Made by hand, inspired by heart

Handicrafts in Belarus are developing on the basis of national traditions

Our country is famous for its authentic and original crafts — blacksmithing and pottery, straw weaving and weaving, cooperage and wickerwork... The regulation of craft activities continues to improve at the legislative level.

Wickerwork master

Seamless transition

On August 21st, the Head of State signed Decree No. 328 On Implementation of Craft Activities by Individuals. The government determined the list of relevant types of work, which encompasses authentic, original crafts, including the manufacture of national musical instruments, hand-woven products, blacksmithing, and more. The document came into force on October 1st.
Notably, the list is flexible and, depending on territorial features, can be supplemented by local authorities. “The list can be supplemented with original, unique activities typical of a certain area. An activity may be the only of its kind in the world or in the country,” specified Belarus’ Economy Minister Yuri Chebotar. According to the minister, the emergence of this list marks the final stage of large-scale work on the transformation of the business environment.

Sound of goodness and well-being

The home creative workshop of Grodno resident Svetlana Kruglopolova embodies a true fairytale land. Each of its ceramic inhabitants has not only their own unique appearance and character, but also their own voice. Any animal or bird there is a whistle, which our ancestors endowed with a sacred meaning — its sounds invite goodness into the house and drive away negativity.
The craftswoman made her first folk-style crafts when she was a student at a music pedagogy college, where she had the opportunity to attend an additional course in arts and crafts. Learning the art of creating ‘singing’ toys was not an easy task. For a whole year, the crafts flatly refused to whistle. It was necessary to make special holes at a certain angle at the right level.
At first, creating amusing clay characters was just a hobby for Svetlana Kruglopolova. Now she is a professional craftswoman, whose creations are in great demand, “I only have two hands and no factory equipment with which I could crank out a hundred toys per day. The maximum I can do per day is five to seven large pieces or about twenty small ones. Physically, this is not easy. Yet, craftsmanship is undoubtedly a path to self-improvement. I have been working as a teacher for 27 years, and I feel that I have already reached a level in this area that is difficult to exceed. In craftsmanship, in contrast, I can do a lot of new things — for example, I would be interested in making an ocarina. That is, not just a whistle, but a real wind musical instrument on which you can fully perform folk melodies. The Belarusian whistle is the real history of our country.”  

Belarusian craftswoman

Cultural symbols

Ceramics, painting on wood, macramé, lacemaking are not only an important component of the Belarusian cultural code. Folk crafts carefully preserve the traditions, customs and history of the state. Unique production techniques and artistic craftwork, formed over centuries, continue to be passed on from generation to generation along with the warmth and a piece of heart of those who cherish, develop and promote folk crafts, as noted by Georgy Grits, Candidate of Economic Sciences, economic analyst, “Craftsmen represent the people. They are creators. Their activities are often far from business. A simplified taxation system is important to them. Today, the list of crafts includes those areas that reveal Belarusian traditions.”
The economic analyst is confident that innovations will improve the industry. Various festivals and cultural events that are actively held in the country also contribute to the popularisation of local products. “Crafts are directly related to the regions. Look how diverse and expressive the Belarusian ornament is. Polesie [Gomel Region] showcases one pattern while Vitebsk Region depicts another. This is just one example. Therefore, the development of craft activities also supports the identity of the regions.” 

Fair calculation

Svetlana Bartosh, Deputy Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Budget and Finance of the House of Representatives, is confident that crafts are relevant when they are based on personal history, local identity and cultural code. It is work at these levels that allows creating a product that develops not only the craftsman but also the surrounding area, since more than 75 percent of craftsmen are concentrated in the regions.
The parliamentarian has reminded that consistent work to create favourable conditions for the implementation of craft activities has been carried out in Belarus for more than two decades. Today, a craftsman does not need to register as an individual entrepreneur or a legal entity, or maintain complex statistical reporting. It is possible to sell handmade products at markets, fairs, to send them to customers, and advertise products on the Internet. The monthly fee for craftsmen is not high — Br6.5.

“It is very important and valuable when craft activities become family heritage, and knowledge is passed from grandfather to father, from father to son. Legislative innovations are aimed at preserving and reviving national Belarusian traditions and cultural heritage for its transfer to the younger generation,” the parliamentarian pointed out.

Regional attraction

Marina Lukiyanets, the head of methodology department at the Dyatlovo district centre of culture and folk art,
“Dyatlovo District is known for its skilled craftsmen who preserve and revive authentic crafts. Thus, Sergei Balykov — a wickerwork master — creates unusual baskets, decorative interior figurines and other fancy products. Straw weaving in Belarus is included in the UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Artistic products and souvenirs made of straw are associated with Belarus and reflect our hard-working nature. For their purposes, the craftsmen use only natural material, which is obtained using traditional methods. Long stems of rye or wheat are cut by hand to preserve their quality and elasticity, as well as colour features.
Belarusian craftsmen create original things that delight many. Taking advantage of the visa-free regime, increasingly more foreigners are visiting Belarus with interest, posting beautiful photos on social networks, sharing impressions of what they have seen, and buying distinctive Belarusian gifts as souvenirs — cornflower-shaped brooches, wooden bison, linen shirts with embroidery, a panel with storks, and other products created by our craftsmen. In this regard, it is important to occupy and develop this niche, which is often given over to serial imported goods, although we have enough high-quality, unique handmade products at reasonable prices.”

Reviews on the Internet

Diana_K:
“In Belarus, I found myself not just in a souvenir shop but rather a museum where various traditional Belarusian handicrafts, such as straw weaving and embroidery, were presented. All of those are handmade! You can take part in a masterclass. We came there to make a nice souvenir — a straw horse. My colleagues and I really liked it. I highly recommend it to all travellers who like exploring the local culture.”

Larisa89:
“I have visited a beautiful gallery, where the collections successfully combine national colour and art of various creative directions. Lots of handmade works of decorative and applied art — toys, macramé lace, decorations, ceramics — everything looks amazing! I buy original gifts, sometimes a herbal doll, sometimes a set of table napkins or a funny cuddly toy. The prices are quite affordable.”

By Kristina Khilko, Katerina Charovskaya