Miory Regional Executive Committee

The "Vitebsk" Concert Hall - one of the main venues of the International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar" - has closed for another stage of reconstruction until June.
"Right now, we are focusing primarily on interior work. Approximately 200 people work at the site daily. In the near future, we plan to switch to a two-shift schedule: the last event was held on January 8, and mass events will not be held in the concert hall until it reopens after repairs, that is, in June 2024," said Gleb Lapitsky, General Director of the CK "Vitebsk".

The facility is included in the state investment program. Funding for capital repair work is provided from the republican, regional, and city budgets. This year, approximately Br20 million is planned to be spent. As Gleb Lapitsky explained, roughly the same amount was allocated over the previous year and a half. Exterior work is already 95% complete. The exterior appearance of the palace has been transformed, featuring eye-catching lighting effects, an LED screen, staircases, and new landscaping of the adjacent territory.

Currently, replacement of internal engineering systems is underway at the site, and equipment is being purchased for the premises. Video projection equipment and LED screens have already been procured; the next step is sound and lighting equipment, which will grant the concert hall technical independence.

"The technical condition of the concert hall does not allow for holding mass events, including 'Slavianski Bazaar' and the International Festival of Modern Choreography (IFMC), without renting additional equipment," Gleb Lapitsky clarified. "By purchasing this equipment, we will be able to organize events independently and provide the necessary assistance - technical support not only for city-level but also for regional and republican events."

The majority of repair work will be completed by June 10, although funding will continue to be utilized until the end of the year, already after the Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia (the "Vitebsk" Concert Hall is one of the venues for the forum) and "Slavianski Bazaar". Both construction and logistical issues must be resolved to ensure timely delivery of the equipment.

"When we are sayRegarding financing, our main task is to utilize the funds as efficiently as possible. After all, one could focus on a single objective, or, by coordinating with the customer, address multiple tasks for the same budget – this constitutes the rational use of state funding," emphasized the Director General of the Culture Center.

Rehearsals continue without interruption. Ensembles that previously occupied the Concert Hall premises have relocated to other cultural institutions in the city.

"Our concert hall will be grand, yet at the same time, in each interior space we strive to preserve warmth and intimacy. After all, the concert hall is an architectural landmark of Vitebsk. Beyond serving as an entertainment venue, it is also a facility where approximately a thousand children come to practice daily. The hall fulfills a significant educational role through culture and art. We are making every effort to ensure that every visitor (whether they come merely to purchase a ticket, attend a corporate event, or enjoy a major concert), including persons with disabilities, feels comfortable and welcomed."

The "Vitebsk" Concert Hall is a branch of the "Vitebsk" Culture Center and one of the city's principal festival venues. The complex situated in Frunze Park includes, among other facilities, a round (dance) hall and a concert hall. During the "Slavianski Bazaar" festival, the venue hosts selected solo concerts by artists and a children's music competition.

Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by