What challenges does the cultural heritage sector in Belarus face? Are private initiatives in this area possible? How does politics influence heritage? What conservation projects are currently being implemented there? The third conversation in the “Heritage Voices” series was conducted by Dr Katarzyna Jagodzińska with Dr Stsiapan Stureika, a distinguished researcher of cultural heritage, chair of the Belarusian National Committee of ICOMOS, and a lecturer at the European Humanities University in Vilnius – a Belarusian university in exile.
Dr Stureika points out that despite the difficult political situation over the Pripyat and Beresina rivers, there are dynamic developments in cultural heritage projects. Many initiatives, however, suffer from a lack of freedom and restrictions related to self-expression. As a result, there has been an emigration of many specialists. Nonetheless, there are positive aspects: the development of the private sector in cultural tourism and the renovation of castles are just a few examples.
