The State Program “Culture of Belarus” on 2016 — 2010

The State Program “Culture of Belarus” was adopted by Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No. 180 dated March 4, 2016. It was amended by the decrees of the Council of Ministers No. 990 dated December 2, 2016, No. 950 dated December 12, 2017, No. 788 from 03.11.2018 and No. 776 from 20.11.2019. The main goals of the program are as follows: preserving the historical memory of the Belarusian people, their national and cultural identity, involving the Belarusian citizens in the cultural life of the country, and unleashing the creative potential of the nation. The state program consists of 4 subprograms: Art and Creativity, Belarusians in the World, Heritage, Archives of Belarus. For the purposes of the 2005 Convention, the first three subprograms are of particular interest. The main goal of the Art and Creativity subprogram is to support professional and amateur art, folk art, as well as the activities of theatrical entertainment organizations and clubs; to create conditions for organizing cultural recreation (leisure) for the population, aesthetic education of children and youth, expanding international cultural cooperation. It is aimed at solving the following problems: increasing the competitiveness and relevance of national cultural products; effective use of economic mechanisms in the activities of theatrical entertainment organizations; developing the Belarusian cinema and its promotion; increasing the talent capacity of cultural workers. The Belarusians in the World subprogram is aimed at supporting the Belarusian diaspora abroad, preserving its national and cultural identity, and promoting the study of the Belarusian language abroad. The Belarusian diaspora in the world is approximately 2.5 million people and is more strongly represented in the neighboring countries and the countries historically linked to Belarus (Russia, the Baltic States, Ukraine, Poland, Kazakhstan, and Moldova). It is considered to be an important national, intellectual, social, cultural, demographic, and economic resource of the Republic of Belarus, which can become a significant factor in the implementation of the Belarusian foreign and domestic policies, the development of trade, economic, and cultural ties, promotion of the international image of the Belarusian State. The subprogram “Heritage” is aimed at the protection of historical and cultural heritage, conservation and restoration of monuments, safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage as well as the development of traditional knowledge and practices and their integration in the implementation of the national strategy of the sustainable development.