Baseline research results
This is an abridged version of a research paper that presents a comprehensive examination of the principal organizations and key figures within Belarusian culture, both domestically and internationally, alongside the contextual conditions influencing their existence as of late 2024. The collaboration for this study involves the Belarusian Council for Culture and the Danish Cultural Institute. The impetus for investigating the prevailing conditions surrounding Belarusian culture arose from the conclusion of the EU-funded program “ArtPower Belarus: Safeguarding the Belarusian Civic Space Through Culture and Arts”. Subsequent research conducted with similar objectives following the inception of the program can be found here.
Purposes of work
Description of the field of organizations and initiatives whose activities are aimed at the development and promotion of Belarusian culture, analysis of problems and prospects for community development, as well as assessment of changes and dynamics in the Belarusian cultural field over the past year, starting from the second half of 2023 (when the previous research was conducted).
Such an assessment is necessary primarily for entities that claim to solve problems in the field of development of the Belarusian cultural sphere, including the development of strategies, programmes and specific projects for the development of the cultural field, adequate to the needs of cultural figures. In addition, such analytics are useful for cultural actors themselves, especially those who seek to develop, facilitate and lobby the interests of Belarusian culture through their activities. Understanding an adequate picture of the state of Belarusian independent culture can contribute to a more correct choice of priorities, strategies and tactics for its development, and promote dialogue and partnership.
We also believe that expanding knowledge about Belarusian culture, increasing the number of studies, and comprehensive analytics of this complex object will contribute to the development and coordination of common strategic positions between various actors of Belarusian civil society to overcome crisis phenomena and put cooperation in the field on a positive track.
Empirical basis
Results of open source monitoring;
Results of online survey (50 questionnaires);
Results of expert survey (16 interviews).
Research deadline: autumn 2024.
Note: For security considerations, we are disseminating an abridged version of the full research text. The identities of certain cultural organizations and initiatives operating within this domain have been withheld in accordance with agreements made with their representatives.
