Vitebsk summed up the results of the XXXII International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar".
Summarizing its results, the General Director of the Vitebsk Culture Center and Director of the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk, Gleb Lapitsky, stated:
— The thirty-second festival is already history, but it is also the arithmetic of numbers. At 23 festival venues, which is two more than last year, over 200 events took place (20 more than in 2022). The festival is not just about numbers, but also, of course, about emotions. Our exhibition program, among other things, provides them. It was a record-breaking year: 12 exhibition projects were successfully held. The theater program was represented by seven projects. The number of accredited participants working at the festival was also unprecedented: as of the morning of July 17, it was 5,806 people — a grand return after all our pandemic "swings." The "Seven Winds" Street Art Fest alone was visited by over 100,000 people. All the numbers indicate that the festival is loved and anticipated. For these few days in July, the city does not sleep; the city lives by the festival. Yes, some may say that the "Slavianski Bazaar" is not what it used to be. Indeed, it is different now, more modern in some ways, but it does not lose its main essence — its soul. This year, it brought together representatives from 35 countries of the world on the hospitable Vitebsk land.
— Were there guests from Europe at the festival as well? — we inquire.
Gleb Lapitsky begins to list:
— Italy, Spain, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia… There is no point in naming all the countries from memory, as we are sincerely happy to welcome everyone — our festival unites, it does not create borders.
Judging by the feedback, the new format of the Union State Days was very popular with the audience. "Slavianski Bazaar" is a project that accommodates the Union State Days, Brazil Day, and Pakistan Day, Gleb Lapitsky muses:
— There is a place for everyone at the festival. And speaking of the Union State projects, this year at the round table we discussed very in-depth issues, including the touring activities of student groups. You have already seen the first of them – our performance by GITIS. Next year, we intend to continue our cooperation with GITIS, and also with other universities and academies. The educational vector will be developed, the festival will be integrated into all spheres of life.
And this is of great importance and meaning. The GITIS teachers, at the conclusion of the theater laboratory today, said with a touch of irony: "Could we have ever imagined that we would come to 'Slavianski Bazaar'?" The festival on the Dvina was in no way associated with GITIS for them. But today, the large "Theater Laboratory" is another successful project of the forum. Because "Slavianski Bazaar" has a place for pop music, exhibition programs – for all arts. Just like 32 years ago, the festival remains true to this golden creative principle.
Gleb Lapitsky added:
— Today we already know how we will enrich our celebration in 2024. We will strive to include instrumental creativity in the educational vector as well. We plan to implement the idea with the help of one of the leading universities in Russia. We are talking about a new "Instrumental Laboratory" for the festival.
"SB"