Acronym

NowBelovezha

NUMBER

PBU3/1069/20

Project type

Micro-project

STATUS

Completed

THEMATIC OBJECTIVE

HERITAGE

PRIORITY

1.1 Promotion of local culture and history

PARTNERSHIP

PL-BY

LEAD BENEFICIARY

Department of Ideological Work, Culture and Youth Affairs of the Executive Committee in Pruzhany (Brest Oblast, Belarus)

BENEFICIARY

Centre of Culture in Hajnówka (Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland)
Association of Local Governments of Euroregion Belovezhskaya Pushcha (Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland)

Project description

The unique natural area of the Białowieża Forest is characterized by a lack of realization of the tourism potential using the cultural and historical values of this territory. The effect of this is the poor use of tourist and cultural values, little tourist and cultural offer regarding traditions of Białowieża Forest on both sides of the Polish-Belarussian border, which, in turn, is reflected in the lack of development of cross-border tourism.

The NowBelovezha project aims at strengthening cultural ties and cooperation between Pruzhany district and Hajnówka Poviat by preserving and promoting the cultural heritage. The idea of the project is to promote the wealth of the Białowieża Forest local culture, such as traditional rituals, songs, dances and crafts through the organization of the cross-border cultural events. The project partners plan to organize two conferences presenting the project, as well as the Folklore open-air event in Belarus and the Festival of folk culture and Woodcarvers plein-air in Poland. During the event in Belarus young local dancers and singers and master-craftsmen will demonstrate the folk culture of the borderland. The Folk Culture Festival in Poland will be an opportunity to learn about local handicrafts and delicacies presented by craftsmen from Poland and Belarus. During the next event, a 10 day Woodcarvers plein-air in Poland 10 large scale sculptures related to the history and nature of the border region will be created by the plein-air participants. Two-meter sculptures will become new landmarks in public space of Hajnówka Poviat, and will be an interesting attraction for tourists. The plain-air will be enriched with a 2-day workshop for children and youths, which will learn the wood carving techniques.

The project implementation will bring benefits on both sides of the border. It will allow local residents, including children and youth, to spend their spare time in a creative way and will give them an opportunity to cultivate the region heritage.