The income of the XIX "Slavianski Bazaar" festival exceeded expenses by Br330 million.

October 21, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The income of the past XIX International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" exceeded expenses by Br332.5 million, the head of the culture department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Pashinsky, told a BELTA correspondent. In his opinion, the positive financial result was largely facilitated by the fact that artists capable of attracting a large audience were invited to the festival: Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Stas Mikhailov, chanson singers. The average occupancy of the Summer Amphitheater, where most of the festival concerts were held, was 80%. The expansion of sales geography had a positive impact on income generation. For the first time, tickets for "Slavianski Bazaar" were sold in the regional centers of the oblast. As Nikolai Pashinsky noted, the successful financial experience of the past festival will be continued at the юбилейный XX "Slavianski Bazaar". Preparations for it have already begun. When compiling the festival program, organizers intend to again focus on artists at the peak of their popularity. Regional philharmonic societies may be involved in ticket sales, and thus, residents of other regions of Belarus will have the opportunity to buy tickets for concerts at home without traveling to Vitebsk. A new concert venue on the reconstructed Victory Square could increase the festival's income. Concerts by Russian and foreign performers on this square attracted 15,000 spectators and generated an income of about Br400 million. However, almost all funds went to cover the costs associated with renting a mobile stage and sound equipment, which Vitebsk does not yet have, explained Nikolai Pashinsky. The International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" is a central event in the cultural life of Belarus and is held under the patronage of the President. Br2.5 billion was allocated from the President's reserve fund and almost 25 million Russian rubles from the Union State funds for the organization and holding of "Slavianski Bazaar" in 2010. -0-