Not all the museums of Belarus represent traditional expositions in the framework of permanent and temporary exhibitions in buildings with several floors. At a certain period in history, a kind of open-air museums became popular, which recreated the ultimate atmosphere of the past centuries, and which were ideal for displaying life and culture of Belarusian towns and villages. The museum of crafts in the village of Glusha may serve as an example of it.

The exposition features

It was decided to found the museum of crafts in Glusha village of Bobruisk district, Mogilev region in the early 80s of the last century. Unfortunately, due to financial problems, the project had to be suspended at a certain moment after the Soviet Union dissolution and it hasn’t been completed yet. However, there is something worth seeing even without it.

A windmill and a church stand out among the key and best preserved components of the complex:

• the mill is functioning, although its construction date is considered the period from the end of the XIX century to the beginning of the XX century. It is noteworthy that, unlike other items, it was brought from the Russian lands, namely the famous city of Ivanovo;
• the church named after St. Panteleimon relates to the year of 1880. According to several reliable sources, it originally belonged to the Old Believers, but now the parishioners of Orthodox faith come here. The church has become a part of an open-air museum since the very first days of its functioning, brought from the nearby village of Ugly.

Two buildings – “House of a rich man” and “Poor man's house” dating back to XIX century, are also of interest for the visitors of the ethnographic museum in Glusha. A pottery is located in the first one today (where anyone can buy a unique product of blue-green clay for himself, which you are unlikely to find anywhere else), and there is a cooperage (which is currently under reconstruction) in the second one. It is worth mentioning that the name “Farm of a rich and a poor”, referring to the entire exposition, was firmly rooted among the people long time ago.

Sometime the examples of peasant huts, a sauna and several other valuable items were taken there as well. Unfortunately, when the financing stoppages came in, many of the buildings did not receive proper care, so today they are dilapidated houses. Luckily, the local villagers continue to support the museum of crafts and watch over the exposition state.

The interest to the open-air museum was gradually growing. Thus, in 2010, quite a large and significant in the history of Belarusian culture event was held there - the first festival of crafts and folk trades.

A children's group “Glechiki” along with a health center is located on the territory of the museum complex in order to maintain financially functioning of the museum at least a little bit.

Despite the fact that nowadays the museum of crafts of Glusha village is considered abandoned, you can visit it during the tours around Mogilev region. It is of particular interest for foreigners, who know little about the technologies of production and usage of truly Belarusian objects of culture and life. Perhaps in the near future, it will provoke the resumption of functioning and the exhibition arrangement under the open sky of Mogilev region.