Art-Siadziba closed down for the third time
The opening of the
“Art-Siadziba” (“Art Homestead”) at a new location was
appointed on 6-7 December. The organizers promised to hold events
with participation of writers and musicians. However, the owner of
the building in Maskvin Street, 4 stated he wanted to urgently annul
the rent agreement.
The rented building belongs to the “Sukno”
Public Corporation, but “Art-Siadziba” sub-rented it from the
“RefOilProduct” Public Corporation. The head of “Art-Siadziba”,
Pavel Belavusau, says that the lessors were pressurized by the
ideological department of the Minsk City Executive
Committee.
According
to Mr. Belavusau, the earlier visits of the fire security and
sanitation services, ordered by the Tsentralny District Executive
Committee of Minsk, were also inspired by the ideological department
of the Minsk CEC.
It
is quite difficult for organizers of cultural events to find a
premise. It is already the third case when the rent agreements are
suddenly canceled. Before this, “Art-Siadziba” was located in a
building of the “Haryzont” factory, in Pushkin Street, 28a.
When
“Art-Siadziba” was expelled from “Haryzont”, there was
organized collection of signatures in defense of the cultural ground.
However, it had no effect on the decision of the lessor.
Pavel
Belavusau applied to the Presidential Administration with the request
to explain why such things happened. He also stated his intention to
get an audience with the Minsk City Executive Committee.
