war period Stone Mine, Underground Town. Following the project juxtaposed with their present-day completion, the sights have become open for visiting analogues. This move strongly enabled by the townspeople, guests or tourists alike. All the the attendants to reflect on how much facilities have been cleaned of waste and cleared we have lost...; of excessive vegetation, provided with information plates, benches for rest, railings in steep climb spots • Brochures and maps of the route and with signs leading to the new tourist sights. We Along the Paths of Ancient Kremenets, feel happy that for a year the local residents have an advertising video and a promotional maintained the facilities and the adjacent territories in film; and a clean condition. 158 Ukraine Project Stories 159

some residents of Jerelna Street, which happens to accommodate three out of the four project sites. Many other citizens displayed their interest and provided, as much as possible, their assistance; we have made new friends and found like-minded persons, which • Last, but not least, preparation and and open to all those eager to attend. fact has inspired a higher-level feeling of which are now distributed among the printing of The Kray informative local And now the town has received from confidence among our team members. town guests and tourists, as well as at history magazine, which has turned the Jewish community of France the travel business exhibitions held in Kyiv out to be a truly massive challenge amount of approximately EUR 100,000 We have established good relations and Ternopil. for our organisation. The magazine’s to reconstruct the cemetery stonewall with the town hall, which has resulted theme, i.e. “Preservation of the Historic and entrance gate as of the 1930’s in allocation from the town budget of Following the project completion, our and Cultural Sites on the Territory (according to a photographic picture of UAH 30,000 to cover the 10 per cent activities aimed at heritage preservation of Ukraine’s Natural Reserve Funds,” that period). co-financing requirement. The town and promotion is continued. Thus, has attracted interest from personnel mayor and his deputies often visited our thanks to visiting the International East- of 12 national parks of Ukraine, Partner Network volunteer events and even took part in European Initiative Forum in Lublin, including the Kremenets Mountains and Organisational Growth one of them. we have found some new friends and National Park, and museum staff, become partners of the trans-border who were contributing their articles. While implementing the project, our Thanks to the СНОICE project, project, entitled: Ukraine — Poland — The magazine has also published organisation was developing itself. we have gained new friends and Belarus — 2020, devoted to the topic some works submitted by pupils, We felt honoured to realise that the found like-minded people in Brody, Border Area Fortresses (participated by who were winners of creative contests. town needed our activity and received Starokonstantiniv and Rivne, with Przemyśl, Zamość, Cracow, Zhovkva, A separate article in the magazine was numerous opportunities to gain new whom we communicated on a regular Kremenets and Lviv). We are busy devoted to the tourist route Along the knowledge (and, importantly, to basis, shared our ideas and invited each developing some new tourist routes: Paths of Ancient Kremenets, while increase our NGO’s membership), while other to our events. Greenweiss in Ukraine and Along the in her introductory statement to holding training sessions on project Paths of Juliusz Słowacki in Kremenets. the magazine the chairperson of the activities and fundraising, as well as After a meeting within the СНОICE Kremenets Environmental League CSO in course of the social advertisement project framework in Lviv with our Our organisation has become appreciated an important role played contest entitled: Renaissance of My colleagues from Belarus, we have recognisable throughout our region, as by the European Union, ALDA and Town’s History and Culture. succeeded in bringing to life an idea we well as far away all over Ukraine. Yet, the СНОICE project in the issues related borrowed from them: holding an artistic the main thing is that our team has to conservation of Ukraine’s historic, A vital input has been contributed by plein-air for children I am Painting My developed a conviction that even a small cultural and natural patrimony. great many volunteers involved at all Town’s History, which was attended by group of people is capable of achieving the project implementation stages. We 21 children aged between 4 and 14 years a lot, if an objective is properly Thus, the town has gained its new have been joined by the local higher of age. Six works by its participants have formulated, i.e. if it is an objective, tourist sights, which are accessible educational institutions’ students and provided a basis for the 2017 calendars, which is shared by the local community. 160 Ukraine Project Stories 161

proved more efficient. At the project only those chosen by the museum itself. start, the museums invited used to This is exactly why the particularly DIGITIZED ACTUAL decline invitations to participate, as they valuable and expensive exhibits might CULTURAL HERITAGE lacked confidence as to the success of not have been presented to the broader any would-be changes, as well as because public, or, the other way around, they of other fears or concerns. Yet, as some might have been intrigued by the pilot database versions appeared, along most exciting exhibits to cause their with examples of changes integrated willingness to pay a visit to the museum by other entities, ever more museums and to contemplate the original thing. “Shevchenko’s Context: seemed to be willing to become part The antithesis to the statement on Grove” Civil Society Issues Addressed by the Project of the digitalisation efforts. The robbery was served by the fact that, Organization first organisations involved in the in fact, availability of a digital copy The project, as implies the title, seeks two major digitalisation cooperation framework provides evidence that the exhibit is Location objectives: cultural heritage digitalisation and were the ones who had had knowledge of owned by the institution and, based on Lviv, Ukraine updating. With this goal in mind, we have chosen to us and tended to trust us. The Ukrainian its image, it is easier to recover it and concentrate on the museum collections of several Ministry of Culture and the Ukrainian return to the museum. A digital copy Implementation cities or towns (Lviv, Melitopil, Kamyanets-Podolskyi Museum Business Development Centre serves as a proof in a potential search for period and Kremenets), because our organisation is active have formed a standard for an exhibit or sale of any misappropriated exhibits. April 2016 — in the museum business sector, and the museums description and data exchange, thus The third fear was exactly provision to May 2017 themselves represent some key players in the area indirectly encouraging the museum a third party (which was represented by of cultural heritage conservation. The project has experts to pro-active moves related to an NGO) of an access to the museum Project coordinator provided for inclusion of an activity aimed at involving the museum business digital component deposits, because we could see “what Yevhen Chervony the two target groups: museum experts engaged in development. we should not see” or else play the role handling, maintaining, studying and representing the of a watchdog agency and disclose the museum collections and the general internet audience Difficulties were also appearing in fact of a poor exhibit safety situation. as cultural heritage stakeholders. For the general our way to involve our partners in the This is where the institution managers internet audience it means being provided with an digitalisation exercise. The professional and deposit custodians saw a threat opportunity of grasping the amount of the available museum milieu is haunted by a number to themselves, although it was not our cultural heritage stock and its interconnectedness of fears and stereotypes, which are not goal, when planning the project; on with it, and of forming the value-based criteria easy to overcome at all. Firstly, it is a the contrary, we had sought to assist through museum collection institutionalisation, as fear that digitalisation is just a matter them in demonstration of their best well as an opportunity to develop the democratisation for some illicit actions related to the show-pieces and, when the employees processes by way of granting an access to the cultural collection; although digitalisation does themselves did the exhibit selection valuables using the digital media and by formation of not provide for taking any exhibits work, no threats appeared. All the above the publicity principles without an attachment to the out, independent work in the museum things have posed the greatest challenge physical stay place, via the internet. depository or anything of the kind. to our organisation, which is not Secondly, the fear was there to present referred to the state-owned, legislative Project Contents the available collection itself on the or executive sector, but operates as a internet, because, allegedly, all the non-profit-making organization. Within the project implementation process, we have stocks will become common knowledge discovered the need for modifying its implementation and there will be no shortage of those A change in format of the project strategy, which was conceived at its initial stage, who would intend to rob the museum, implementation, which implied a although its topical agenda and the target groups or else it will demotivate the potential departure from the formation of a have remained intact. Originally, we intended to hold visitors from going to the museum. single cultural heritage database on a broader public workshops for the interested employees; However, the collaboration terms joint platform towards the formation however, as we have found out the face to face training and conditions did not provide for of specific institutions’ individual and consultations implying an individual approach demonstration of all the exhibits, but websites, which institutions are 162 Ukraine Project Stories 163

capable of sharing information and formal requirement and the museum and melitopol-museum.zp.ua) displaying data in a format needed, itself, which was in need of a specific have led to motivating also other has provided several opportunities for operational decision on the issues museums to commence the digitalisation the digitalisation process optimisation pertinent to the digitalised collection process. It is our ambition that after a and further development. A decision management and presentation. This full-fledged setting and launch of all was made instead of developing an kind of situation clearly demonstrates the pilot projects an organisational in-house software product to utilise the role played by such projects as network will be developed to begin the a ready-made tested and flexible ours, whereby the non-government digitalisation work. The general meeting product to be developed in the future sector fills in the gap between the of the CHOICE project members used and maintained by the professional institutional competences and the to discuss a possible involvement of community, while the involved entities formal government agency postulates, other partners from outside the museum themselves will not be responsible for the government and the state being sector in creation of the intangible its further maintenance or support. the general titleholder of the cultural cultural heritage register. It enables Within the framework of the Currently patrimony. It will allow us to keep on putting in place the existing working Central Digitalised Cultural Heritage providing our consulting services to the principles related to handling the project, the Providence collection interested museums or other heritage cultural patrimony in the area of digital management system has been adopted sector entities also in the future. technologies, upgrading the issue and to meet the needs of the Ukrainian developing an ontological structure and museum environment. The first step Organisational and Partner a skeleton construct pertinent to data was represented by creating a Ukrainian Network Development administration. linguistic version for an easier use in the Ukrainian sector. The next step Already now we can observe the positive By and large, the CHOICE project has was to formulate the criteria relevant effects produced by the digitalisation allowed our organisation to develop its to show-piece description according efforts. The interested professionals, contact network and to establish itself to the national and international upon reviewing their colleagues’ as a reliable partner. The digitalised standards, which would enable a prompt collections, try to contact them for joint materials will be used in museum and information exchange process with the exhibition and research arrangements. cultural heritage presentations, as cultural heritage custodian entities and A great number of digitalised and interactive platforms at exhibitions, as for an internal collection management. accessible online exhibits help to well as informative interactive monitors In summary, the museum in this promote the museum itself and the intended for tourists. respect performs two functions at a collection it holds. Placing the data on time: promotion and access provision, the Europeana world cultural heritage Digitalisation is a global trend in the while building simultaneously its own segregator will be instrumental in cultural heritage sphere and it expands database of the available exhibits. The engaging both foreign colleagues the available leverage of administration, digital collection management tools and visitors in interaction. Adding preservation, insight and promotion. will be in the future transferred to be their digitalised collections on the We as an entity have gained a valuable owned by the museums themselves. It Europeana will fill the gap of absent experience within the project framework will provide them with an opportunity to Ukrainian cultural heritage segment and shall keep on sharing information keep on working on the cultural heritage and will assist in integration into the to meet our common goal: providing an digitalisation and to replenish and general European context, because as of access to the cultural heritage and its update information all by themselves today just 3 Ukrainian institutions are updating as a significant manifestation without our organisation’s involvement. represented there. of the human genesis. Today it is particularly important to comprehend Our organisation Shevchenko’s Grove Our pilot projects that a country’s cultural heritage may has acted as a consultant and served (artgallery.lviv.ua, not belong to one nation or state alone, as an intermediary between the kremenets.com.ua, but makes part of the global culture Ukrainian Ministry of Culture with its lvivskansen.org produced by the entire humanity. 164 Ukraine Project Stories 165

“FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN” LITERARY AND LOCAL HISTORY ROUTES

Poltava Regional Context: Organisation of the Issues Addressed by the Project Ukrainian National Writers’ Union The project has been aimed at putting foundations under the literary tourism and creating modern a close communication with each other making part of its infrastructure Location arrangements of exhibits with an involvement on and share their experiences of creating should look like. The local authority Poltava Region, behalf of the local communities in the three Poltava literary and local history travel routes; representatives expressed their desire Ukraine Region districts: Zinkiv, Myrhorod and Hadiach. to put some benches at the place, where We have sought to utilise the modern European • We have updated the writers’ museum potentially cultural events could be Implementation experience and, jointly with the local communities, exhibit arrangements in full or in part held. At the same time, the writers and period to develop and promote some literary travel routes, (Elena Pchelka and Lesya Ukrainka at NGO members advanced their opinion March 2016 — which feature more diversified events, than just the Hadiach Local History Museum on the need for creating a facility to March 2017 visiting places related to a writer. In order to and the Tiutiunnyk Brothers Museum attract more tourists. One of the project achieve the goal, we made attempts to consolidate exhibit arrangement in the village of achievements in the area of creative Project coordinator the resources provided by the local authorities, Shylivka), as well as overhauled the space provision was represented by Natalia Kiryachok entrepreneurs, creative union representatives, buildings with the help provided by the construction of Mykhailo Semenko volunteers and civil society organisations. local authorities; Pavilion in the village of Kibyntsi. The pavilion serves as a resting spot for We have concentrated our work on such historic or • Each of the project districts launched the tourists, as well as is underpinned cultural heritage facilities as museum houses, museum its creative workshops (regular-basis by an artistic concept related to the rooms, memorable places related to the lives and meetings) aimed at developing the writer’s name. We have invited some creative work of the prominent Ukrainian writers born travel routes, which were attended by renowned architects, writers and artists in Poltava Region, archives, eyewitnesses’ accounts, the NGO representatives, librarians, to contribute to the development of the as well as on the modern creative rethinking of writers and researchers. With reliance pavilion sketches. literary works. on some unimpeachable scientific facts, the workshops have developed in a Further on, as the work progressed, ever Project Contents creative manner some literary and local new exhibits appeared and ever new history travel routes, which fact has interesting facts from the writers’ lives • The project was kick started with some training served to attract some very first tourists, were coming to the surface, while a part events intended for the activists, which events and we have received quite a positive of the research is presented in a virtual were needed to formulate a common vision of the feedback on the work done. exhibit arrangement and has provided a project’s goals and objectives and to introduce to their basis for documentary dramas; participants some new activity forms in the sphere of By the way, at the beginning of cultural heritage conservation. The training sessions, our workshop activities it was not • The documentary dramas based workshops and seminars have served for the attendants always easy to reach a shared vision on the fellow-countryman writers’ originating from the three districts to obtain new of a literary travel route. One of the biographic facts represent, beyond any knowledge, as well as to close the ranks and form a workshop sessions has failed to come doubt, one of our major achievements. team of like-minded persons, who also now remain in to an agreement how the route sites Well-known playwrights and actors 166 Ukraine Project Stories 167

were invited to write and stage them. business infrastructure; and the guests Culture representatives The shows have been attended by are in need of creating for them some have provided their approximately three hundred people; opportunities to learn about their support in presenting we have received some encouraging fellow-countrymen’s heritage at the the travel routes, while feedback from the spectators, as well places, which are closely related to them. the business community as conducted a round of discussions representatives have after every show. It is important to note During a visit paid to the Polish NGOs granted their financial that the show casts included prominent active in the sphere of tourism and support to the initiatives actors and the local residents alike; cultural heritage conservation we have appearing in course of the found new partners, who cherish similar project implementation. • Ten videos have also been recorded values and are open to cooperation. As For instance, Zinkiv to focus on the biographies and creative is exemplified by individual facilities, District local authorities work of the fellow-countryman writers. in particular, the Kinokońkret coffee and business people The videos are characterised by a high house, we saw for ourselves how much have financed the signs quality level and have been presented an artistic transfiguration of a cultural and information plates at the travel routes, because video space means along with a detailed viewings represent a route component. concept elaboration from the very start The video recordings included the local and a subsequent compliance with historians, museum staff and university such a concept. Regretfully enough, in installed along the travel route, entitled: Grigory and teachers; and the Ukrainian realities we quite often Hryhor Tiutiunnyks — Along the Roads of Their Lives come to a halt after asking the question and Creative Work. Moreover, the Zinkiv Administration • Jointly with the workshop attendants, ‘How can it be done?’ Whereas the main had committed itself to financing the emigrant writers’ we have integrated in our work such issue is what we want to do and how it museum, which allowed us to expand this literary a form of work as the Talking Cafe. is going to work and develop. We have and local history travel route. Yet, the need arose for The form provides an opportunity visited some organisations, which are creating in this location one more Workshop. When to communicate in an informal active in the rural areas, in order to have developing the project, we assumed that we would environment and learn more on the an opportunity to apply what we saw in work with the materials related to the Tiutiunnyk personalities related to Poltava Region, our practical work. brothers, only, but were faced with the fact that we as well as to meet contemporary began working with a few more names of our fellow- authors. We expect these events to Organisational and Partner countryman writers. become a part of the travel routes and Network Development attract ever more tourists. We were joined by some activists representing other Now the literary tourism in the region districts, which have their memorable sites dedicated to Lessons Learned is on a rise. The events staged by fellow-countryman writers, too. Already now we provide museums or libraries are featured by a them with guidance and consultations and jointly We have seen the major problems and modern format and consolidate their prepare projects aimed at conservation of the regional tried to address them all along the communities. cultural heritage. The project team has created the project duration: the museum personnel website www.litmarshrut.ltava.org as a platform for lack knowledge on how to attracts We have succeeded in rallying the local the literary tourism business development in our region. tourists and interface with the public; communities around the literary heritage the community members are in need as a shared value for the cultural life, We have also developed a new project vision and of re-energising the cultural life and and the activities conducted by the its possible continuation. We have begun training creating a platform for educational local sponsors and a large number of guides from among the local historians to work on events; activists need an opportunity for volunteers involved serve to confirm the developed travel routes. We have plans underway personal fulfilment; the local authorities the fact. The local administrations have to train a core actor troupe and buy their costumes have made it a point to improve their pro-actively engaged in the project- for the theatrical sightseeing tours, which have been districts’ appearance and the travel related events, the local Department of particularly highly estimated by the visiting tourists. 168 Ukraine Project Stories 169

Project RIVNE REGION’S Contents WOODEN CHURCH • The purpose-oriented expeditions significance monuments of five more and chamber studies have contributed wooden churches. ARCHITECTURE: to an additional identification and PAST, PRESENT AND examination of more than 80 wooden For the first time in the region and, churches, which are of a historic and perhaps, on the national scale, we FUTURE cultural interest. More than 30 facilities have organised a dialogue among the among them display a high historic or clergy, local authorities’ representatives cultural value and quite deserve the and scholars on the issues related status of architectural monuments; to preserving the wooden churches’ authenticity; major recommendations • A critical element of the project have been drafted and articulated; and success was related to several topical the legal, architectural, artistic and “Institute of Ukrainian Context: artistic contests held: contest of structural aspects of church conservation Modernism” Civil The Issue Addressed by the Project children’s drawings Wooden Wonder, and restoration have been reviewed; and Society Organization which featured about 200 works The project has been dedicated to conservation of submitted by 184 children from all over • The issues related to church Location the wooden church building heritage created in our the region, photographic competition conservation have become a major City of Rivne and region between the 18th and the first third of the Instagram Churches (over 50 works) topic for discussion at the meetings of Rivne Region, Ukraine 20th century. Currently, Rivne Region has among its and contest of students’ wooden the Rivne Region Coordination Council sacral architecture facilities 36 national significance church designs to accommodate 100 for Cultural Heritage Protection set Implementation monuments and 124 local significance ones. However, parishioners; up under the auspices of the Regional period this is far from a complete list of the wooden Administration in July 2016. It includes April 2016 — churches, which still persist in the region. Apart from • We have held several outreach Petro Rychkiv, Director of the Institute March 2017 the threat of a natural time-related destruction, the seminars for clergy representatives of Ukrainian Modernism and Professor vital point is that all of these facilities are being used (their audience totalling 100 priests) of the Department of Architecture Project coordinators by religious communities, which, regretfully enough, and developed materials on the agenda and Environmental Design at the Petro Rychkiv, quite frequently practise repair or maintenance and approaches relevant to church National University of Water and Natalia Lushnikova operations with no appropriate professional guidance conservation, which were distributed Natural Resource Management and and supervision. The state services entrusted with among the priests at the seminars. Professor Olha Mykhailyshyn, Doctor cultural heritage preservation fail to perform properly The Institute of Ukrainian Modernism of Architecture, Chair of the same their functions. All of these factors result in a number members have prepared an online Department and Deputy Director of the of cases, when authentic works of the popular sacral map of the regional wooden churches Institute of Ukrainian Modernism. architecture are lost, and not infrequently these (accessible at: goo.gl/gvtDEX), which losses are irretrievable. contains information on more than 100 Challenges churches and will be updated as and Encountered by Us This is why the project objectives were: research, when new information appears; protection and promotion of the wooden church The dialogue conducted with the clergy heritage of Rivne Region, bringing the issue in a • A systematised catalogue, which deals representatives, as was to be expected, broader public focus and an appeal for a careful with the aggregate mass of the Rivne proved to be the most challenging part attitude to such sites. At the same time, the Region wooden sacral architecture, of the project. Nonetheless, we have implementers set for themselves some personal will have, in our opinion, the most succeeded in establishing relations with professional goals related to exploring the patrimony amplitudinous and long-term effect. the dioceses and the wooden churches’ and use of the research results in their scientific and We have also succeeded in initiating senior priests. The negative factor educational work. inclusion on the register of local was the project negation by certain 170 Ukraine Project Stories 171

clergy representatives (in particular, designs, which has become for us an and outcomes have been reflected are responsible for work among by the Sarny diocese of the Moscow unexpected circumstance. in mass media and are used in their the target groups: Department for Patriarchy’s Ukrainian Orthodox educational and research activities Construction and Architecture, Church). To evade a confrontation However, against all odds, within the by all the members of the Institute of Directorate for Education and Science, between representatives of the different process of our operations we have Ukrainian Modernism. and Directorate for Culture and patriarchies’ dioceses, we had to hold succeeded in enhancing our relations Tourism. A real support in preparation separate seminars (one joint seminar with our traditional partners (the We do believe that the major objectives for our events has been provided had been initially scheduled) for the National University of Water and set have been achieved. For us the by the diocesan administrations of priests belonging to the Kyiv and Natural Resource Management and the critically vital target audience was the Orthodox confession belonging Moscow Patriarchies. Rivne Region Local History Museum), represented by the Orthodox clergy to the two Patriarchies, by the as well as in extending our scientific representatives active at the wooden National University of Water and Further work has to be conducted links with the Rivne and Volyn Region churches as direct customers and Natural Resource Management (the with the clergy representatives with colleagues and in establishing some users of the wooden sacral building region’s largest higher educational some real support and regulation international contacts. As follows from heritage. Following the results of our establishment and the only one, granted from the state administration a report delivered by Professor Petro concerted efforts, both the public and which trains architects), by the agencies, search for common ground A. Rychkiv, Director of the Institute the clergy have perceived the project Rivne Region Local History Museum, among different target groups and of Ukrainian Modernism at the 3rd in a positive way. various civil society organisations generalisation of the situation in International Scientific Conference (Rivne Region Organisation of the respect of the issue, and, primarily, Colour-Culture-Science (Cracow, As the project-related events National Artists’ Union of Ukraine when performing repair and Poland, 23­–24 November 2016), the were implemented, the Institute and Rivne Region Organisation of maintenance operations. interest to the agenda does not exist in of Ukrainian Modernism has the Ukrainian Designers’ Union), Ukraine alone. methodically built its self-motivated individual representatives of the When preparing the catalogue, a and creative relations within the creative public (artists, photographic problematic aspect encountered during Summing-up framework of an implementer team. artists or architects), mass media our expeditions was the criminogenic These were mainly our organisation’s representatives, etc. situation in the northern parts of the And so the project has provided some members, who have scientific and region due to an illegal amber mining valuable information on the current organisational experiences. An We see as a possible and promising business and an unsatisfactory condition condition of the wooden churches in the essential role was also played by continuation of the project the move to of the highway infrastructure in the area. region, enriched us with new contacts an active support provided by the explore the wooden sacral architecture and attracted attention to the theme project’s interested partners, such at Volyn Region, which is of an Students have demonstrated a poor from various socially active groups as structural subdivisions of the equally great public interest and has a activity in preparing wooden church of the public. The project progress Regional State Administration which commeasurable researcher potential. 172 Ukraine Project Stories 173

the fact how imperfect our national repairs in the central part of the city, legislation in this sphere is. But also on polypropylene foam insulation WE ARE THE CITY another thing: in order to change of an individual apartment situated the situation drastically, one needs in a building constructed in the the will of the local authorities and functionalism style, illegal replacement willingness of specific persons. An ideal of old wooden window frames with “LIK” Association for Context: situation for a city or town is, when the new plastic ones in the downtown part Promotion of Culture Issues Addressed by the Project business interests of the “ruling elite” of the city et al., the issues have been and Education representatives coincide with the city or addressed, sometimes in a high-profile Any citizen is only too well aware that protection of town’s interests, with its development way for the local media environment. We Location the historic and cultural heritage is an area (at least, and conservation of the cultural have had an additional meeting with the Uzhgorod, Ukraine one would think so) of a narrow professional interest, heritage sites; civil servants to clarify provisions of the but extremely a high-profile one in terms of the Law on Protection of Cultural Heritage Implementation conflict risks involved. To be more exact, this is how • Beside a large number of personal and to reach an agreement on developing period it can be rightly perceived thanks to the rhetoric and meetings, we have taken part on a systemic approaches to window and April 2016 — communication style of the activists, who are known regular basis in the working groups door replacement in the historic part May 2017 by their tedious and gibberish lawsuits, histories of related to the cultural heritage agenda of the city; and judicial or administrative proceedings, memoranda and and all the contiguous issues and Project coordinator petitions. This is why one of the objectives behind our organised several round tables, which • We have done some work to amend Tetiana Smryha project was to use, when speaking about the heritage, combined presentations, best practices the Regulation on Signs in the City of an easy and intelligible language, which is clear to and animated communication with Uzhgorod. All the alterations have been everybody, in order to reach the hearts and minds of representatives of other cities and successfully approved by an Uzhgorod every resident, who quite often is remote from the towns. One of the crucial round table City Council session. After a conflict theme of cultural patrimony conservation. events featuring the local authority situation around a terrace along the representatives’ participation was used central pedestrian only street Corso, By the way, there is a lot to talk about. The situation to discuss how to set up within the local we are developing amendments to around Uzhgorod’s historic centre is a critical one. The authorities an effective mechanism the Regulation on Terraces and a new city is promptly losing its face, while the real efforts for the protection of the cultural Regulation on the Authority Entrusted made by the activists within the latest 10 years look no heritage sites, while another one was with Cultural Heritage Protection. We better than an attempt to patch up one’s makeup during entitled How to make money out of collaborate on a permanent basis with a thunderstorm. The cultural heritage issue is seen by cultural heritage; the representatives of the City Council, us as a bilateral one: there is no good will one behalf of Executive Committee and their profile the authorities, neither there is any understanding of it • Jointly with other NGOs and activists directorates or departments on the issues on behalf of the public. This is why the project consists we have organised an international related to cultural heritage protection of two big and interconnected blocks: the institutional seminar Old Town: Modern Development by trying to influence decisions made on one (working with the civil servants and competent Strategy, following the results of which tactical, as well as strategic problems. authorities) and the educational one (mass-scale our activists could be directly involved education among the residents of different ages and in the preparation process for the City In the educational block we have pursued work with the public opinion through the mass media Strategy development; an objective to modify our citizens’ channels). attitude to the cultural patrimony. • Work in the social media: our activists Wasteland begins in our minds, and it is Project Contents have written more than 20 posts on exactly there that creation begins, too. various issues of cultural heritage for In the institutional block: the Uzhgorod group (20,037 members • An Uzhgorodian’a School has become • Thanks to the permanent-basis consultations with in June 2017). Many of them were the most interesting, promising and lawyers and experts from other cities and towns on efficient. For example, following the attractive event. Having comprehended cultural heritage protection, we became aware of posts on the problems related to facade all the futility of the current activities 174 Ukraine Project Stories 175

Summing-up conducted by the activists, we have relevant Guidance Manual contains a The map contains data on the buildings Due to our participation in the CHOICE changed our tactics. No, Old Uzhgorod detailed description of every session, in Uzhgorod’s historic part: year of project, we have re-thought our activist cannot be redeemed, but we are capable supplementary materials and even a construction, architect, architectural tactics and strategy, while the available of bringing up a new generation of model diploma to be presented to a style, as well as a detailed article, if funding has streamlined our activities citizens, who just in 20 years or so will student completing the course. The ready by the period of time in question. to make them more concentrated and form the city environment, and, we course has been developed so that it Uzhgorod’s architectural map is of a systemic. would love to believe, will do so with can be led even by a person who is not a special value for the city, because no affection and respect of its history and a professional architect, for example, by a profound research into the architectural The institutional block has required rational approach to its current needs. school teacher; heritage has been carried out here so from us massive efforts, but its results far, and most buildings even lack their turned to be much more modest than To captivate children’s attention with • We have held some guidance seminars certificates. We have plans underway we would like to have had. Probably, we sophisticated topics of architecture or for school teachers and were inspired to provide on the map some detailed have set for ourselves the objectives, urban planning, we have determined by the fact that many participants information on every historic building. which proved to be overly ambitious. It is the basic principles for the training seemed to be sincerely interested in the hard to change anything faced by a bulky sessions: the form of a game, voluntary project. A few schools have invited us to and cohesive system, which pursues a participation and respect to every conduct our sessions in autumn, while different set of objectives. participant. When testing some of others were going to conduct them all by our creative ideas or approaches to themselves; Yet, the educational block was very information delivery on various groups successful. Dozens of publications on of children, we came to a conclusion that • Street exhibitions. Uzhgorod is the local and national news websites, we were short of competences, although Ukraine’s only city with whole surviving interviews and live coverage on TV and the external result was seemingly modernist neighbourhoods dating radio and hundreds of likes and reposts excellent. The kids and their parents back to the 1930’s, including buildings on social media serve to confirm it. It were enthusiastic about the sessions designed by renowned European has become voguish to write and speak and insisted on their continuation, architects, original planning, landscape about cultural heritage preservation. We whereas we well understood that that gardening, paving block design and even are glad that the reason for it has been a set of segmentary data provided to interior details. This is why our first provided by other people’s work, as well as the children through games and plays exhibition within the project framework by our efforts. We are also glad that during was not our ambition at all. One more was entitled Uzhgorod Inter-War Period a strategic session (capacity-building challenge was that pedagogues have (1919–1939). An open-space exhibition, event within the project framework) we little knack for architecture or urban which is accessible for several months, have succeeded in bringing together all planning, while architects are unable of is a guarantee of interest for passers-by the cultural organisations and activists, handling groups of children or forming and publicity. The feedback I remember many of whom share our values and an educational product; the best was as follows: Look, this is my help us in our projects, something we house, is it valuable, too? appreciate very much. • This is why we invited some specialists, who for many a year held • Educational materials. When working During the year our project We Are the Children’s Architecture School on the project website we used to the City lasted, our team experienced in Kharkiv and represent the Critical argue a lot how to make it relevant all kinds of things. And it has become Thinking CSO headed by Bohdan and valuable for as many city residents stronger. Certainly, it is not possible to Volynskyi. They have conducted in as possible for a long span of time. change a critical situation within a year. Uzhgorod a magnificent 2-day workshop. In this way we developed an idea to However, now we are sure that as a part We have discussed our needs and, as create an interactive map of Uzhgorod’s of the civil society we are in a position a result, the Children’s Architecture architectural history uzh.city. Its to influence it. Probably, we shall not School people prepared a holistic course basis was provided by the Uzhgorod succeed in preserving the Old Town, but made up of 10 sessions for children modernism map, which we have also we shall for sure succeed in preserving aged between 8 and 14 years. The printed within the project framework. its memories and information. 176 Ukraine Project Stories 177

What CHOICE Has Given and How it is Remembered in CHOICE TEACHES Starokostiantyniv TO BE However, during CHOICE’s consulting Socio-cultural projects marketing FAMOUS and educational support, we did not became a separate topic. We began stop our project activity — we continued conceptualizing our niche in the sector our work aimed at actualizing the of public and cultural work and spent Castle as a symbol of the town and a a lot of time to the planning of the resource of its cultural development positioning of our organization and the and positioning. The organizational strategy of communication work with development program we worked different partners. out together with the adviser Yulia “Starokostiantyniv Golodnikova helped us much to correct An adjacent topic was the strategy of Non-Indifferent” some approaches chosen before. informational work (and everything Civil Society connected to PR) and campaigns Organization We began with basic management in of civic participation. We became the public sector and qualitatively aware of methods of how to lobby Location changed our perceptions of the community’s interests and to Starokostiantyniv organizational structures and understand advocacy campaigns as management models, the importance a method of achieving our purposes. Implementation of corporate culture and its basic Also, we studied the methodology of period Context elements; for the first time we carrying out public hearings and how April 2016 — systematically studied cultural to beneficially use public relations of April 2017 The town of Starokostiantyniv is a small regional policy methods and the way they are power, sponsors, and political parties. center in the Khmelnytskyi Region, Ukraine. However, implemented (or not) in Ukraine. Project coordinator despite its small size, the town has a big history, to We had discussions about threats We developed several documents Serhiy Khudyi popularize which among a maximally considerable of “sharovarshchina” (the Soviet that help us build all our activity number of people was the initial task of our public understanding of culture as an consistently: the strategic plan for organization’s participation in CHOICE. unequivocally archaic sphere of three years and fundraising and people’s life) and how culture can communication strategies that are The historical highlight of the town is Kanstancin become an inoculation against Russia’s published in the form of brochures and Astrozski's Castle, the outstanding figure in the Grand propaganda. Also, we learned the are accessible to our colleagues and Duchy of Lithuania (Ukraine was part of it) in the 16th general principles of how to form adherents in the town. century. With the help of this outstanding historical historical memory and innovative and architectural monument, we planned to change techniques of how to attract society Risks management methods and how local residents’ attitude to their own cultural heritage to patriotic projects. During the to decrease their possible negative and public work as such, as well as to receive personal class called “Symbolical space of consequences are still a difficult and experience of project management and to study best a town from imperial times to the ambiguous zone for us. Some big sets practices of other public organizations in the country present day: socio-cultural changes of daily work (such as the monitoring and abroad. (memory and a monument; toponymy of cultural projects and corresponding of town streets)”, we outlined a cases from foreign experience) Possibly, we overestimated our possibilities as our field of problems concerning the meanwhile remain uncovered. basic project was not selected, which made us reflect decommunization of Starokostiantyniv on its more detailed study. However, CHOICE gave us and designated the role of public We are proud very much of the prepared a chance to work on our organizational potential, and initiatives in the popularization of local and implemented trainings and we used this possibility to the full! cultural heritage. involved experts: 178 Ukraine Project Stories 179

Effects

• Yulia Zabaldina — expert in strategic All educational meetings benefited initiatives were launched. As a result of As a whole, such a long enough, planning, expert in marketing, not only us, but also invited adherents one of them, the town managed to carry educational and communicational candidate of economic sciences, senior from the local community and our out a big medieval festival in August program with external professionals lecturer of the Tourism and Recreation partner relations with them. At the 2017. Now we think of the necessity to has given us huge confidence in the Department of Kyiv National Trade and local level, we managed to present keep studying methods of interaction correctness of our organization’s Economic University, participant of ourselves as active players, to interest with stakeholders. actions and pleasure from personal working groups to create the strategy of and convince people of the necessity acquaintance with such a big number tourism development and the concept of some cultural transformations to be Thanks to the project, it was possible of people who understand the role of the tourism development program in implemented by forces of civil society. to build contacts with many colleagues of culture in society’s positive Ukraine; We also considerably raised our social from Belarus, Moldova, and Armenia. transformations at all levels. Using capital, having managed to involve We have established partner relations these supporting resources, we are ready • Yulia Golodnikova — expert in new members in our team and to draw with the public organizations to widen a range of our achievements in PR communications, trainer of attention of power and business. “Kremenets Environmental League”, new, more essential projects. organizational development, social “Krai”, “Institute of Ukrainian psychologist, curator of educational E.g. some representatives of business Modernism”, “Touristic Association and cultural projects and public became one of the parties who actively of Ukraine”, “Participants of the organization programs of the helped our work — they shared their Antiterrorist Operation from the Informational-Research Center vision of problems and offered their town of Starokostiantyniv”, the “Integration and Development”; initiatives. Local deputies and other informational-research center representatives of power participated “Integration and Development” and the • Oksana Levkova — chairperson of in our actions/events. Even the Cultural Management Center. the board of the all-Ukrainian public departments of culture of the town and organization “Do not be indifferent!”, regional administrations were active The seminars within the framework member of the public council at the and prepared several applications to of CHOICE in Lviv and Chisinau were Ministry of Culture of Ukraine within participate in other projects similar very useful — they allowed us to get the scope of the program “Culture to ours. acquainted and to share experience Weapons” and in the same place — the with many other participants. Constant coordination council concerning the use However, the contacts we initiated discussions inside the organization of the Ukrainian language in all spheres with the authorities were not fruitful at have taught us to seek for a general of public life of the country, expert of once. At first sight, we did not change point of view. the EU project “Cultural Code of the their passive position, but then in the Eastern Partnership”. cultural life of our town several big 180 Organizational Capacity Development 181

ORGANIZATIONAL These organizations are aimed developing objects of heritage is very at solving step by step, project seldom allotted through channels CAPACITY by project a whole complex of civil society. of problems described in DEVELOPMENT the “Heritage” chapter, which The cultural heritage sphere requires serious intellectual, demands sooner or later from human capital and adequate organizations to reach the organizational forms. level of communication with those who make decisions, While the work with cultural Here, it is necessary to mark that as well as to influence local REFLECTIONS heritage is important, the main the environment specificity in the or national policies. At the OF THE CHOICE objective of the CHOICE project project’s countries is characterized beginning of the CHOICE is to develop civil society by a number of negative factors that project, we observed a quite PROJECT organizations that deal with affect to some extent the efficiency low or technical (more often — ORGANIZERS this topic. of civil society organizations’ without attempts to come to activity. The organizations that the level of influencing policies) work with questions of culture level of interaction with other and historical-cultural heritage stakeholders — authorities, have a rather weak level of social business community, mass acknowledgment and social capital media, and other similar — in many respects because of a organizations. high risk of conflicts in this field of activity. The available resources to develop the project activity of such However, there have been some organizations inside the countries positive factors of the environment are very limited. Target groups are for the development of the most often insolvent (in general, the organizations in this sphere, too. majority of such organizations work It is especially important that in with different and changing social all four countries the public have groups, depending on specificities paid much attention to the topic of projects or public campaigns); and problems of national identity, there are difficulties with the finding particularly in the light of the of partners and the forming of recent acute regional conflicts, and cooperation with them; budgetary that various public institutions funds, as a rule, are inaccessible. have got interested in projects As a result, projects depend to a and events/actions in the field of considerable degree on international historical and cultural heritage, i.e. donors’ external support. At the the organizations now have more same time, international support possibilities to cover wider audiences to projects aimed at preserving and and to receive public support. 182 Organizational Capacity Development 183

At the initial stage of the project, Materials of these meetings possibility to implement projects PRELIMINARY the most of organizations selected made it possible to understand in the sphere of their interest; the EVALUATION to participate in the CHOICE the current state of affairs in prospect of their own development OF project had their Organizational these organizations, to find was not considered by them as Capacity Assessment (OCA) carried out their human potential, and a possible effect. Thus, in their ORGANIZATIONS out by an external expert. For the to understand the problems projects, they were more interested CHOICE team, the OCA served as faced by these organizations of in a creative process, instead of additional research of needs of the the cultural sphere. results of their efforts. sector, while the participants had a chance to evaluate critically their What was this state of affairs prior In other cases, the organizations own organizational structure and to the beginning of the project? wanted to make some concrete efficiency. The following basic problems in product of activity that depended management and organizational directly on them (e.g. to prepare In Belarus, assessors used a special development were noticed: information materials concerning methodology and an evaluation this or that object of heritages), tool of IMACON1 projects • Many organizations — CHOICE but paid not enough attention developed earlier for civil society participants were actual or to the process itself and organizations of our region and potential representatives of especially to the involving of proposed them to assessors from creative industries. They had rather other stakeholders and local other countries of the CHOICE an amorphous organizational communities, without which project. structure, being communities or essential changes in the field temporary creative teams that of revitalizing cultural heritage Assessors visited each local gather for this or that creative in the long run are impossible. organization and had talks with project. It attests want of a holistic and its management, volunteers, and system approach to questions of potential basic team of a future Another special form of the heritage and its place in the life project. organizations-participants was of local communities, the absence professional associations that of tradition/culture of peer-to-peer During the evaluation, the unite people aimed at, first of all, partnership, excessive competition following questions were preserving heritage. (frequently not constructive) discussed: the organizational between non-governmental structure of an initiative or an Many organizations were small local organizations and local authorities. organization, the practice of initiatives, without any previous managing projects and strategic experience of implementing • Questions of management planning, the condition of financial projects and receiving any and activity planning in such management and fundraising; international financing. organizations are traditionally in PR and communication; existing the zone of minor attention. In such 1 S. V. Gotin, U. U. Vialicka. Model IMACON: partner relations, participation in • For the organizations, the basic organizations, as a rule, there are evaluation of project design, monitoring, professional networks, attraction of motivation of their participation no staff able to rather professionally organizational development. — Vilnius: UAB "Petro Ofsetas", 2013 volunteers. in the CHOICE program was a carry out project activity, to manage 184 Organizational Capacity Development 185

finances, other people, to build sponsor), not especially caring of external contacts systematically, etc. their purposes and interests. WHAT HAS CHANGED THANKS TO • There are no developed • Unlike quite tangible “products” PARTICIPATION IN organizational procedures and of an organization, effects and systems of decision-making; the changes thanks to its activity THE CHOICE PROGRAM organizations are often ruled by sometimes have an unpredictable one leader. A change of the leader\ and uncontrollable character; head often leads to the stagnation sustainability and repeatability of or even collapse (temporary or results is problematic. Here, it is possible to speak about implement projects. As a result, constant) of their activity. There is the general for all the countries their work has become more usually a club form of organization, On the basis of the first diagnostics, effects and about the specificity effective: more things began to be a bit anarchical management we planned our following actions, of growth, characteristic for each done by a smaller number of people. style, as well as a high degree of namely — consultations on separate country. The specificity of In some organizations, there influence of personal relations organizational development, Belarus, for example, has revealed appeared an accurate structure, between the involved people on the actions/events on organizational such a result as the organization purposes became clear, and values organization’s activity. changes (strategic sessions, registration (in various legal were determined. It is necessary to solutions of problem situations, forms, in Belarus, within the specially mark the effect of projects • The organizations of this sphere partners’ visits, etc.), support framework of CHOICE, three for the development of volunteering often have an objective internal to creative projects of CHOICE initiatives did receive their official in organizations and communities. contradiction between “creative” participants, as well as developed registration, and it required really and “management” approaches. The the contents of international serious efforts). A sign that the organizations atmosphere in an organizations and workshops, monitoring and club are developing is conflicts its efficiency depend on the way this meetings, public discussions, and an As for the general for all the accompanying this process. Within contradiction is solved. international forum. countries effects — according to the framework of the program, we evaluations of the participants have observed conflicts of growth • It was possible to note a rather themselves and the objective inside the organizations, including weak vision of representatives of data, we can say that almost the fact that some people have the organizations and initiatives of all organizations have become left the organizations (because the future of their activity further stronger in a considerable or very of their different targets and than outside of their current tasks. considerable degree. values) and new collectives have They were not willing to enter appeared. There were also cases any activity at the policy level, did To substantiate this statement, of conflicts with stakeholders of not want to interact with other we can say the following: local projects — local authorities, organizations and to build any joint church organizations, as well as a agenda with them. 1. The organizations have improved part of a community — basically their skills in project management due to political or axiological bases. • Conformism is quite widespread: as they were compelled to If they were solved, these conflicts they look very technically at donor reform one way or another their allowed the organizations to find structures (as if at an investor or management system in order to a new vector of development, to 186 Organizational Capacity Development 187

grow, to gain experience, and to to receive the knowledge and skills 4. The organizations’ potential of those from other countries, has implement projects in a more viable of organizing situations of political participating in policy has grown helped the organizations to and sometimes innovative kind. dialogue and to carry out functions thanks to the building of contacts make projects at a much higher In some cases, conflicts were left of civil control in the heritage and partner connections. The professional level. Interdisciplinary without being solved. In this case, sphere, only several organizations spectrum of organizations, which and cross-sector projects (for there was no visible growth of an have marked it as their full-fledged are mentioned as recently gained example, on digitalization) would organization, although creative achievement. Prior to the beginning partners, is very wide and far not be possible without such projects were carried out. of the project, the majority beyond the actually four countries cooperation. of organizations — CHOICE of the Eastern Partnership that were Almost all the organizations participants did not basically the basic partners in this project. We can mention at least three have used the project within the consider their influence on public These are partnerships with other types of new partners: other framework of CHOICE to begin politics as their field of activity organizations within the framework organizations-participants of the more systematic activities and and in the course of the project of CHOICE, with other civil society CHOICE project (both inside the continued their work on the chosen implementation they improved organizations, cooperation with country and the region), a new topic after the termination of their their positions in this direction business structures, interaction circle of stakeholders and partners local projects. only to a certain degree. In order with state structures and local of the organization itself, which to reach some serious political authorities. The overwhelming appeared as a reaction to better 2. The organizations — CHOICE level, local organizations need majority of CHOICE participants project activities and innovative participants have strengthened more time and efforts. Still, the have marked the development products, and consultants, trainers, their resource base; some of them project, obviously, was a very good of their international contacts technologists, designers, IT have bought the necessary office base to continue this work in the both inside the CHOICE network experts, even philosophers whose equipment they will keep using. future and to create corresponding and with organizations and competences were claimed by the Many organizations have had networks and coalitions. Many professionals from the EU countries. organizations. successful additional fundraising organizations have received or transferred to more sustainable their first serious experience The CHOICE participants have 6. One more obvious result is models of work, having found out of participating in the policy formed an informal network, the improvement of the external solvent demand for their products. concerning heritage in the form of through which they have continued positioning of the majority of the Many participants of the project negotiations and consultations with to share experiences and ideas, to organizations, the improvement of from Ukraine and Moldova have representatives of local authorities. discuss joint initiatives. their image, and the strengthening learned to involve in projects local They began to understand better of relations with target groups. financing, local business, and in how to use cultural heritage for 5. Regular contacts and acquisition The organizations connect this some cases — means from the local the development of their towns of experience of teamwork with success in a greater degree with budget. In a number of projects, we and that the correct use can help other professionals from the sphere their projects rather than with observed the start of new practices them to preserve it better. It is of culture or other fields of activity educational and consulting actions/ (crowdfunding/crowdsourcing, especially necessary to mention can be considered successful. The events. Almost all organizations- volunteering, pro-active practices the received practical experience overwhelming majority of the participants if have not created, of work). and skills to overcome and to solve organizations have noticed in their then have considerably improved local conflicts that are inevitable reports and polls that they managed their web-sites. The attendance of 3. In spite of the fact that the most and integral part of the work with to achieve it thanks to CHOICE. these sites has grown; partnerships desirable result of the project was cultural-historical heritage. The assistance of experts, including with TV and radio stations, the 188 Organizational Capacity Development 189

press have been established. have raised their self-concept Having received a powerful advance their activity and to build The organizations became more and become more self-confident, impulse in their development relations with the public. recognized in their cities thanks to and some people have become thanks to the project, a number campaigns in the mass media and or improved as leaders/heads. of the organizations have joined A challenge for everybody active work with local residents. They received an opportunity to the communication with other and, probably, a uniting There is a growth of a number implement an important for them actors, with professionals from task is systematized and of publications, mentions in the creative idea and as a result — the sphere of cultural heritage. coordinated work with the mass media, including the national motivation to new actions and Intensive communication at available potential resources level, as well as proposals of local creative projects, being inspired by international thematic seminars, for projects in the field administrations to cooperate or the idea of preserving historical and other regular meetings, and mutual of culture and to provide expertise; high interest cultural heritage. Some participants aid have helped to consolidate the cultural heritage. in social networks, recognition in managed to use the projects community of the organizations local areas. to increase their competences in this sector of activity and have Pro-active international in fields of activity that were brought them to the necessity of cooperation and new international 7. Practically all organizations now new to them (IT technology, PR working out a general program of projects in the region (involving comprehend the importance of their and communication, financial actions. CHOICE participants, as Georgia and Azerbaijan as well) and work. In many respects, it happened management, etc.). well as the program as a whole, with the neighboring countries from thanks to the visible and vivid began to be positioned more the European Union (especially product of the project activity and 9. At last, already now we can actively on platforms for cultural such as Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, the appearance of preconditions see some effects the CHOICE actors in their countries and Romania, Bulgaria, and Italy) for bigger sustainability of project project has caused at the level of showed their readiness to advance can give the organizations new results. Many organizations have the community of civil society their achievements and interests resources, new practices, new ideas, said that they have made within the organizations in the four countries at the international (first of all — as well as possibilities to share their framework of the CHOICE one of and in the region as a whole. regional) level. achievements. their best projects. First of all, CHOICE has given a What further possible steps and It is obvious that it is necessary 8. It is necessary to mark people’s chance to include in the actual recommendations for the future do to keep strengthening network considerable personal development work aimed at preserving cultural we see for the development of the relations by developing and as a result of their participation in heritage small organizations from potential of the organizations in the discussing the joint agenda the CHOICE project. Participants regions which mission is to support sphere of heritage? of organizations — CHOICE of the project say how strongly the development of culture, but participants, as well as to keep the project has influenced them which had no possibility before On the basis of reflections on the involving a wider range of partners. personally and mark that they have to implement such projects. The received experiences and stories Probably, we should create and received big competences in the help of highly skilled international of changes received during the develop a general coordinating field of heritage and culture, have experts and participation in project two-year existence of the CHOICE platform for the organizations received a better understanding actions gave these organizations a program, it is necessary to develop from the sector of historical and of the device of the organization new understanding of the contents a new set of educational services cultural heritage of the Eastern and ways of its development, of cultural heritage, as well as tools and communicative practices. The Partnership region. have expanded their own circle and concepts that are necessary for organizations need long-term and of contacts and connections, the work in this sphere. systematic consultations on how to 190 Cultural Heritage: Recommendations 191

CULTURAL HERITAGE: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP REGION

With all diversity of the Eastern Partnership The work with cultural heritage vacuum in this knowledge is CONTEXT countries, they still have a lot of common in the EaP countries creates wide being filled with Russian sources AND TASKS features that form a separate region. It has to do opportunities in the work with the of information, which leads to not only with their historical links of old time solution of the questions mentioned the inadequate understanding and the recent Soviet past, but also with similar above. In the regional dimension, in of societies of the EaP countries. contemporary problems of development. The the cultural heritage sphere, we see Cultural heritage is the area where questions of de-Sovietization, completion of several common tasks. First, cultural mutual information exchanges and building national institutions of independent heritage and the activity connected cooperation can result in a deeper states and rapprochement with the space with it can be a significant source understanding between our peoples. of today’s European norms and regulation of sustainable social and economic standards in a wide spectrum of areas are development. Second, cultural topical for all EaP countries. In its turn, the heritage is one of significant factors Eastern Partnership, being an initiative of the of the national construction and European Union, spurs the solution of these formation of national identity. tasks inasmuch as the countries themselves Third, cultural heritage can become are ready to accept such help and to share the a factor of strengthening the general European values and purposes. For the coherence of the region and a factor years of the existence of the EaP initiative, its of work with regional identity. multilateral dimension has been connecting A considerable potential of the the six partner countries together within Eastern Partnership’s development the framework of many joint initiatives and is in the development of horizontal promoting the incipience and strengthening of connections between the partner the understanding of the Eastern Partnership countries in the fields of economy, as a conjunct region. Substantially, this process politics, safety, and contacts has also been influenced by the geopolitical between people. Culture is able to frictions and challenges caused by Eurasian create a basis for such cooperation integration and Russia’s neo-imperial as it is the richest source of ambitions, which results in coordinated receiving mutual knowledge of opposition to this external pressure. each other. Today, the information 192 Cultural Heritage: Recommendations 193

GENERAL QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS

In the field of work with cultural The national policy various problems. There is a quite including tax privileges for sponsors heritage, the EaP countries face a in the cultural heritage field good level of technical preparation and philanthropists. The state number of general questions and of laws, but in some cases they policy is poorly connected with problems. In all the analyzed EaP countries remain “dead” documents without requirements of inhabitants at local (Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, and any practical application. Law levels; heritage is not included in Ukraine), the national policy enforcement practice faces the the practice of plans and strategies in the field of cultural heritage absence of necessary personnel, lack of local development. borrows many features, forms, of financial resources (especially and regulation approaches, at the level of local authorities and Social perception which are incident to the Soviet cultural establishments), gaps or of cultural heritage period. First of all, it is expressed restrictions in the use of foreign in the state’s domination in the financing and sponsors’ support, Both in civil society and in formulation and implementation and the weak level of management approaches of the basic operating of the national policy in at local levels. actors (the state, experts, civil the field of cultural heritage. society organizations, and local Other stakeholders’ inclusion Practically in all the countries, communities), the “narrow sight” is fragmentary, inconsistent, governmental programs have of cultural heritage is dominating. and isoften accompanied by mutual a formalistic approach to the The latter is perceived as a set of distrust between different subjects. preservation and development material and non-material values The centralized policy in the of cultural heritage, do not that have to be protected. Heritage field of culture is often burdened consider any possibilities is not considered as a potential with ideological approaches that of cooperation with local source of social and economic can create dividing lines and communities and non-state development; its potential of actual conflicts between various groups organizations, pay not enough use is underestimated. The socio- of society (the cases of Belarus attention to the returning of cultural component of heritage, and Armenia). cultural heritage to the actual the way it is reflected in public use, and do not consider its consciousness, is practically not paid As a whole, the legislations in social component. attention to. The aspect of involving the cultural heritage field of all local communities in the work with the countries is generated and Additionally, it is possible to heritage does not receive proper evaluated positively. At the same mention the absence of any attention, and therefore — objects time, at the level of implementing favorable investment climate and of cultural heritage remain excluded these laws, there is a whole set of support to private initiatives, from processes of contemporary 194 Cultural Heritage: Recommendations 195

sustainable utilitarian use. The Contributions of civil society participating in the decision-making process or practice of working with cultural organizations and the local the pro-active launch of new initiatives are not heritage is, in many respects, population are not less important perceived by the population as priority. conservative and poorly involves as they can involve the considerable contemporary innovative approaches resources of volunteering, It is also possible to mention the problems of in the work with heritage. crowdfunding and crowdsourcing. mistrust of public organizations to state bodies, the absence of consistency and coordination Cultural heritage in the EaP Civil society of actions in the cultural heritage preservation countries frequently remains a and local communities sphere between public actors; restrictive conflict area; there are constant practices of the state concerning the conditions wrangles of various public groups. Civil society in the cultural of developing and participating of civil society in In particular, the recent heritage heritage sector is a subject with decision-making. of the Soviet period needs to be huge potential, and the policy reconsidered and reinterpreted. It formation “from below”, from the During the implementation of the CHOICE leads to the necessity of developing local population level, provides its GENERAL project, it was possible to work out several mechanisms of public dialogue, bigger stability. At the same time, APPROACHES common principles that can help to solve some mediation, and resolution of there are many problems with the TO THE problems mentioned above. We believe that conflicts in the field of heritage. participation of civil society and network projects like CHOICE, governmental local communities in decision- SOLUTION programs, and EU programs in the field of culture Infrastructure making and with the actual level OF and cultural heritage can win if they are based on: of civil society organizations’ PROBLEMS Besides the widespread problems competences in management of • innovations and contemporaneity in the with the insufficient financing projects in the sphere of culture. implementation of projects and programs in of the work with heritage at the Even in the presence of possibilities the field of cultural heritage; national and especially local of participation in acceptance • attention to the social component in levels, in all the countries there are of state decisions, possibilities the work with heritage (including the problems with qualified personnel of submitting offers and participation of civil society and local in the cultural heritage sphere. recommendations from the public communities in decision-making and the It is necessary to support the (for example, in Moldova), such work with heritage); development of personnel potential proposals from civil society may not • localization and maximum approximation with the help of special programs correspond to the required quality of the work with cultural heritage to local (for example — Twinning) and level. Projects like CHOICE, as well strategies of development and requirements formal and informal education. as other international programs of local communities; focused on local communities, have • use of the potential of regional cooperation The question of the lack of financial shown that local communities can between the EaP countries. resources can be solved by creating be extremely inert and opened more acceptable conditions for enough to participate and to see “About Heritage: The scheme of four components: “action” — state-private partnership, private be involved. This ambivalence the contents of the notion “infrastructure” — “reflection” — “presentation” and the meaning of investments, and business in the demonstrates once again that our work with it” can become the implementation principles of the sphere of the work with heritage. questions of the importance of project activity in the field of cultural heritage. 196 Cultural Heritage: Recommendations 197

RECOMMENDATIONS

For civil society of the EaP countries and the EU:

In order to change the policy in the potential of private business possibilities in the work with • It is necessary to enlarge field of cultural heritage in the EaP and investments in the cultural heritage. programs aimed at developing countries, we can present several heritage sphere, it is necessary • In the countries, there is not the management potential of concrete recommendations for to use more widely mechanisms enough or even practically civil society organizations. different groups of subjects: of state-private partnership, no vocational training in the • It is important to raise sponsorship; to create field of heritage; those who awareness of civil society at For state bodies preferential terms for business receive education adjacent all its levels about problems of the EaP countries: in the heritage sphere. to the heritage sector do of preserving material and • The national policy in the not stay in this sector non-material heritage. Such • In the national policy and field of heritage will become because of low salaries and campaigns are especially national programs in the more efficient if to develop the absence of prospects of needed in the work with cultural heritage sphere, it and support cross-sector professional growth; therefore, local authorities and local is necessary to have a wider dialogue and cooperation it is necessary to develop communities. understanding of cultural (national authorities — local components of corresponding • Advancement of education in heritage, including the authorities — NGOs, NGOs — education in formal and the field of cultural heritage and advancement and development local authorities — private informal sectors. cultural landscapes. of the economic potential business, etc.). • Distribution of best of cultural heritage, as well • It is necessary to include the practices received during the as its value as a factor of understanding of culture implementation of projects developing local territories and and cultural resources as a of the CHOICE program, in communities. strategically important area for particular — the experience of • The national policy and law sustainable development and involving younger generations. enforcement practice should inclusive economic growth in • To increase the awareness of try to expand civil society’s strategic documents of national local communities about the participation in decision- governments. importance of their participation making in the field of cultural • It is possible to stimulate in decision-making processes heritage at all levels. more vigorous activity in the by means of civil society’s • It is necessary to promote and field of heritage by creating projects aimed at revealing widen the participation of national financial mechanisms features of cultural heritage, local communities and local (foundations, awards, etc.) in which characterize vividly this population in the work aimed the field of cultural heritage. territory and underline the local at revitalizing and preserving • It is necessary to expand community’s responsibility for cultural heritage. powers of local authorities, the protection and preservation • In order to involve more the their personnel and financial of this heritage. 198 Cultural Heritage: Recommendations 199

In the European Union, important component of the EU information the year 2018 is declared strategy, a means of struggling against a year of cultural heritage, propaganda, a factor of strengthening regional identity in the Eastern Partnership, and it is symbolically important a basis for stronger connections of the EaP to use it to involve more countries among themselves and with the the EaP countries European Union. • It is necessary to support the tools of in the cooperation with the EU regional cooperation and exchange of best in this field practices in the field of heritage, to stimulate horizontal cooperation (networking) between the EaP countries at the level of civil society, educational institutions, cultural establishments, local authorities, and national governments. • It is expedient to support the development of mechanisms of multilateral dialogue and cross-sector cooperation in the EaP countries with the participation of EU representatives, the EU’s target programs in the field of culture, European agencies and cultural establishments. • It is important to dilate the tools of the For the European Union “Creative Europe” program for the EaP and EU programs: region. • In the EU’s programs for the EaP region, • The year of cultural heritage • It is important to reach bigger including the programs of trans-border and can be the best time to widen coherence and coordination territorial cooperation, it is necessary to the representation of joint of the EU policy in the field of use wider treatment of the notion “cultural European identity and culture culture and cultural heritage heritage”. In actual programs, cultural in the EaP countries, mutual with the EU’s topical programs heritage is sometimes linked only to its enrichment and deepening of and priorities in the EaP separate components (e.g. traditional crafts), the understanding of cultural region. In particular — the work which limits the potential of its use and the heritage of Europe. with culture can become an space for project activity in this branch. 200 201

ANNEX

International and national International legislation regulating policies documents in the sector • UNESCO: Convention Conclusions on Participatory of cultural heritage Concerning the Protection of Governance of Cultural Heritage the World Cultural and Natural (2014) Heritage (1972) • European Commission: • ICOMOS: Charter on the Communication Towards an Built Vernacular Heritage Integrated Approach to Cultural (International Committee for Heritage for Europe (2014) Vernacular Architecture, 1999) • World Heritage Committee: • Council of Europe: European Operational Guidelines for Landscape Convention (2000) the Implementation of the • ICOMOS: Nizhny Tagil Charter World Heritage Convention for the Industrial Heritage (2016 edition) (2003) • Intergovernmental Committee • UNESCO: Convention for the for the Safeguarding of Safeguarding of the Intangible Intangible Cultural Heritage: Cultural Heritage (2003) Operational Directives for • Council of Europe: Framework the implementation of the Convention on the Value of Convention for the Safeguarding Cultural Heritage for Society. of the Intangible Heritage Faro Convention (2005) (2016 edition) • ICCROM: Riga Charter on Authenticity and Historical National documents Reconstruction in Relationship of the Republic of Armenia to Cultural Heritage (2005) • ICOMOS: Valletta Principles • The Constitution of the for the Safeguarding and Republic of Armenia (1995) Management of Historic Cities, • The Law of the Republic of Towns and Urban Areas (2011) Armenia “On Protection and • Council of the European Use of Historical and Cultural Union: Conclusions on Cultural immovable Monuments and of Heritage as a Strategic Resource Historical Environment” (1998) for a Sustainable Europe (2014) • The Law of the Republic of • Council of the European Union: Armenia “On State-owned, 202 203

Historical and Cultural Historical and Cultural Heritage for the acquisition of museum National documents Immovable Monuments non of the Republic of Belarus” funds” (2007) of the Republic of Moldova subject to Alienation” (2003) (2006) • Instruction “On the • The Law of the Republic • Regulations of Council of composition, procedure for the • Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Cultural Ministers “On the Belarusian development and approval of of Moldova “On the Protection Legislation Principles” (2009) Republican Scientific and projects for protection zones for of Monuments” (1993) • The Criteria for the recognition Methodological Council for immovable material historical • Law of the Republic of Moldova of cultural spaces in the Historical and Cultural Heritage and cultural values” ​(2007) “On Culture” (1999) Republic of Armenia and the for the Ministry of Culture” • Instruction “On the procedure • Law of the Republic of Moldova • Government’s approval N ­241-N, (2006) for certain actions with regard “On Museums” (2002), on the Statement of the list of • Regulations of Council of to historical and cultural developed with draft Law cultural spaces (2012) Ministers “On the procedure for values” ​​(2007) “On Museums” (2017) • The Government’s Decision maintaining the State List of • Presidential Decree “On the • Law of the Republic of Moldova “On the Regulations of Historical and Cultural Values ​​ procedure for valuation of “On Folk Crafts” (2003) Creation of an Electronic of the Republic of Belarus” cultural property” (2007) • Regulation “On Registration Database on Cultural Values (2006) • Instruction “On the accounting and Preservation of Mobile and the Statement of the List of • Regulations of Council of and inventory of the values ​​of Cultural Heritage” (2003) Organizations Issuing Database Ministers “On the procedure the cultural and historical fund” • Law of the Republic of Moldova Information” (2014) for the formation of the Bank (2008) “On Cinema” (2004) of information on the historical • Resolution of the Council of • Law of the Republic of National documents and cultural heritage of the Ministers “On the Republican Moldova “On the Protection of the Republic of Belarus Republic of Belarus and the Public Council for the Affairs of Archaeological Heritage” procedure for acquaintance of Culture and Art under the (2010) • Regulations “On an authentic with the information contained Council of Ministers of the • Law of the Republic of Moldova folklore group in the Republic of therein” (2006) Republic of Belarus” (2010) “On Public Monuments” (2011) Belarus” (1999) • Resolution of the Council of • Instruction “On the procedure • Law of the Republic of Moldova • Regulations of Council of Ministers “On the Museum for filling the passport of “On The Protection of The Ministers “On the protection Fund of the Republic of Belarus” historical and cultural value” National Mobile Cultural of archaeological sites for (2006) (2013) Heritage” (2011) earthworks i construction • Decree of the Council of • The Code of the Republic • Law of the Republic of works” (2002) Ministers “On the procedure of Belarus on Culture (2016) Moldova “On The Protection • Instruction “On the accounting, for visitors to museums with of Intangible Cultural storage and transportation of museum items” (2006) Heritage” (2012) weapons and ammunition of • Presidential decree “On some • Culture Development Strategy cultural value” (2003) issues of transfer of museum “Culture 2020” (2014) • The Law “On Culture” (2004) items and (or) museum • Draft Law of the Republic • The Law “On Museums and collections across the border” of Moldova “On Graves Museum Fund” (2005) (2006) and War Commemorations” • Law “On the Protection of the • Instructions “On the procedure (2016) 204

National documents of Ukraine

• Law of Ukraine “On Architectural Activities” (1999) • Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of the Cultural Heritage” (2000) • Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 1760 “On Approval of the Procedure for Determining the Categories of Sights for the Inclusion of Cultural Heritage Objects to the State Register of Real Estates of Ukraine” (2001) • Law of Ukraine “On Planning and Development of Territories” (2000) • Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage” (2004) • Law of Ukraine “On Export, Import and Restitution of Cultural Property” (1999) • Law of Ukraine “On the List of Cultural Heritage Sites Illegible for Privatization” (2008) • Law of Ukraine “On Culture” (2010) THE CHOICE WE MADE: Can civil society influence policy making in the field of historical and cultural heritage, in particular, where mechanisms for it are not yet created?

The CHOICE project was designed to find those who were willing to try. As a result, teams of more than 30 civil society initiatives, as well as heritage professionals from Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine, joined together to embody not only dozens of beautiful and necessary ideas in their communities, but also lay the foundation for future systemic changes.

This book shows a row of tested ways how civil society organizations can solve critical situations, expand their influence and form new niches in the cultural heritage sector. Enjoy!

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