Campus Notes: Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Professor Tomas Venclova honored in Russia

Tomas Venclova, professor of Slavic languages and literatures and a renowed Lithuanain poet, received the Baltic Star in St. Petersburg last week.

The award is for developing and strengthening cultural ties among the countries of the Baltic region. It was established in 2004 by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Union of Theater Workers of the Russian Federation, the Committee on Culture of the Government of Saint Petersburg and several other organizations. Among the two dozen previous recipients are Andrzej Wajda, Polish film director; Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of the Russian State Hermitage Museum; and Arvo Piart, Estonian composer.

Recipients are selected by a committee consisting of theater critics, representatives of embassies and general consulates in the Baltic region, and directors of cultural centers and institutions. The award includes a diploma, a medal and a cash prize.