The project of international technical assistance “Vector to the Past. Development of Traditional Culture as a Tourist Capacity Building Driver” has kick off in Malorita District, Belarus, BelTA learned from the Malorita District Executive Committee.

The leading beneficiary of the project is the ideology, culture and youth affairs department of the Malorita District Executive Committee. Its partner is the Center for Culture, Sports and Recreation in Kleszczele and the Podlasie Heritage Association of the Podlasie Voivodeship. The project is implemented under the program of cross-border cooperation Poland-Belarus-Ukraine for 2014-2020. The total budget is €66,500, of which €59,900 is co-financing from the European Union.

“The aim of the project is to preserve and promote regional authentic cultural traditions of the Belarusian-Polish borderland to increase the tourist attractiveness of the cross-border area. We intend to combine the efforts of the three beneficiaries, each of which has experience and qualifications in its competence,” the district executive committee said.

For example, Kleszczele plans to revive weaving. Belarusian specialists will share their experience and teach the Polish partners the basics of this craft. In turn, Malorita District is interested in the revival of spiral and volumetric straw weaving, which Hajnowka County is famous for. Narew District is set to host workshops for stove-makers from Poland and Belarus.

Belarusian and Polish partners will also exchange experience in preservation and promotion of cultural heritage and folk art. Plans are in place to hold festivals, publish thematic booklets, photo albums, set up an information center for the development and promotion of traditional culture and tourism in Malorita. The participants are expected to sign an agreement on further cooperation.

Written by belta.by