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