Ahead of the “Night of Museums,” the Museum of Free Belarus is hosting a unique exhibition.

Five Belarusian historical and cultural artifacts, acquired by various diaspora initiatives, will be united in a single exhibition project for the first time and presented only once, for one day — at this exhibition.

The initiatives MALDZIS, the Belarusian Patrons’ Club under the Belarusian Cultural Council, and the Museum of Free Belarus will showcase their latest acquisitions:

• The Statute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, issued in 1693. This copy of the Statute was purchased by the MALDZIS initiative with the goal of returning it to Belarus.
• The book Peregrinatio by Mikołaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł, printed in 1614. The book was acquired by the Belarusian Cultural Council through the efforts of the Belarusian Patrons’ Club.
• Two Radziwiłł maps of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the 17th century. One map was purchased by MALDZIS, the other by the Cultural Council.
• A secret letter by the Brest Voivode Jan Antoni Horain, written during the First Partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, acquired by the Museum of Free Belarus.

The acquisition and collection of these valuable artifacts, representing the culture and history of the Belarusian people within the broader context of European heritage, is part of the efforts of the modern wave of the Belarusian diaspora to preserve its identity and demonstrate the civilizational contribution of Belarusians to European history.

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What else is on the program?

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In addition to the exhibition “Five Artifacts — and Only One Night”, the Museum of Free Belarus will host a children’s area, the “Cartographer’s Cabinet,” organized in cooperation with the museum’s partners, the John Paul II Center for Thought.

Moreover, on the concert stage organized by the John Paul II Center for Thought on Foksal Street, performers from various countries, including Belarusian artists CHORNABROVA and Lera Dele (Koob Dele), will perform on the evening of May 17.

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Original article: budzma.org