“America through the Eyes of Belarusians” Photo Exhibit Opens at National Library “Panorama” Gallery

Michael Scanlan and Lyudmila Kiryukhina walk through the exhibit

On June 23, 2010 Charge d'Affaires Michael Scanlan and Deputy Director of the National Library of Belarus Lyudimila Kiryukhina announced the opening of the “America through the Eyes of Belarusians” photo exhibition.  The exhibit is a collaborative project of the Embassy and the National Library.  It started with “My America” photo contest announced by the Public Affairs Section last January. Over 260 submissions from 58 amateur and professional photographers of different ages and social backgrounds from all over Belarus showed a great deal of interest in the completion.  A professional panel of jurors selected the best 70 works to be exhibited for two weeks at the library’s Panorama Gallery.

In his welcome remarks CDA Scanlan noted that “The works you can see today show that people of Belarus have a genuine interest in the American culture, traditions, history, architecture, and everyday life.  Cultural exchanges of this kind contribute to mutual understanding between our two nations. And thus we hope to take this exhibition to other libraries in Belarus.”

In recognition of the Embassy’s appreciation of the National Library’s effort to promote cultural ties between our two countries, CDA Scanlan announced a donation of an annual subscription to five U.S. magazines on American art, craft, modern painting and architecture as well as photo albums picturing the diversity of American nature, cities and people. 

Assistant Public Affairs Officer Orly Keiner announced the winners of the competition and awarded them with specials prizes provided by the Embassy.