Culture

In Gomel oblast there are 786 clubs, 749 public libraries, 21 museums, 75 children’s schools of arts and musical schools, 3 colleges, 3 drama theatres, Gomel state puppet-show, oblast philharmonic and its branch in Mozyr, oblast center of folk arts, oblast museum of local studies, oblast library named after Lenin, Slavonic specialized library, cultural complex "Gomel State Circus", municipal unitary enterprise "Gomel Public Cultural Center", 3 recreational parks and 1 zoo in Zhlobin.

Every year the regions and towns of the oblast hold about 60 festivals, folk art celebrations of various types and genres. About 30,000 amateur artists are united in more than 3,000 amateur art groups, 240 of them have the honorary titles "People’s" and "Exemplary". Best art collectives are prizewinners of national and international festivals and contests. They are usually a great success with the public in Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Belgium, Scotland, Norway.

Some 81 Gomel architectural monuments, 59 oblast architectural monuments, and 497 archaeological monuments have been included into the national list of tangible historical values.

Art schools of all types carry out a great work on esthetic education and creative skills development of young people. About 12,574 students attend the oblast children’s art schools. Some 19 collectives of the children’s art schools have the title "Exemplary" and 16 schools have the title "People’s". Children’s philharmonics, opera and theatre studios in the children’s art schools foster the educational activity in the oblast. In 2002 students and artistic groups of the oblast art schools and colleges received 19 scholarships and 4 grants from the special presidential fund for support of the talented youth of the Republic of Belarus.

Some 373 oblast natives entered educational institutions of culture in 2002. Some 213 young specialists were assigned for culture and art establishments however only 140 took up the jobs. In 2002 16 cultural workers were awarded diplomas and certificates of the culture ministry, 3 — diplomas of the Council of Ministers and National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus. Some 48 people were awarded diplomas of the culture department.

Gomel oblast has established close cultural ties with Briansk oblast, southwest administrative district of Moscow, Krasnodar krai of the Russian Federation, Chernigov and Zhitomir oblasts of Ukraine, Moldova. Performing groups from Russia and Moldova participate in the international festivals "Sozh Round Dance", "The Land Under the White Wings", "The Music of Hope", "Slavonic Theatrical Meetings", "The Guitar Renaissance", "Slavonic Brotherhood" (at the Friendship Monument).