In 2023 the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus for the first time took part in the International Inter-Museum Project “All the World’s a Stage!”, held for the 14th time under the patronage of the State Museum of the History of Religion (St. Petersburg, Russia).
The participants of the competition were asked to trace the inextricable relationship between various religious beliefs and theatrical art.
From time immemorial, vibrant theatrical traditions have flourished in cultures around the world. For example, the Egyptian priests widely used theatrical effects in their ritual practices. In ancient Greece, theatres existed as one of the ways of venerating the god Dionysus, in whose honor tragedies and comedies were staged. The birth of European theatre is associated with the emergence of liturgical drama and nativity scenes. The theatres of the countries of the East amazed the audience with their diversity: Indian puppet theatre and dramatic performances told the tales of Hindu deities, and Japanese performances included not only ritual scenes, but also elements of real-life martial arts.
Young artists of age 5–16 got were introduced to the ancient epics, Slavic fairy tales and legends, the mythology of the countries of the East with their variety of forms and themes, and were to reflect their impressions in visual art works.
From August 17 to September 4, 2023 the halls of the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus will host an exhibition of children's works selected by the International project “All the World’s a Stage!”