Records, stars, and the effect of uniqueness – what will "Slavianski Bazaar-2016" surprise with?

A little more than a week remains until the familiar call signs of the international arts festival "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" are heard. The юбилейный 25th forum will be held from July 14 to 18, but additional concerts will extend it for a total of four days before and after the closing. Over 130 projects, more than 5.5 thousand participants, stars and new names, a sea of music, street art, crafts, and simply a festival atmosphere on the streets. How it will be, what the forum means for the country today, what are its positions in the world - the correspondent of BELTA discussed this and much more with the director of the international arts festival "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk", president of the World Association of Festivals (WAF) Alexander Sidorenko. 

- Today, "Slavianski Bazaar" is not just an international forum. It is also called the festival of festivals, as it is around "Slavianski Bazaar" that the formation of the World Association of Festivals, of which you are the president, continues. Tell us, what does WAF give to us ourselves - "Slavianski Bazaar", Vitebsk, Belarus?

- This year, on July 13, a WAF session will be held in Vitebsk with the participation of association members who have been part of it for several years, as well as representatives of international festivals and projects from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, and Italy, who have applied for WAF membership. This is the result of our work over the year. These representatives have seen the advantages of being in the association. Especially one headed by "Slavianski Bazaar". The festivals are very different, and the organizations are too. There are international children's competitions, festivals that we got acquainted with for the first time this year - for example, Riga Symphony. Or, conversely, the Lithuanian Kaziukas festival-fair, widely known in Belarus, with the organizers of which there are already a number of ideas for joint projects. This is also the Sanremo Music Awards - a famous Italian festival. Its general director, Nicola Convertino, is the producer of most of the Italian

performers. We have signed a preliminary agreement between the directorates of the two festivals, and have outlined joint projects. Most likely, the first major concert will take place in September of this year. Several contemporary young Italian performers will come. This is a new generation that we don't know, because there isn't the same coverage of the Sanremo Festival as there used to be. I'm leading up to the fact that for every member of the association, such contacts provide huge opportunities for experience exchange. I can confidently say that they all try to emulate "Slavianski Bazaar". But there are individual details that we can adopt from them. This also provides opportunities for the exchange of talented young performers. Over the past year, within the framework of WAF, we sent artists from Vitebsk to three international competitions, where they gained experience and had the opportunity to interact with hundreds of participants from other countries. For us, this is also a support for organizing an international competition for young performers. There is a chance to select the best representatives from different countries to participate in "Slavianski Bazaar" through their own festivals. In many countries, we already have representatives who conduct such national selections.

- What is the theme of the upcoming WAF session, what will you discuss?

- To begin with, I will say that we have also planned an international conference. Very interesting speakers - representatives of 7 major festivals - will talk about their projects and show video presentations. Such communication is a very important part that we will focus on in the future. As for the session itself, we have our own plans for it. A year has passed, and there are many areas where something needs to be changed. We will discuss the development of a new website for the association. Most likely, we will start creating it after "Slavianski Bazaar". We will talk about approaches to organizing festivals, in particular, the presence of a representative of the WAF Board of Directors at them; issues of participation on equal terms in all international competitions. We have been discussing this idea for some time - perhaps it will be a concert of winners of internationalof projects - participants of the VAF at "Slavyansky Bazaar". For now, only some performers whom we noticed somewhere and invited come to us. But next year, I hope, we will implement a separate project.

- Then let's talk about this year's projects. First of all, about the anniversary accents in them. Will there be anything special in the scenography?

- Literally today or tomorrow, the first trucks with elements of scenography, lighting, and sound needed for the main venue - the Summer Amphitheater - will arrive. Now, any stage of a large international project, considering the television picture, comes down to one thing - a huge number of LED screens on which any content can be displayed, and modern lighting equipment. This year, we are focusing on showing more and better quality materials about the festival: documentary footage and the most interesting shots from past years. A selection has already been made - somewhere it's separate segments, somewhere it's second-long inserts. We will see artists and performers, events, congratulations to the festival. These inserts will tie together the opening concert. And almost every performance will be thematic. There will be many duets, mass performances, appearances by choreographic groups, as well as long-time friends of the festival, laureates of the competition. Hits of past years will be performed. The concert is unique in that it will be accompanied by the performance of the Presidential Orchestra conducted by Viktor Babarikin. If there will be no special experiments in the opening concert, then the closing concert has surprises, but it is also dedicated to the anniversary of the forum. There will be many young performers, including European ones, special scenography is being prepared - director Maria Romanovskaya has come up with a very interesting idea. So I advise everyone not to miss this concert.

- There is also a collection "25 Moments of Summer" with the participation of laureates of the international competition of young performers from different years. What is unique about this concert?

- We tried to select those who are actively working in the creative field. And the programto make it more diverse. Therefore, there will be holders of the Grand Prix, first and second prizes. Someone will perform their winning songs from a memorable festival for them, someone - from their own repertoire. For us, this is an image project, because we always remember our contestants and try to invite them to subsequent festivals. The competition jury is always represented by laureates of past years. It is gratifying when "Slavianski Bazaar" becomes a springboard to recognition and creative growth for performers. For example, for Damir Kedžo from Croatia, who a few years after winning our festival became famous at "New Wave-2015". In general, the competition is a key event of "Slavianski Bazaar", and the status of even just a participant is already a great achievement for the performer. This year we were very lucky with the jury chairman. Valery Leontiev is a very responsible person, he rarely participates in international projects as a jury member, and we are very grateful that he agreed. He even requested all possible materials about the contestants in advance to listen to them, although he is currently on tour himself.

- The "Slavianski Bazaar" program features more youth projects little by little each year. For example, this year, right after the closing concert, a night disco will begin. What is this related to? 

- Vitebsk Dance Night is a new project that, I am sure, will catch on. The opportunity to gather so many interesting world-class DJs on one stage does not happen often. It is important to maintain balance: all concerts should be designed for different audiences. "Slavianski Bazaar" has plenty of projects for middle-aged people - with famous and beloved artists. But when we included a project together with "Europa Plus" last year, and now we have added a youth disco - this has become a big step. We form the program taking into account audience feedback and in-depth financial analysis, and we try to move towards self-sufficiency. Youth is an active age category. Thereforethis balance needs to be gradually leveled so that 50% of festival projects are for youth, and to include more foreign pop music. In recent years, many music channels have appeared, and joint projects can be done with them, which is what we are doing. With "Europa Plus" it's one project. With "Shanson TV" - a completely different one, for a different audience. With the Music Box channel - a third one. As a result, we have "Slavianski Bazaar" rotation on these channels almost all year round. This is doubly beneficial for us. Because an artist who comes here and understands that they will be filmed and then constantly shown, and an artist who works only for a fee, are completely different in terms of prices and participation conditions. The former can be negotiated with regarding payment.

- Rotation on music channels is great. But the main role in covering the festival is played by Belarusian and foreign media. How many will there be this year?

- Last year there were 517 media representatives. I can only say how many will gather at this forum after registration. But, judging by the applications, the interest in the anniversary festival is much higher. Just about two weeks ago, I met with Vladislav Baginsky, who is our representative for conducting qualifying rounds in Ukraine. The discussion was about the intention to broadcast the main events of "Slavianski Bazaar" on one of the central Ukrainian channels this year. And in general, the participation of artists from this country will be quite significant. Here, against the backdrop of all foreign policy events, the festival's motto "Through art - to peace and understanding" is being fully realized. We are not losing our creative ties. Moreover, one of the international-level Ukrainian festivals will even join the WAF.

- "Slavianski Bazaar" has long gone beyond just the Slavic world. This year, 44 countries are already participating in it. How are newcomers involved?

- Since over the years, representatives have been present at the festival

over 70 countries worldwide, many are not here for the first time, and among these 44 newcomers,

only one is Colombia. Its representative is participating in an international

competition. We are actively working with Latin America; we have a very good

representative in Cuba. After Rodrigo de la Cadena's victory in 2014, Mexico

also got its own full-fledged representative. Moreover, he is quite a well-known

person in his homeland. Now, their own qualifying rounds are held in these

countries, and their performers come to us. In general, the festival receives

many applications for participation. From professionals and amateurs. If we

could implement all of them in the program, the festival would last for a month.

- Many speak very positively about holding free-format events on the city streets. Although the "Slavianski Bazaar" street art festival "Na Semi Vetrakh" is unlikely to earn much, this year this festival within the festival is even expanding its program. Why?

- For us, it's more of an image project. Besides, by enriching the forum with events, it doesn't require large expenses. Because it mainly attracts young people, many creative groups, and street performers, whom we simply give the opportunity to earn money with their art, thus covering their travel expenses. And the number of those willing to participate has doubled; we have to select. The project curator, Vladislava Tsivki, approaches this very seriously to unite everything into one program. Thanks to this, new projects emerge – like the poetry marathon "1000 poems about Vitebsk." Although, there are already more than enough poems; it will definitely be a record.

- By the way, has it been determined yet what the Festival's Book of Records, planned to be created this year, will look like?

- We are still looking for the right format. There will definitely be another page on the festival's website. And in the future, we want to create a separate project. For this, we need an expert council for selecting records. Among our partners from different countries, there are already

interesting ideas and suggestions. That is, in perspective, it could be a project "Festival Book of Records" with a whole range of events: here - craftsmen are working or setting some record, here - creative groups, here - poets, here - artists. Anything you want. For us "Slavianski Bazaar" already seems ordinary: the same thing year after year. But such highlights in the form of unique events that can only be seen today and now will add a sense of novelty. They should be present at every festival. Moreover, many of these projects allow anyone to participate. "Slavianski Bazaar" is primarily a folk festival. Many say: "This is our festival, and we want to participate in it." They send poems, songs, anthems of the festival. People of different ages - from teenagers to pensioners. And we will give them such an opportunity with a similar project.

- The press has already reported a lot about the active ticket sales. And how popular have the gift certificates become, which also went on sale? 

- As I can see from the database, about 300 were sold out of those initially put on sale. Every day new ones appear and then disappear when they are exchanged for tickets. Based on the results of the festival, we will look at the overall information. But this is just the beginning. As soon as the current festival ends, we will start advertising gift certificates, which we want to sell all year round. True, for this we still need to sort out individual issues with legislation, but I am sure we will find the right approach. Such a certificate will be an excellent gift for a birthday, anniversary, or other celebration. One of the key aspects of attracting extra-budgetary funds is increasing ticket sales. We started it in February this year. It was necessary to get working capital at an early stage to pay advances to artists and conclude contracts on favorable terms. Again, there is an opportunity to choose a more favorable currency exchange rate for paying artists, which determines the overall profitability of the forum. In general, many people are involved in this work,to find a reasonable balance between spending and earning opportunities, attract partners. That is why our festival has been alive for 25 years, while many international projects have simply sunk into oblivion under the current circumstances.

- Alexander Petrovich, please be a living advertisement and tell us which projects of this "Slavianski Bazaar" would you personally like to visit? 

- I will definitely participate in the poetry marathon, most likely, I will read something from the works of the Vitebsk poet David Simanovich. In any case, I will be at every project on the main stage, I will try not to miss all the competition days. I would like to see the theater program. My tastes, like those of any ordinary viewer, come down to individual personalities, artists. I mean the project with the participation of Fyodor Dobronravov (the play "Education of Rita"). My whole family, including the children, loves him. I will definitely go to listen to a concert of young masters from the Czech Republic at the Philharmonic Hall - it's interesting to understand what the Czech pop scene is living by now. In the Summer Amphitheater, I want to attend Diana Arbenina's solo concert. This is the closing project, so you can try to relax and get more pleasure. And, although I won't be the most active participant, I will definitely go to the night disco. And to everyone who works so hard to create the holiday, I want to wish that the festival will be remembered not only for the worries, but also for the fun, the feeling of happiness.

 Ekaterina KNYAZEVA - BELTA.