OREANDA-NEWS. January 20, 2011. Gomel may become the CIS Capital of Culture in 2011, Deputy Culture Minister Tadeush Struzhetsky told reporters on 19 January.

According to Tadeush Struzhetsky, after the implementation of the Belarusian Capital of Culture project, the Council of Ministers decided to designate Gomel as the CIS Capital of Culture. “The Culture Ministry has suggested Gomel, but it has not made the final decision yet,” Tadeush Struzhetsky said. The next meeting of the working group will take place in February 2011, and the Culture Ministry hopes that Gomel’ candidacy will be approved. Gomel may become the Belarusian and the CIS Capital of Culture at the sane time.

Tadeush Struzhetsky also spoke about the opportunity to create special tourist routes, which would help visitors get acquainted with the Capital of Culture of Belarus. He stressed that every cultural project should take into account both the country’s citizens and foreign tourists. “Obviously, Gomel will contribute to it as well, and the Culture Ministry is ready to provide necessary information support,” Tadeush Struzhetsky said.

He also added that the Belarusian Capital of Culture Project is a long-term one, so there are plans to carry out a more comprehensive contest among Belarusian towns next year.

At the beginning of 2010 the Culture Ministry launched the Belarusian Capital of Culture Project aimed at popularizing the most outstanding cultural achievements of the country. Within the framework of the first social and cultural campaign Capital of Culture 2010, Polotsk hosted over 50 cultural events. The town welcomed best artistic companies of the country such as the Kharoshki dance company, Classic-Avantgarde and Pesniary. The State Art Gallery housed an exhibition of lithographies by Napoleon Orda provided by the Belarusian National History Museum, paintings by Ivan Khrutsky, and exhibitions of Belarusian and foreign modern artists.