A press conference of the organisers of the upcoming jubilee international arts festival "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" was held today at the Summer Amphitheatre.
Gleb Lapitsky, General Director of the Vitebsk Culture Centre and Director of the Arts Festival, announced that the previously announced projects, contests, and concerts will take place. More than 30 participants are expected to take part in the adult and children's contests. The official festival website will provide updates on the concert schedule and participant list.
Petr Podgursky, Head of the Department of Culture of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, noted that national culture from the region's districts will also contribute to the festival atmosphere. "All regions will participate in projects at various festival venues. The Philharmonic Society, the Regional Centre for Folk Art, and museums have prepared a splendid programme," he emphasised.
As is tradition, a fair will be held in Zadvine, and the "City of Masters" will be located on Pushkin and Suvorov Streets. The streets of the festival city will be enriched with works by artists, craftspeople, and folk artisans. Five exhibitions will open at the Regional Museum of Local Lore during the "Slavianski Bazaar". Philatelic exhibits from 80 collections of philatelists from different countries will be presented to the public. An exhibition of Khokhloma painting and embroidery will be brought from Russia. The museum will extend its opening hours during the forum.
Ekaterina Labuko, Director of the Regional Methodological Centre for Folk Art, announced that a majorette and drum majorette competition will be held in the city. A competition of traditional folk dances "Tanchym Razam" (Dancing Together) will be organised on Svobody Square, bringing together about 500 participants. "We plan to hold a flash mob with them: together with dance groups in national costumes, we will form a large round dance and then parade through the city streets. After all, contestants will come to us from different parts of the country, all in the costumes of their respective regions, which differ in their colourful diversity," added Ekaterina Labuko, noting that the mass procession of participants will be a vibrant event and will add national flavour to the festival. In addition to Belarusians, ensembles from Ukraine and Russia are expected to participate in the folk projects.