Tbilisi. Civil Society Organizations released a statement on the Initiated Amendments to the Law on Cultural Heritage. "The undersigned organizations disapprove of the draft submitted by the government of Georgia to the legislative branch. We call on the Parliament to refrain from adopting the initiative amending the Law of Georgia on Cultural Heritage and allowing cancellation of the status to the monument in exceptional conditions and in state necessities .  The initiated amendment does not specify what is implied under exceptional condition  or state necessity . They contain high risk of bias in decision making process and might have negative effect on protection of cultural heritage", says the statement. The statement is open for signature for civil society organizations, as well as private individuals. Statement

Tbilisi. CSO "First Step Georgia" will organize an annual welfare concert on December 18. BekaGochiashvili, Georgian jazz musician will perform at the event. In addition, the auction will be held and the lottery tickets will be sold. Raised amount will be entirely spent on the children with disabilities and their families involved in the programs of the "First Step Georgia". Full information on the event Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. Another photo exhibition was held on November 16 in the Batumi Press Cafe as part of the project "Vision Beyond Obstacles", organized by the Press Cafe and the "Independent Journalists' House". This time the visitors saw the works of a young photographer from Batumi Gela (Sera) Dzneladze. After the exhibition, the film by Steven Silver - "The Bang Bang Club" - as selected by the photographer was shown.In addition, the "Independent Journalists' House" has developed the photographer's video portrait.

Tbilisi. The Center of United Public Initiatives has released the statement, by which the organization addresses the Chairman of the Parliament and Ministers Giorgi Kvirikashvili and GuramOdisharia. The appeal discusses the new draft law, which aims to amend the Law of Georgia on "Cultural Heritage". "Although we have thoroughly studied all materials related to the draft law, the real essence and purpose of adopting it is still unclear and vague. The explanatory note is silent on the objectives of initiator following the amendments, and further, we would like to negatively assess the fact that in respect of these amendments the initiator has not included any state or non-governmental organization, any expert or international organization, and no consultations have been held. "Please make sure that the real motivation of the Government of Georgia is known to the public without delay, and what is the objective of the new legislative amendments," says the statement. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. Another project of CSO ArtWay – "Art-Focused Seminars" has officially completed. Final meeting with participation of LashaBughadze and DatoTurashvili was held in the Batumi Press Cafe. Four seminars were organized as part of the project: contemporary Georgian/European theatre and the topic of love/sex in dramaturgy; foundations of Georgian photography and its development by periodicals; creative psychology and "Art Therapy"; Georgian and European literature; chronological development of the Georgian literature. The project aimed to popularize informal education and involve youth in the cultural processes. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. An "Independent Journalists' House" has organized a photo exhibition on November 5 in the Batumi Press Cafe. This time the visitors enjoyed the photos of journalist MananaKveliashvili. An addition, during the exhibition a video portrait about an amateur photographer produced as part of the project, as well as the movie of Director Ki-duk Kim "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring" were shown. The project aims at popularizing and supporting the photo artists working in Batumi. The project is supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of the Adjara Autonomous Republic.

Adjara. Up to fifty young artists from the city of Sevan of the Armenian Republic have visited on November 1 the beneficiary poetesses of CSO "Deserving Old Age". The guests have first listened to the Association's beneficiaries, and then recited poems themselves in the Georgian, Russian and Armenian languages. The meeting unrolled in the format of dialogue of generations. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. "Go Group" has released a new video in the social network. It is recorded in Samegrelo and depicts the activities of one lady who possesses a unique technology for creating Megrelian felt capes. "Go Group" has produced the video in partnership with the gender network "Mercury". The video. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The youth movement Davitianni has organized an event dedicated to the International Animation Day. To celebrate the Day, up to 35 children with disabilities have gathered in the Tbilisi Zoo. Painting contest was held and the Georgian cartoons were shown. Students of the Arts Academy have painted one of the Zoo walls with the Georgian cartoon characters. The event aimed at popularizing the Georgian cartoons and animation characters.

Kakheti. "Non-governmental Monitoring of Cultural Heritage" and the "Civil Initiative" implement the project "Active Youth - Protected Cultural Heritage". As part of the project, in four villages of the Sighnaghi District - Kv. Machkhaani, Tibaani, Vakiri and Anaga - local schoolchildren will collect and register the material and non-material cultural heritage (old Kizik houses, photos, rarity items and oral stories) of these villages, which will be uploaded on the Municipality's web site under a special category. Further, reference signs will be posted in Sighnaghi that will indicate the attractions of these villages. The project is implemented with financial support of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Samtskhe-Javakheti. At the initiative of the member of the Akhaltsikhe Youth Center, a public presentation on rock and its history was held in the office of the Union of Democrat Meskhetians. The event was held as part of the "Advancing National Integration in Georgia" project, implemented by the United Nations Association of Georgia with financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. Sulkhan Saladze's photo exhibition has opened on October 14 in the Batumi Press Cafe.At the exhibition, the photograph's video portrait and the film "Good Bye Lenin" were shown.Photo exhibition was organized as part of the project "Vision beyond Obstacles". The project's partner is the "Independent Journalists' House", supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of the Adjara Autonomous Republic. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Ciné-DOC Tbilisi Documentary Film Festival - is the first international documentary festival in the South of Caucasus that focuses on creative documentary. The festival will take place from 15 - 20 October 2013 in Tbilisi. The general audience will have the chance to view a variety of documentary films with a unique directing vision, an original visual style, sympathetic protagonists and powerful stories. The film screenings will be followed by open discussions and debates, master classes with renowned film directors, open sessions with invited international guests. For full text Source:osgf.ge

Kakheti. The "Festival of Folk Craft, Cooking and Art - Nukriani 2013" was held on October5 in the village Nukriani of the Sighnaghi Municipality. The Festival included the exhibition of works of individual masters and folk craft workshops operating within the Municipality, ethnographic corner, and the concert of folk ensembles. Other events included the exhibition-sale of agricultural products (agro-market); traditional Georgian cuisine; sale of local wine and bio-wine; sports events; old Georgian martial art "Khridoli"; photo exhibition-sale. The Festival is supported by: Diakonisches Werk der EKD, BfdW, Deutschland; the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia; the cultural relations center - Caucasian House; the Community Development Center; the community organization Nukriani; "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation; the Sighnaghi Municipality Gamgeoba.

Tbilisi. With the support of the LEPL Children and Youth Development Fund of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, the Union of Young Artists and Curators has opened an unusual exhibition on October 3, titled "Georgia of the 1990s". The building of the former editorial house hosts a one-week exhibition. Exhibited were the works created specifically on the topic of the 1990s. Opening of the exhibition was followed by a public discussion with participating artists and invited guests. After Tbilisi, at the end of October "Georgia of the 1990s" will visit other cities of Georgia as well. Source: the Children and Youth Fund.

On August 15-25, in Ukraine, in the city of Theodosia, in the frames of project "New Life for Culture: Art for Legacy” an international workshop will be held. During 10 days, 21 young artists from Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia will work in the Antique Museum of Theodosia. They will organize a photo exhibition and will deepen their knowledge in the field.  The above mentioned workshop is the part of the seven events, which should be organized from September 2012 to September 2013. Source:cso.ge

Tbilisi. U.S. Embassy awarded Summer Photo Contest Winners. According to the rules, the photo must had reflected  the author's favorite summer activity. Embassy employees and officials named three winners. Photo Contest Winners Source:the organization's page in the social network

The EU Culture Factory gears up. The first of its activities the Street Art Festival ArtActive is launched in Zugdidi on June the 16th. The festival aims at sharing the rich cultural heritage of the European cities, where public street art reveals the living soul and rhythm of each city. ArtActive will bring together the local Georgian population and European artists. The festival will introduce the best samples of street art from various countries of Europe, showing how dialogue and shared good feelings enable people to communicate and grow together beyond linguistic and cultural diversity. For full text Source:Delegation of the European Union to Georgia's web page

Kakheti. The documentary "Life Continues" was shown in Gurjaani in the "Media Center Kakheti" and "Media Cafe Telavi". Civic club members of the public schools have attended the event. According to the schoolchildren, it is important to hold such events as they enhance the approximation and development of youngsters.

Tbilisi. Topic of the 17 April edition of the Caucasian House's online diary is the Chechen folk poetry. PhD in philology, expert in the Caucasian issues MekaGankhoshvili talks about the topic in the diary. 17 April edition of the online diary.

Samegrelo.As part of the project "Advancing National Integration in Georgia", the youth center of association "Atinati" has organized the photo exhibition "My Samegrelo". Works for the photo exhibition were selected based on the competition with participation of young photographers from the region.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Students of the 18th intake of the weekend multiethnic school of the Caucasian House have visited the well-known Gari Davtiani family theatre in Tbilisi. Following his death, is spouse and children continue with the activities. A toy theatre located in the small house of the old Tbilisi yard turned out to be extremely impressive for children. There each item, picture or accessory breathes with art, and seems that the toys are alive.The weekend multiethnic school project is funded by the European Fund "Horizon". Source: the organization's page in the social network.