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"Vitebsk" Concert Hall, one of the main venues of the "Slavianski Bazaar" International Arts Festival, has closed for another stage of reconstruction until June.

"Currently, we are focusing on interior work. About 200 people are working on the site daily. In the near future, we plan to switch to a two-shift work schedule: the last event was held on January 8, and now mass events will not be held in the concert hall until its reopening after renovation, i.e., June 2024," said Gleb Lapitsky, General Director of the "Vitebsk" Cultural Center.

The facility is included in the state investment program. Funding for capital repairs is provided from the republican, regional, and city budgets. This year, it is planned to utilize approximately Br20 million. As Gleb Lapitsky explained, a similar amount was allocated over the previous eighteen months. Exterior work is already 95% complete. The building's appearance has been transformed, with eye-catching lighting, an LED screen, new staircases, and redesigned adjacent areas.

Currently, the replacement of internal engineering systems is underway, and equipment is being procured for the premises. Video projection equipment and LED screens have already been purchased; now it's the turn of sound and lighting equipment, which will enable the concert hall to achieve technical independence.

"The technical condition of the concert hall does not allow us to hold mass events, including the 'Slavianski Bazaar' and the International Festival of Modern Choreography (IFMC), without using rented equipment," Gleb Lapitsky clarified. "By purchasing this equipment, we will be able to hold events independently and provide necessary assistance – technical support not only for city, but also for regional and national events."

The majority of repair work will be completed by June 10, but funding will be utilized until the end of the year, after the Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia (the "Vitebsk" Concert Hall is one of the venues for the forum) and the "Slavianski Bazaar." It is necessary to resolve not only construction but also logistical issues to ensure timely equipment delivery.

"When we talk about funding, our main task is to utilize the funds as effectively as possible. It is possible to do one thing, or, by coordinating with the customer, to solve several problems with the same amount – this is the rational use of funding allocated by the state," emphasized the General Director of the Cultural Center.

The training process continues uninterrupted. The ensembles that previously trained at the Concert Hall's facilities have relocated to other cultural institutions in the city.

"Our concert hall will be grand, but at the same time, we strive to preserve a sense of warmth in each of its interiors. After all, the concert hall is an architectural dominant of Vitebsk. Besides being an entertainment venue, it is also a place where about a thousand children come to study every day. The hall carries a significant educational load through culture and art. We are doing our best to ensure that every person (whether they come for a ticket, a corporate event, or a large concert), including people with disabilities, feels comfortable and pleased."

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

"BELTA"