Adjara.  Charity  Fund  "Ghvtisshvilebi"  (God's  Children)  has  organized  a  charityexhibition-sale on August 10.Painters  from Batumi  and Tbilisi  have  united  to  assist  children with  disabilities.Funds raised from sold paintings were transferred to 10 children. Money raised alsofrom the charity concert held in the Batumi Drama Theatre on the same day wasspent on these children as well.This Fund was established few years ago. Charity events organized by the Fundhave financially assisted 27 children already.

Adjara. The Artists' House "Argani" has informed the public about the Batumi 9th International Auteur Film Festival on August7 in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center. The organizers have selected films for the 2014 Festival from 50 countries. Over one week, 40 full-length feature and documentary and 40 short films will be shown. A five-member jury will identify best films from each genre. The Festival will open on September 14.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Photo artist Natela Grigalashvili came up with the idea of establishing photo clubs in rural areas, and has started implementing it in village Gorelovka of the Ninotsminda Municipality with support of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation. As part of the project funded by the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation - "Village Photo Club - Gorelovka", interested persons were selected and the photo club was established, uniting 12 Georgian, Russian and Armenian amateur photographs of 15-62 years of age. Participants were provided with photo cameras; Photo artists Guramtsibakhashvili, Tea Soselia and Natela Grigalashvili have delivered workshops and seminars; photo tours were organized. The exhibition of works of the village photo club members was organized on August 4 in the Culture House of village Gorelovka. For the full text (geo) Source: osgf.ge

Kakheti. CSO "Civil Initiative" has placed an information banner in front of the Marriage House in Sighnaghi, which informs the guests and locals about tourist attractions of several villages nearby Sighnaghi. In particular, the information includes attractions of villages Anaga, Vakiri, KvemoMachkhaani and Tibaani. Identical information was posted also on the web page of the Sighnaghi Municipality. Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Kakheti. The Community Development Center, community union "Nukriani" and the Consultations and Training Center have released a publication as part of the joint project: "Cultural Resources of the Sighnaghi Municipality". It includes Sighnaghi's cultural resources: museums, libraries, cultural houses, wine cellars, ethnographic yards, urban and cult cultural heritage, etc. The project is financially supported by the Policy, Advocacy and Civil Society Development in Georgia Program of the East-West Management Institute. Source: web page of the Community Development Center in the social network.

Adjara. The Festival of Mono-Plays was opened on July 30 in the Batumi Ilia Chavchavadze Drama Theatre. As part of the festival, selected directors will present mono-plays of playwrights from 6 cities. As part of the project, only plays that have never been published before will be staged. The Festival aims to promote professional development of young playwrights, actors and directors, increase motivation, communication, and boost public interest towards the mono-plays. The Festival was opened with the play "Self-Shot", which is built on the scenario of a reality show. Topics of the plays are unrestricted. Plays will begin in the Batumi Drama Theatre every day at 19:00 through August 4. The Festival of Mono-Plays is organized by the youth CSO "Art Way" and the Adjara Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports.

Tbilisi. Any interested person can buy the works exhibited at the exhibition-sale "Her House" organized by the Women's Fund and Artisterium online. Raised funds will be entirely spent on single women. The "European House" has disseminated relevant information in the social network. Buy online. Source: page of the "European House" in the social network.

Adjara. Members of the Democratic Narrative Group have presented narrative performances built on different stories in the three municipalities of Adjara - Keda, Shuakhevi and Khulo. Performances aimed at promoting democratic values and civil activism. The audience included youngsters as well as other age groups. Similar meetings were held also in Batumi and the Kobuleti, Khelvachauri and Keda Municipalities. In addition, it is planned to organize them in various villages, cities or boroughs. The "Democratic Narrative Group" unites youngsters of different age and profession. They create narrative performances on the examples of democracy and civil activism and then present them to various audiences. CSO "Borjghali" organizes the presentation of these performances in various municipalities with financial support of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation and the Department for Sports and Youth Affairs of the Adjara Autonomous Republic.

Kakheti. With initiative of "Civic Initiative” and NGOs implementing the project "My Village” the action was held in Tsnori.The action aimed the revival of cultural life in the village, and to save cultural houses abandoned and neglected. Representative of Civic Initiative, Nana Bagalishvili pointed out that "by this action we direct our attention to unavailability of services in Municipality cultural houses and would like to reach to relevant departments, ministries and organization representatives. We are going to hold moving exhibition as well. Each photo will be printed together with slogan on one banner; then we will take those banners to all festivals, open air exhibitions, where decision-makers will visit. I believe, with this kind of form they will have to think more accented that availability of cultural services is much important for villages.

Tbilisi. On July 15-19 musical festival "Kavkaz Jazz” was held organized by NGO "Art Bridge”. Musicians from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Poland took part in the event. Within festival framework master classes were also held for young performers. Parallel to the event round table series was held where representatives of four countries had talk regarding current situation on regional music market.  "Kavkaz Jazz” has been held since 2010, every year. Now was the fifth anniversary.  Source: Organization's page in the social network     

Tbilisi. On July 17 a seminar – "International Convention Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage”was held organized byEducation, Science and Cultural Committee of 2014 Youth Parliament. The seminar aimed to raise awareness for UNESCO conventions connected to protection of Cultural Heritage.The seminar was led by head of Department of International Relations of Georgian Cultural Heritage Protection National Agency. Source: Organization's page in the social network    

Tbilisi. Members of Georgian Youth Parliament, education, science and culture committee held a briefing. The deputies discussed current problems regarding gold mine and presented a plan of problem solving to the Ministry of Culture; the plan was drawn up by young parliamentarians together with this field experts. Source: Organization web-site in social network   

Adjara. On July 15 "Hammock” – Audio Disc Presentation was held in Batumi TBC Gallery. Verses of Batumi poets are recorded on the disc. They are completed by Irakli Sharadze’s compositions. The disc edition was provided by the organization "Caucasus” and literary club with financial support of Department of Sport and Your Affairs of Adjara. The presentation was attended by representatives of society organizations involved in arts, members of the Supreme Council, young poets and representatives of Writers’ Union. Edition of audio disks of other poets and making audio-library are planned for future.       

Tbilisi. Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia applies to NGOs which have already signed memorandum of collaboration with the Ministry and plan to participate in the process of elaboration of the cultural policy of Georgia. Based on the Ministry recommendation the organizations have got opportunity to address UNESCO affairs national commission for financing various kinds of projects in cultural policy context. For the full text Source:culture.gov.ge    

Tbilisi. The Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation was executed on July 9 between the Ministry of Culture and 31 CSOs. The Memorandum regulates partnership with CSOs in the process of drafting the cultural policy document. Prior to the signing ceremony, the action plan for the development of cultural policy was presented and discussed. Source: culture.gov.ge

Kvemo Kartli. SIQA's art direction "SIQART" has organized the "World Music Day" in Rustavi on June 21. The event aimed to discover talents and introduce them to general public. Youngsters from Rustavi, who have demonstrated their art to the audience, have participated in the activity. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. "Libtime" has produced another program: "Cultural heritage monuments". Lawyer from the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association Sulkhan Saladze has visited the Libtime's cycle of programs "Libtime". The program's topic concerned general steps for granting the status of a cultural heritage monument, measures taken by the state to protect cultural heritage and the policy of the Ministry of Culture in this respect.The program. Source: Libcenter's web page in the social network.

Adjara. On June 19 two-day seminar "How to attract an audience and what do they want?” was held in Batumi Art Teaching University. Recommendations for the art organization representatives of Adjara were given by an expert of the British consulting firm. Workshop on the topic of strategic marketing and audience development was planned within collaboration of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Adjara and the British Council. It aims development of performing art in the region.

Adjara. On June 14 a concert was held in Batumi Piazza dedicated to international day of persons with disabilities organized by Your Organization "Art Way” and "Changes for Equal Rights”. Various groups and singers took part in the concert. After concert was finished participants and audience flew colored kites together.

Tbilisi. According to the "Liberal" magazine, the City Court has invalidated the decision of the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection on the annulment of Sakdrisi-Kachaghiani's status of cultural heritage monument. CSO "Green Alternative" has been challenging the Minister's relevant order in court. For the full text (geo) Source: liberali.ge

Imereti. As part of the project "Continue the Discussion", CSO "Impulse 91" has organized a photo exhibition with the main topic of human rights and in particular co-living of different humans. 12 photos were selected out of up to 50 works submitted as part of the photo exhibition, which were used on May 22 at the White Bridge in Kutaisi. The project "Continue the Discussion" is implemented with support of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation.

Tbilisi. The "Bethlehem District Festival" was organized on May 18 in the Bethlehem District. It has already become a tradition and developed based on one of the projects of ICOMOS Georgia - "Community-Based Revitalization of the Bethlehem District". The community of the Bethlehem District has offered to the festival guests various interesting and diverse programs, including the exhibition-sale of paintings and handcraft items, and seminar in the botanical garden about the art of flower-growing. As part of the festival, the space was dedicated to the Sakdrisi topic. Photo exhibition of tools discovered in the Sakdrisi mine was organized and the books in the Georgian and foreign languages were exhibited, which talk about this extremely important archaeological site; photos taken at the Sakdrisi support events were also exhibited.