Belarus numbers about 13,000 cultural establishments – theatres, circuses, higher and secondary educational institutions, museums, museum-reserves, and memorial complexes. Some 60 of them are accountable to central authorities. They include: Belarusfilm National Film Studio, National Library of Belarus, Belarusian State Institute of the Problems of Culture, Republican Centre of Ethnic Cultures, State Register of Cinevideo Films and Cinevideo Programmes.

The Belarusian library sector comprises nearly 10,000 public and special libraries, with the aggregate number of books reaching 250 million copies. The greatest library network is within the structure of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus (4, 215 libraries). Over the recent few years, there emerged in Belarus about 400 cultural establishments of a new type - libraries/clubs, libraries/museums, and libraries/popular medicine houses. Mobile library buses provide services to residents living in remote areas.

Preservation of the country’s historical and cultural heritage is a major priority of the Belarusian State. The building of the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre is currently undergoing large-scale reconstruction. Restoration work went on for a year at 13 sites of the Ministry of Culture in pursuance of the State Investment Programme. The opening of a new building of the Belarus National Library, a unique architectural and socio-cultural centre, was an important event in the country’s cultural life. The opening of a newly built edifice added to the National Art Museum marked the completion of the first phase of the thorough overhaul of this museum. The Museum’s exhibition space increased more than fourfold.

In 2006, Belarus together with the Republic of Poland completed the work on the nomination proposal “The Augustow Canal – a Work of Man and Nature.” Currently, these materials are being prepared for the presentation at UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre. The work is under way with regard to other sites proposed as the candidacies for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In 2006, Belarus hosted 147 international, nation-wide, and regional festivals, many interesting competitions, and shows. The International Arts Festival “Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk” and Minsk International Film Festival “Listapad” have become a visiting card of our country. T urned into a traditional event are the Dažynki Harvesting Festival and International Arts Festival “Belarusian Musical Autumn.” In 2006, for the first time, Minsk hosted the TV and Theatre “Festival of Festivals ” of the Union State, and Yuri Bashmet International Festival.

Belarusian talents gained victories of international scope. Master cinematographers from our republic were honoured with five statuettes of different value and five special diplomas at the 15^th International Cinema Festival “Zolotoy Vityaz “(Golden Knight) at Serpukhov near Moscow. Spectacular was the performance of the ten-year-old Andrei Kunets from Mozyr who gained the second place at the Eurovision-2006 junior song contest.

A representative form of the international cooperation in the sphere of culture are the Days of Culture of the Republic of Belarus abroad, which were recently held in the Lebanon, and in Russia (Moscow Region). The Day of Belarusian Culture was held in Tallinn as part of the traditional festive event of the Estonian Belarusians “Spatkannie.” After 17-years-long break, the National Academic Janka Kupala Theatre gave touring performances in Kiev. Belarus hosts the Days of Culture of other countries, which are among the bright events in the country’s cultural life. In 2006, there were the Days of Culture of Karelia, and the Days of Culture of China.