Круглы стол па пытаннях беларускай культуры на Касцюшкаўскім форуме летась. Фота: Reform.news.
Next week, on June 2, the second Kościuszko Forum will take place in the Polish city of Gdańsk — a symbolic city of freedom and solidarity. This year’s event, organised by Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Solidarity Centre, will be entirely dedicated to Belarusian culture under the slogan “Culture as a Force for Democracy”.
The organisers of the forum, held under the patronage of the shared hero of Poles, Belarusians, Lithuanians and Ukrainians Tadeusz Kościuszko, say they believe culture today is capable of becoming a platform for solidarity and helping democratic Belarus remain a full-fledged participant in the broader European space.
The event will be held at the European Solidarity Centre (ECS). For those unable to attend in person in Gdańsk, an online broadcast of the morning session — including the opening ceremony and award presentations — will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
The morning part of the forum will feature several major symbolic ceremonies.
The United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus will present the Cross of Good Neighbourhood to legendary Solidarity movement leader Lech Wałęsa in recognition of his special contribution to relations between countries and support for democratic change.
Ten minutes later, a ceremony will be held to honour Belarusian human rights defender, Viasna founder and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski. He will receive the ECS Solidarity and Human Rights Award, which is presented to individuals exceptionally devoted to the protection of human rights not only in civic life but also in culture, science and education, and for achieving historic breakthroughs.
Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski is also scheduled to appear as a special guest in the opening debate, “Why Is Culture the Answer to Political Stagnation?”, which will begin immediately after the ceremonial part.
The forum programme is divided into several pressing and topical themes.
11:30 a.m. — “Culture Does Not Remain Silent. Successes of Belarusian Culture in Europe.” A discussion with Belarusian actors and cultural figures who have successfully implemented projects in exile and become voices for their country.
2:00 p.m. — Presentation of major research studies. The United Transitional Cabinet and the Belarusian Council for Culture, together with the Mieroszewski Centre and the Centre for Eastern Studies, will present findings from new reports on the current state of Belarusian culture and language.
4:00 p.m. — “Belarusian Culture 404.” A discussion on the “invisible country” — why Belarus is increasingly being erased from the political agenda and historiography of some countries, and how to fight this “404 error”.
The forum will conclude at 6:00 p.m. with one of the most powerful international projects, Clap&Slap, a performance featuring Belarusian performer Ihar Shuhaleeu and Lithuanian actress Agnėtė Lisičkinaitė, addressing the issue of personal and collective guilt among Belarusians in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Through body language and dance, the artists will attempt to find mutual understanding where politics and emotions reach a dead end. At 7:00 p.m., following the performance, there will be a meeting with the artists behind the dance production, which was included in the TOP 20 performances of the major European dance network Aerowaves.
Admission to the Clap&Slap performance is free, but electronic tickets must be reserved.
“We organise the Kościuszko Forum because we are convinced that culture is a platform on which solidarity between nations emerges and the voices of those fighting for civil rights can be heard. Moreover, it is a practical tool for strengthening trust and building long-term relations between Belarusian political and social actors and their partners in Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania and other European countries,” the organisers said.
The Kościuszko Forum is dedicated to democratic transformation in Belarus and the region. Last year, politicians, experts and activists from more than a dozen European countries took part in the event.