Mission

The Centre for Cultural Relations – Caucasian House, is a cultural, educational and peacebuilding organization. In 1989-1990 Caucasian House developed a concept for a peaceful, democratic and solidarity-based Caucasus region, by having launched the all-Caucasian cultural-environmental movement under the slogan: “The Caucasus – Our Common Home”.

Since then Caucasian House aims to maintain the vision of the Caucasus as a peaceful and culturally vibrant region. Its mission is to:

• Protect and save cultural heritage of Georgia and the Caucasus;
• Study different cultures of the Caucasus;
• Promote dialogue between Caucasian cultures, Georgia, and its direct neighbors.
• Create a spiritual and intellectual basis necessary for reconciliation of the Caucasian
  peoples currently in conflict.
• Promote environmental awareness and humanism.

Background of the organization

In 1973, with the initiative of the prominent Georgian public figure and historian Otar Nodia (1928-1993) the Main Editorial Collegium of Literary Translation and Literary Relations was established. Having gathered the best cultural researchers, philologists and translators, the Collegium gradually transformed into a multicultural intellectual centre and became the place for dialogues between different cultures, and a place where people of different nationalities and confessions worked together. The Collegium paid special attention to the study and translation of Caucasian literature.

In 1994, based on the resolution of the Council of Ministers of Georgia, the Center for Cultural Relations – Caucasian House was founded, becoming the legal successor of the Collegium. In 1999, the NGO Center for Cultural Relations – Caucasian House was founded by the employees of the former budget agency, which, with the help of partners, donors and kindred souls, has since implemented various educational, social, research, cultural and environmental projects.

Location and team

The Caucasian House is located in Tbilisi, Georgia, in the ancestral home of the Russian Smirnoff aristocrats, built in the mid-19th century.

The team of the Caucasian House consists of people of different nationalities, who manage various cultural, educational and peacebuilding projects. The organization is governed by the General Assembly, Board and the Executive Director. Chairman of the board is the prominent Georgian writer and founder of the Caucasian House – Naira Gelashvili.

Results

Since its establishment, the Caucasian House has become a driver of numerous progressive cultural and social processes in Georgia and the Caucasus. It has provided a unique platform for poets, writers, artists and musicians with different ethnic backgrounds to present their work and culture. The Caucasian House has organized hundreds of exhibitions, literary and musical evenings, international and regional conferences, seminars and roundtables related to its mission.

The Caucasian House has sheltered and gave education to thousands of school children and university students on the Caucasus region, environment, humanism, tolerance and peace. It still is one of the largest intellectual centres in Georgia and has published hundreds of books and studies in the fields of fiction, folklore, philosophy, theology and history.

Strategy for the future

Caucasian House plans to continue its multidimensional activities along the path leading to the fulfillment of its mission. Short and midterm plans of the organization include:

• Adapting innovative methods in children’s education.
• Strengthening religious and ethnic tolerance in Georgia and Caucasus.
• Promoting the development of ecologically clean agriculture and farming.

 

Relationship with Horizon

In 1998 Stichting Horizon reconstructed and restored the Caucasian House’s damaged building and since then it has remained a sponsor to the cultural and educational projects of the organization. Long term projects supported by the Stichting Horizon includes:

• The People’s University of Caucasian House
• Weekend School for refugee and socially vulnerable children
• Culture Calendar
• Internet Diary of the Caucasian House
• Publishing activities of the Caucasian House