Gleb Lapitsky: about the upcoming "Slavianski Bazaar-2021", ticket sales and volunteers
We talked with Gleb Lapitsky about the preparations for the anniversary festival.
— Gleb Alexandrovich, you have had a difficult triad of years personally – in 2019 you took on the role of festival director for the first time, in the second year you worked under pandemic conditions. This year it has not receded, but the festival is being prepared under conditions when the general political factor interferes and some artists refuse to come to the celebration. How are you coping?
— Difficulties only temper, give new experience in work. This is about myself personally. It is impossible to say that what is happening is indifferent to us. The festival organizers are not cyborgs, we are all living people who care about their brainchild. Our team includes a galaxy of people who created the first festival together with Rodion Bass. And they have reached the 30-year milestone, when the festival faces new challenges. It's unpleasant, moreover, it simply hinders work. The festival has its own level, which it has reached over 30 years of people's hard work.
Today, we have even encountered some artists, whom we did not invite, announcing their refusal to come for some reason. This is absurd. If our team suffered from "yellow journalism," we could name the artists' surnames, post legal treatises after each publication on social media, information about who refused and why, go to court... We don't want to prove anything to anyone, we don't attract attention to the project with scandals.
The work on organizing the festival, which will take place at its "home" from July 14 to 19, continues.
The main thing now is that no one interferes. Let politicians engage in politics, and cultural figures in culture. The "Slavianski Bazaar," forgive me, like a blessed child, has always grown on creativity and has never been associated with anything else. Songs, dances, applause, and flowers are its law. And the motto "Through Art – to Peace and Mutual Understanding" is its best image component. I hope that the dogma – the festival enlivens the city's economy – needs no proof for anyone.
— Let's turn to the program that reflects the creative content of the festival. How does it change after all?
— If the audience has questions about the performances of any artists or groups, the best way to find information about their presence or absence, about any replacements, is to check the website of the "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk." The most up-to-date program is always there.
— What is the situation with ticket sales, which started in March?
— Last year, at this time, spectators were no longer buying tickets because they didn't understand what would happen to the festival due to the pandemic. This year, people are just starting to "get going." The information factor is at play, which is misleading. In addition, the trend in the ticket sales market has changed due to the epidemiological situation. If earlier spectators planned their visits to festival concerts and purchased tickets 2-3 months in advance, now, as we see from our current events, active sales begin 2-3 days before the concerts. Yes, there are no queues at the ticket offices, but the ticket market in Belarus has more than half moved online, and sales are carried out through our official ticket operators. The Directorate receives many non-cash applications from enterprises and travel agencies, not only Belarusian ones, booking tickets...
— Many future spectators from abroad have a question about crossing the Belarusian border during the festival due to the epidemiological situation.
— Entry is based on the general rules published online. You get a PCR test and come. Yes, of course, it's hard to predict how the situation will develop. If, for example, Latvia was in the "green zone," it is now in the "red zone," and the guest will face isolation upon arrival. They won't come.
As for visa-free entry during the festival, the President signed such a decree back in April. A ticket to the "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" event, an invitation from the Ministry of Culture or the Directorate of the Festival, replaces a visa for foreign guests from 73 countries for stays in Belarus from July 5 to July 25.
— How actively are volunteers responding to participate in the anniversary festival?
— Registration has already begun, and we are accepting applications from volunteers until June 14. Many students of creative specialties are contacting us, ready to work in various festival services. Last year, the volunteer group consisted of 150 people. I think there will be over a hundred assistants this year as well.
— This year the celebration returns to halls — the Philharmonic, the Yakub Kolas and "Lyalka" theaters, and the "Vitebsk" concert hall are announced in the program, but, as before, the city remains the main venue. The street festival "Na Semi Vetrakh" events will unfold here. Will there be performances on the pontoon stage, with the help of which the Ministry of Defense promised to assist?
— If necessary, we can reformat the festival into a street one, following last year's experience, and planned projects will not be canceled. As for the 7th "Na Semi Vetrakh" festival, which we creatively decided to make anniversary, participant registration will begin on May 20. This year's know-how is indeed the stage on the water. We have been working closely with the Ministry of Defense on this issue for two months. It's an interesting experience.
— Specialists are determining the river level and studying forecasts for heavy rains in July, which is related to the transportation and installation of the pontoon. Motor ships will operate on the Dvina during the festival, so we are slightly changing the location — the stage will be installed at the mouth, but closer to the Vitba River. Art installations, performances, concerts, and plays of the "At Seven Winds" festival will take place here.
— Gleb Alexandrovich, how were the national selections for the international competitions of the festival conducted?
— In an offline format, national selections of participants in the children's and adult competitions were held only in Russia and Belarus. As you know, our country will be represented by performers from Minsk, Konstantin Mazurkevich and Daniil Myshkovets.
Partners from Malta, Cuba, and other countries conducted selection rounds online. By April 1, we had received and accepted over 50 foreign applications to participate in the competitions. Ecuador applied for the first time from an exotic country. Contestants who won their national tour but could not come to Vitebsk in 2020 will also participate in the jubilee festival competitions. They are already finalists this year.
— "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" is not only a forum of culture but also a unique tourist product. Do you think July 2021 will confirm this status?
— We are placing a big bet on the Belarusian spectator, and perhaps domestic tourism, which has been dormant, will "wake up" again. I spoke with representatives of the National Tourism Agency, and they confirm that last year the number of interregional trips increased many times over. "Slavianski Bazaar" is indeed a unique reason for a tourist trip. There are thousands of reasons for this. Firstly, the atmosphere of the festival city, and secondly, where and when else can you see, for example, a unique ice show with rock hits in the Summer Amphitheater or hear an exclusive concert by the "Chor Turieckogo" for 25 rubles? Friends, "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" is the most positive emotions for the whole year! The slogan of the jubilee arts forum is: "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" — 30 years in the rhythm of the festival!". Catch this rhythm and move forward with us!