"Dazhynki": General overhaul and agro-glamour test

Presentation of the study’s results on the topic "Dazhynki" and the transformation of Belarusan cities” was held in the Gallery U in Minsk on October 26.

The study’s participants tried to approach the phenomenon of the annual Belarusan festival "Dazhynki" impartially, without speaking pretentiously, as is typical of the official media and government officials, but not limiting themselves also by mockery and criticism, as is often done by independent media and representatives of the pro-democracy public.

Based on the examples of the six cities - Maladzečna, Kobryn, Orša, Vaŭkavysk, Babruisk and Mazyr - the researchers have tried to trace how have "Dazhynki" affected the city's identity in their venues. The study of the cities, having hosted the all-Belarusan harvest festival included their direct visit, interviews with local residents, whose interests were somehow affected in the course of the festival, as well as local press survey on the issue of "Dazhynki".

The research presentation, organized by the Flying University and the International Consortium EuroBelarus, was held in the format of reports and messages relating various facets of the phenomenon of "Dazhynki". The reports were prepared by the research team members.

PhD in biology, professor of the Flying University and an expert of the Humanitarian Techniques Agency (AGT) Zmicier Galinouski spoke about how the legal and regulatory framework of the festival for rural workers has been developed, in his report, "Legislative processing of “Dazhynki", as well as about the role of various government bodies in key decision-making on the festival, including the venue. Having analyzing the legal framework, the expert concluded that the trend to "enlargement" of the festival has taken place, the fact being confirmed by granting tax benefits to the participants, as well as defining the costs for this in separate budget items.

Ph.D. in sociology, lecturer of the Flying University and an AGT expert Tatiana Vadalazhskaya drew attention to the fact that the importance of preparations for the festival has gradually grown, pushing into the background the very festive action, in her report "Dazhynki" - for the city". She also touched upon the fact that only a small part of the objects, built in the course of the "Dazhynki", takes roots in the host cities and becomes part of the citizens’ lives. This is largely due to the fact that the creation of new objects is obeyed to the social standard framework, not to the unique urban development, said the speaker. Tatiana Vadalazhskaya also drew attention to the fact that thanks to "Dazhynki" there appear significant resources for cities’ development. However, the question of who can use these resources efficiently, is still open.

Research team member Aliaksei Chubat presented a brief report that raised the issue of preserving the cultural and historical heritage of the cities, where "Dazhynki" is held, noting that the festival is hardly conducive to improving tourist attraction venue.

From the report of the Belarusan National Technical University’s lecturer Tatiana Kedrik the audience learned about the features of the coverage of "Dazhynki" in local and national media, with quotations’ examples from various publications. And while it is used to glorify "Dazhynki" in the official media, often in verse, then for independent media the festival is, first of all, the epitome of the "agro-glamour trash".

The director of research, specialist in cultural anthropology, professor of the European Humanities University and the Flying University Stsiapan Stureika addressed in his report the issue of conservation of the city’s architectural heritage, subject to ruthless overhaul in the course of preparation for the "Dazhynki". He noted that the harvest festival is a true test of professionalism for the chief architect, responsible for the construction activities. Unfortunately, not always architects of Belarusan cities pass this test successfully.

Furthermore, Stsiapan Stureika highlighted the issue of participation of local communities in the fate of the urban heritage. Herewith, this problem is related to a number of factors, such as absence of full-fledged academic communities in Belarusan regional centers, the lack of public discussion on issues of heritage protection, and an overall underestimation by the residents of historical and cultural potential of their cities.

In the end of the presentation, the study's authors briefly responded to the urgent questions arising of the audience, and reminded that the full text of the study would soon be possible to openly view at the site of the Flying University.