The most burning issue of the Belarusian cultural community is the politicization of their activity. Surely, this is done by force and against their will.
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Paweł Laufer: You worked for many years in Belarus as a diplomat. What do you think is the most critical factor that determines Belarusian culture and the third sector?
Mariusz Maszkiewicz: The main determining factor is the political situation in Belarus. Added to this, and no less important, is an array of phenomena that affect the development of Belarusian culture, including the actors that contribute to this culture. Roughly speaking, ever since Lukashenko rose to power, culture has been following the official course, which is very circumspect about asking questions that are the most vital for the state and the Belarusian people, and the independent course. Hence, the temptation to liken this situation to the Poland of the 1980s with its independent culture and artists boycotting the official media. But this parallel is not good.
Certainly, many worthy culture-makers exist outside the official course. They are not to be seen in the media: they are hardly ever mentioned in the official press, you cannot spot them on TV. This mainly concerns painting and underground music with its youngest, rock generation. Had it not been for the support of international organizations and Belarusian NGOs, they would not have been able to sustain and create quite a meaningful content and message, both in the local Belarusian dimension and outside.
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