The large-scale program “ArtPower Belarus: Safeguarding the Belarusian Civic Space Through Culture and Arts” was launched at the end of 2022 and ran until the end of February 2025, with financial support from the European Union. The program was implemented by the Belarusian Council for Culture and the Danish Cultural Institute.
As part of the program, a major project application competition was held, resulting in the support of 140 projects and mobility opportunities for Belarusian artists. A pilot edition of an art management school took place, two fundamental studies on the current state of the cultural sector were conducted, and analytical overviews of key events and trends in Belarusian culture were published. The Resource Center and Guest Space operated actively, hosting roundtables, discussions, meetings, and presentations.
“A strong and free civil society relies on a free cultural sphere”
“ArtPower Belarus was conceived to provide Belarusian artists with more opportunities for free self-expression. We are very pleased that this goal has been achieved: thanks to the program, Belarusian culture has been enriched by 83 creative projects, and 231 people have had the opportunity to travel throughout Europe to present their work, conduct research in archives, or enhance their skills. Sometimes the ArtPower project week schedule included 4-5 events to visit in different cities and countries. There were days when literally every news item about culture was dedicated to our grantees. While we cannot publicly discuss all supported projects, I am sure that each lover of Belarusian culture over the past two years has encountered ArtPower Belarus products more than once, — says CEO of the Belarusian Council for Culture Siarhiej Budkin, — Looking back on more than two years, I can confidently say: that it was an unforgettable, creative, and unpredictable journey for the entire team of the Belarusian Council for Culture. A challenge of the times that we readily accepted and successfully met. This success is thanks to the support of our colleagues from the Danish Cultural Institute and all Belarusian artists who participated in the information sessions, competitions, training programs, and events, now united under the strong ArtPower Belarus brand. We will continue our work to attract funds for the development of independent Belarusian culture.”
The Regional Director of the Danish Cultural Institute, Henriette Borg Reinholdt, speaking about the importance of supporting Belarusian culture and civil society by European institutions, emphasizes:
“The need is great, and the consequences are profound if we do not continue our support for Belarusian civil society. The Belarusian art and cultural sector is in urgent need of all the support it can get. A strong and free civil society relies on a free cultural sphere — this is true for Belarus as it is for any other country. It is art and culture that build our inner defences, enabling us to resist authoritarian forces. It is art and culture that reinforce our ability to withstand harmful trends such as misinformation while also giving us the imagination to envision a new and better future. In short, art and culture foster resilience and hope — something that all of Europe, and Belarus in particular, greatly needs. Belarus is a European country and, in the long run, an important and positive neighbour — provided we engage with the Belarusian civil forces striving for a free and democratic society.”
The demand for project support exceeded the program’s financial capacity more than six times.
One of the most vivid, exciting, and labor-intensive parts of ArtPower Belarus was the grant competition for the implementation of creative projects and mobility opportunities. Over the course of seven rounds, the organizers received 707 applications totaling nearly €13 million. The demand for project support exceeded the total financial capacity of the program by more than six times.
As a result, each selection committee meeting — which included three representatives from the Danish Cultural Institute, two from the Belarusian Council for Culture, and an invited expert, former Swedish Ambassador to Belarus Stefan Eriksson — was lengthy and intense. The competition was exceptionally high at every stage.
Ultimately, over the seven rounds of the first edition of ArtPower Belarus, 83 projects and 57 mobility grants were approved.
We see that the majority of supported projects were in the fields of literature and visual arts, followed closely by music, cross-sectoral projects, theater, film, and media.
Which projects received support? The answer to one of the most frequently asked questions to the Belarusian Council for Culture team you can find here. In a dedicated gallery, we have compiled all public projects (those for whom mentioning support from ArtPower Belarus does not pose a risk) of grant recipients, as well as an overview of the types of non-public projects.
Regarding the types of grants awarded within the framework of ArtPower Belarus, the results are as follows:
Belarusian artists received:
35 mid-sized grants (from €5,000 to €50,000),
48 mini-grants (up to €5,000),
57 mobility grants for professional development trips.
Importantly, supported projects included initiatives within Belarus and teams with participants from Belarus. Out of the 140 implemented projects and mobility programs, 56 involved participants based in Belarus.
Where did artists travel within ArtPower Belarus? As seen on the map, the majority of final destinations were in European countries. The most popular among them were Poland, Lithuania, Denmark, Italy, and Germany. The most common starting points for Belarusian artists’ journeys were Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, Georgia, and the Czech Republic.
In total, 231 individuals participated in the mobility program, including 117 women (51%) and 114 men (49%), as well as children.
Approximately half of the mobility program participants undertook professional development trips for the first timethanks to ArtPower Belarus.
“This gave me not only professional growth but also a sense of unity with the community, which is especially valuable in emigration”
Now that the intense period of project implementation and final reporting is over, there is a moment for reflection. What did the ArtPower Belarus program mean for its participants? Let’s give them the floor.
“Thanks to the ArtPower Belarus program, I could attend important industry events, meet inspiring people, and hold creative meetings with the Belarusian diaspora. This gave me not only professional growth but also a sense of unity with the community, which is especially valuable in emigration. Such initiatives are not just support, but a real impetus for development and new opportunities.”
“Participation in ArtPower Belarus gave me a valuable opportunity for mobility, which helped my creative work. In my opinion, the project was made at the highest level. All documentation and communication were conducted in Belarusian, and the application and report did not take much time, which allowed me to fully focus on the project and work on it very productively. Thank you very much for your work, and I hope the ArtPower Belarus program will exist and help many more artists.”
“Me and my team were impressed by the professionalism of your organization, which helps many Belarusians to show themselves. Just like that, a huge number of people could see our work and understand that Belarusian culture is alive! We thank your team for the opportunity to make our hopes and dreams come true!”
We are saying goodbye to the first edition of ArtPower Belarus, but we remain within the program’s flow, as its second edition is set to launch soon. Even greater opportunities for artists, a new application system, and new activities are on the horizon. Stay with us! Follow program updates on the official website of the Belarusian Council for Culture and our social media channels.
*Quotes collected during an anonymous survey of grant program participants.
