 | ARTS & CULTURE |
'MORAL CULTURE – CLUE TO ALL HUMAN PROBLEMS'
An international conference entitled "UN Millennium Declaration: response from civil society" was held in the UN head-quarters in New York on October 20-22. Over 500 leaders of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) representing 103 countries of the world took part. Addressing the plenary session of the conference on behalf of the Azerbaijan Culture Association "Simurg" and the Azerbaijan NGO delegation was the president of "Simurg", COE expert in cultural policy issues professor Fuad Mammadov. His presentation was called "Culture as course of life".
- How important is the role of culture in the solution of third millennium problems? How can culture prevent conflicts?
"High moral culture is a clue to all human problems and foundation of national security and welfare. It is the only way to salvation, development and prosperity of man and society. Material well-being and rich natural resources, accompanied with a low level of culture, cannot give the desired fruit in terms of social development and do not yet guarantee happiness. Ignorance is poverty and evil, while poverty, in its turn, is a challenge for national security. It leads to the collapse of civil accord and makes a country vulnerable to an external threat. The main national wealth of the country is its cultural potential and, first of all, highly-cultured population. Based on this, civilized countries invest financial capital in the development of human and social resources - spiritual culture of people. The high level of spiritual culture promotes a further growth in material welfare of the entire society."
- What changes in our culture are necessary to build a democratic society?
"To improve the quality of life in Azerbaijan, a new cultural policy needs to be pursued, targeting transformation of the authoritarian Soviet culture into a democratic one. This envisions a synthesis of the best achievements of the traditional Azerbaijan culture with those of the innovative world culture, on the basis of principles and values of democratic culture".
- What is a cultural policy and what are its key social functions?
"A cultural policy is the policy in the area of developing human, social and state culture. The main objective of a new cultural policy in Azerbaijan is democratization of the national culture, which will enable to remove the ambivalence between the old Soviet style of culture and the requirements of the new socio-political system that certainly retard the development of our society. The transition to a new policy lies through reforming the old one and building a new cultural system in the country."
- What needs to be done to improve the effectiveness of cultural policy in Azerbaijan and in the world in general?
"To develop and implement an effective cultural policy, it is necessary, first of all, to adopt a new law on culture, based on a correct and scientific understanding of culture, and a law on culturological education. Considering the experience of civilized countries, a state council on cultural issues, an institute of culture, culturological centers must be established and special culturological curricula introduced in schools. To exercise a scientific approach to the establishment of such entities, the government could hold a national decade of cultural development in Azerbaijan."
- What proposals has "Simurg" put forward to contribute to the solution of pressing cultural problems?
"I have scientifically substantiated a thesis that the way to the new millennium lies through high culture. We have also made proposals concerning the technology of building peace culture in the world. At present, our association is working on projects of setting up the "Information-resource center of the national and world culture", "Public Forum of Azerbaijan Culture", "Culturological magazine Simurg", International conference "Dialog of civilizations", republican conference "Third sector and democratization of culture in Azerbaijan", etc. These projects, intended to contribute to the global task of building cultural and sustainable development, will be implemented on the basis of equal partnership with the government, foreign embassies, UN and other international organizations."
BRITISH DANCERS SAY JAZZ MUST ALWAYS CHANGE
British jazz group "Bullies Ballerinas" conducted a news conference at the Rashid Behbudov Song Theater last Wednesday, as art director of the group Jennifer Charles spoke of how the group was established and said its name did not fully correspond to what the dancers do on the stage.
All of them, she said, have ballet education, but the music is based on African jazz. The dances contain many rock-and-roll, Charleston and even step elements. Asked whether it is possible to use Azeri dancing elements, Mrs. Charles answered that the group was looking at local dances wherever it travels.
Since Thursday, the group will hold two concerts, two master-classes and show street-jazz.
EXHIBITION OF GERMAN CARICATURISTS DUE IN BAKU
An exhibition featuring 40 color caricature copies by Oscar Schmerling and Yusif Rotter is expected to open at the German-Azerbaijan Culture Center "Capelhaus" (near the German Church) at 6 p.m. December 8. Several hundred of their caricatures were published at the beginning of the century in a popular Azeri satirical magazine "Molla Nasraddin", says a press-release from the German embassy in Azerbaijan.
Also to be displayed at the exhibition are photos, pictures and texts, as well as some works of modern caricaturists. On December 9, specialists will study the impact of Schmerling and Rotter on the development of caricature art in Azerbaijan at a science conference.
The project has been jointly organized by the German embassy, the German-Azerbaijan Culture Center and the Mammadguluzadeh House-Museum.
CD OF "BAKU FALL" WINNERS COMING UP
A CD of winners of the "Baku Fall" competition will be produced shortly. The discs will be recorded at the "Europa+" studio in Baku, director of the radio station, one of the organizers of the competition, Ilgar Mahmudov told a news conference Tuesday. Also organizing the event are the Ministry of Youth and Sports and "Anadolu" restaurants. Records of 11 finalists will be included into the disc. 2,000 CDs will be issued.
FRENCH MUSICIAN PLAYS ORIENTAL MUSIC
Frenchman Mark Lupuit, playing the Ud, and Azeri Natiq Shirinov, playing the drums, are expected to give an "Oriental music with Ud" party at 7 p.m. on December 7 at the Rashid Behbudov Song Theater.
Mark Lupuit has been playing the Ud for a long time and has performed in Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Turkey.
Organizers of the concert are the Ministry of Culture, the Rashid Behbudov Song Theater and French embassy, the latter said Tuesday.
EXHIBITION UNDERWAY AT MINIATURE CENTER
A personal exhibition of the Azeri artist Maarif Babayev has started at the Azerbaijan Miniature Center. This is the artist's fourth personal exhibition, which displays over 60 oil pictures performed in the style of lyrical surrealism.
Addressing the opening ceremony, renowned artists from Baku regarded M. Babayev one of the best artists in Europe, whose name has been included into an international catalog. The exhibition is scheduled to last 2 weeks.
BP MAKING DIFFERENCE FOR HANDICAPPED KIDS
On the eve of the International Day of the Handicapped, BP has visited with the handicapped and orphan children at a children's camp "Jirtdan" in Shuvalan, where a BP-sponsored three-month social rehabilitation program has been underway since October 2000.
During the program, children from health institutions and orphanages, as well as 65 morally vulnerable children, will have the opportunity of health and psychological rehabilitation by resting together and communicating with each other. BP has also sponsored a 20-day summer break for 60 handicapped and orphan children in Shuvalan. BP has assumed all other expenses, including the purchase of household items, entertainment and training facilities, food, etc.
BP public relations coordinator Tamam Bayatli has said, "We, as a force taking Azerbaijan to a better future, have invested primarily in the development of science, culture and education. We try to create equal conditions for everyone to study, develop and rest. Therefore, projects of assistance to the handicapped and orphans prevail among our humanitarian activities. A number of important heath projects for the handicapped, their moral and psychological rehabilitation and income generation have been implemented with sponsorship from BP. We intend to undertake charity activities for children in this camp".
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Issue No.49(179), 2000
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