Acronym

VeloFort

NUMBER

PBU2/0858/18

Project type

Micro-project

STATUS

Completed

THEMATIC OBJECTIVE

HERITAGE

PRIORITY

1.1 Promotion of local culture and history

PARTNERSHIP

PL-BY

LEAD BENEFICIARY

Local Charitable Foundation "Brest Fortress Development Foundation" (Brest Oblast, Belarus)

BENEFICIARY

Digital Culture Institute Foundation (Lubelskie Voivodeship, Poland)

Project description

The Brest Fortress is an intriguing place of historical and cultural value, with forts located at the territories of Belarus and Poland. Before World War I, they were located mainly in Brest and Terespol. Some of them were destroyed during the War, hence the forts did not enjoy sufficient recognition and interest and are now perceived as abandoned. Therefore, the project partners want to restore the importance of this cross-border cultural heritage.

The aim of the VeloFort project is to unite two cities, Brest and Terespol, by exploring the significance and cultural value of the forts as objects of common cultural heritage and promoting the Belarusian-Polish historical heritage of the Brest Fortress. The Brest Fortress Development Foundation (BY) will create a bicycle route through the forts together with information boards and a mobile application “Velo Fort” on the basis of previously conducted research. The Digital Culture Institute Foundation (PL) and its Belarusian partner will organize five-day workshops “Create at Fort”  and a bicycle ride for students and youth “Velo Fort for all” in both countries. These events will help to change the perception of the forts and give them a new, attractive image by developing new narratives and installing public art objects on their premises.

The implementation of the VeloFort project will bring new ideas for further cultural initiatives. Residents and tourists from both countries will benefit from spending leisure time travelling through the forts of the Brest Fortress and learning about their heritage and history. Cycling, in turn, will bring together all the ideas presented in one case study and raise discussion about the heritage of the Brest Fortress and its importance.