OPTICAL GRAVITATIONAL LENSING EXPERIMENT - A CCD SEARCH FOR VARIABLE-STARS IN OPEN CLUSTERS - NGC-5381

We present results of the search for variable stars in the field of th e open cluster NGC 5381. Observations conducted from March to Septembe r 1997 led to discovery of 18 new variable stars. 13 stars are eclipsi ng variables; light curves of 7 of them are typical for W UMa type sta rs and remaining six are EA Algol-like systems. Five stars, for which we cannot estimate periods from the present data, we call tentatively long term variables. For previously known variable QR Cen an accurate light curve was obtained. This star turned out to be an EA type eclips ing system with the period of 2.(d)2903 (about two times longer than o btained earlier).