2024-12-31-accounts - The Francis Skaryna Belarusian Library And Museum

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Francis Skaryna Library and Museum: 2024 Highlights

2024 was a transformative year for the Francis Skaryna Library and Museum in London. One of the major achievements was the reconstruction and expansion of the museum space, which now includes a newly developed area in the building’s former attic. This additional space will house the Historical Museum of the Belarusian Revival, dedicated to presenting Belarus’s cultural and historical identity – from the era of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to the national revival of the 20th century. The exhibition highlights the fluidity of borders, languages, and traditions, reflecting the shared identity of the peoples who lived on these lands.

Complementing the physical museum, the virtual museum made significant progress this year. Its development aims to enrich the visitor experience and provide remote access to the library’s unique artefacts.

Archival Work and Collection Development

Archival organisation was a central focus in 2024. Substantial work was undertaken to systematise existing archives and improve the archival room to ensure the physical safety and accessibility of the collections.

Thanks to the generosity of Dr Alan Flowers, the library acquired the Vera Rich collection and began its initial processing.

Work also continued on the extensive archive of the library’s founder, Bishop Ceslaus Sipovich, whose 110th birth anniversary was marked in December. In addition to being a distinguished church leader – the first Belarusian Greek-Catholic bishop since the early 19th century – Bishop Sipovich played a vital role in Belarusian civic life and maintained close ties with prominent Belarusian and British figures within the diaspora.

The music and audio archives saw major advancements as well. Under the leadership of conductor Halina Kazimirouskaja, the archive of composer Mikola Kulikovic was digitised. This effort culminated in a concert by the Concordia Choir at the Belarusian Church of St Cyril of Turau, where Kulikovic’s works were performed publicly for the first time.

New acquisitions included rare books from the private collection of the late Belarusian-Polish historian Jury Turonak and traditional puppets for the Batlejka puppet theatre.

Our work on cataloguing the library’s extensive book collection, along with its maps and postage stamps, continued with the support of our volunteers, who are professional librarians and subject specialists. A significant portion of the collection has now been catalogued by one of these volunteers, who developed a custom classification system aligned with current international standards and has begun implementing it. Nevertheless, much work still lies ahead!

Building Partnerships

The library expanded its partnerships through collaborations with esteemed academic and cultural institutions. A cooperation agreement with the University of Warsaw’s Institute for Intercultural Studies established a Research Centre for Belarusian Studies, enabling scholarly

exchanges. The inaugural event – a symposium on the legacy of the 25 March 1918 Act – examined questions of Belarusian national identity.

The library also partnered with the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies and the Ostrogorski Centre for the annual Belarusian Studies conference. Preparations are already underway for the 2025 conference, which will mark the 60th anniversary of the Journal of Belarusian Studies . Additional engagements this year included participation in the Herder Institute’s summer school and the Polish-Belarusian-Ukrainian roundtable in Augustów.

Among notable publications were Vacłaŭ Łastoŭski’s 1928 Expedition: A Preserved Heritage , featuring photographs from Łastoŭski’s ethnographic journey. A facsimile edition of Larysa Hienijuš’s manuscript poetry collection is also nearing completion.

Cultural Events and Visitors

The library hosted a rich array of cultural events, welcoming researchers, writers, and artists. Notable visitors included historians Joanna Getka, Piotr Cichoracki, and Tatsiana Astrouskaya, as well as poets Valzhyna Mort and Taciana Niadbaj. Recitals, literary meetings, and presentations enlivened the annual calendar, while new internships organised in cooperation with Bright Belarus provided young Belarusians with valuable professional experience.

Key commemorations included the centenary of Vasil Bykaŭ and the Night of (Un)Executed Poets, honouring the victims of Stalinist repression. Traditional folk celebrations and the 70th anniversary of the Anglo-Belarusian Society further highlighted Belarusian cultural heritage.

Looking Ahead

The Trustees look forward to continued growth in 2025, strengthened by the unwavering support of volunteers and well-wishers around the world. With major projects on the horizon, the Francis Skaryna Library and Museum remains a vital centre of Belarusian culture, scholarship, and community.

Receipts and Payments Accounts

made on 29January 2025, approved by the trustees with small corrections on 30 January 2025