Ala SAINENCO, Manager of the Ipotești Memorial, Botoșani, at FERM 2025: “We are building a living cultural identity through activities accessible to the public”

REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM MOLDOVA 2025

19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025

Thematic Panel:

Culture and Regional Identity – Tradition, Innovation and Social Cohesion

Speaker:

Ala Sainenco – Manager, Ipotești Memorial, Botoșani

Topic of the intervention:

“Heritage for the Community: How Do We Approach Eminescu Today?”

At this year’s Regional Economic Forum Moldova (FERM 2025), held from July 9 to 13 in Vatra Dornei, Ala Sainenco, manager of the Ipotești Memorial in Botoșani, delivered a comprehensive intervention within Panel 10 – Culture and Regional Identity, emphasizing how cultural heritage can contribute to building a strong and recognized regional identity.

Regional Identity and the Role of the Ipotești Memorial

Drawing on the objectives of the multiannual programmatic document for the Moldova 2025 region, which aims to create a strong regional identity by 2030, Sainenco highlighted that Botoșani, the county of “geniuses,” represents a striking example of valuable cultural heritage, while also presenting challenges in transmitting this identity to the public.

“Our citizens, approximately 4 million Moldovans, experience a consolidated perception of identity shaped in Romania. In Botoșani, the roughly 90,000 residents relate to a strong identity, highlighted by four remarkable personalities – Eminescu, Iorga, Enescu, and Luchia – but the list of Botoșani geniuses goes far beyond these names, including figures such as Grigore Antipa, Octav Pâncilă, Scarlat Vânat, and Mihai Ciucă.”

This multitude of cultural landmarks, as noted by the memorial manager, is a source of local pride, counterbalancing the stereotype of “neglect” associated with the region in some studies. At the same time, she emphasized the importance of recognizing and leveraging this identity in practical terms: how it can be presented and made accessible to the public, so it does not remain merely a theoretical symbol.

Demystifying Eminescu and Connecting with the Public

A central point of the intervention was how the Ipotești Memorial relates to the figure of Mihai Eminescu. Sainenco highlighted the challenges posed by the mythicized perception of the poet.

“People come to the Memorial expecting to find a mythicized Eminescu and places filled with ceremonial pomp. In Romanian culture, the poet has been sanctified, and comparisons with other cultures show the difference – neither the French, the Germans, nor the Russians have turned literary symbols into absolute, untouchable entities.”

Consequently, the Ipotești Memorial promotes a demythologized Eminescu, closer to people, capable of generating cultural activities and events that strengthen regional identity in a lively and accessible way.

A Comprehensive Annual Cultural Agenda

Next, Ala Sainenco presented the diverse cultural activities organized by the Memorial throughout the year:

• Creative writing camps for children from the counties of Botoșani, Dorohoi, Daragan, and Iași;

• Text interpretation schools for language and literature teachers from Romania and the Republic of Moldova;

• Summer doctoral schools, in partnership with universities such as the University of Cluj;

• Festivals and days dedicated to Eminescu, including debut literary festivals and award ceremonies;

• Folk festivals, painting, photography, and creative writing camps;

• Projects such as “Poets in Dialogue,” which bring poets to schools inside and outside the county;

• Temporary exhibitions in the Memorial’s halls.

Sainenco explained that the Ipotești Memorial functions not only as a museum but also as a multifunctional cultural and educational center, with diverse structures: the Dinobici Family House, the Family Chapel, the graves of Eminescu’s parents and siblings, the Papadopul House, the Ethnographic Museum, the Mihai Eminescu Museum, the Coria-Biernea Temporary Exhibition Hall, the Lily Pond, the Mihai Eminescu poetry library, and a tourist facility with accommodation spaces.

Conclusion

Ala Sainenco’s intervention highlighted the active role of cultural heritage in defining and promoting regional identity. More than simply preserving the past, the Ipotești Memorial becomes a living space where culture and education intertwine to build a sense of belonging and local pride.

By demythologizing Eminescu and providing a diverse annual calendar of events, camps, exhibitions, and educational projects, the institution not only preserves the memory of a national poet but also engages the community, youth, and general public in the process of strengthening a relevant and modern regional identity.

This approach emphasizes that identity is not merely a symbol or label, but an active process built through cultural experiences, dialogue, and participation. The Ipotești Memorial demonstrates that heritage can be a generative force for social cohesion, education, and cultural development, transforming historical sites into centers of inspiration and engagement for the entire Moldova region.