"Slavianski Bazaar" is moving towards creating an entertainment industry

The 21st International Arts Festival "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" is drawing to a close, and it's time to sum up some results. And not the creative ones – there's already plenty written about that. I'm talking about something else... Over two decades of its existence, the festival has transformed from a local event into a large-scale cultural phenomenon that has crossed the borders of our country. It's easy to see this – just look at the list of accredited participants at the festival: there are over 400 people from 15 states. Among them are music critics and journalists working for specialized publications that write about culture. Such interest from professionals undoubtedly allows us to speak of the festival as a phenomenon. It is evaluated for the organization of concerts, for the selection of artists and performances, and for the competition of young performers. Opinions about "Slavianski Bazaar" are contradictory, sometimes even polar. However, the diversity of viewpoints indicates that it is alive and, despite the ambiguity of assessments, arouses interest. As they say, one only speaks well of the dead, or says nothing at all. But few people note the role of "Slavianski Bazaar" in creating the entertainment industry. Although just two decades ago, when it was just emerging, the life around the festival was limited to an exhibition of artists and artisans, three dozen stalls on Freedom Square near the Summer Amphitheatre, where queues were endless, and a big top on the outskirts. Besides the festival concerts and performances, there was nothing to watch or do in the city. There wasn't even a place to sit with family or friends to enjoy shashlik and a glass of wine. So, townspeople would come out into the city with pots of boiled potatoes, sliced sandwiches, and a pre-prepared bottle, and have night picnics right on the lawns. Now everything looks drastically different. In the days of the festival, you can find about a dozen children's attractions in the city alone. It's hard to visit all the fairs, sales, and fashion events in one day. The length of rows of stalls and street cafes is now measured in kilometers (this year – about 10 km). The choice of dishes, drinks, and souvenirs is for every taste and wallet size. The city center is filled with tourists. And not only from Belarusian regions, but also from neighboring Russia and from far abroad. Some come only for the concerts, others specifically take vacation and live in the city for the entire festival. According to the Internal Affairs Directorate, announced on the eve of the festival, the city's population was expected to increase by almost half due to visitors. How much money tourists left in the city during the festival has, of course, not yet been calculated, but it is significant, as last year the average tourist visiting Vitebsk on ordinary days paid for services and goods worth $100-200. A well-known and successful businessman in Belarus once said: "If you start a business that will bring profit not only to you, then it is a worthwhile project and it has a future." Thus, "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk," conceived two decades ago as a cultural and mass event, has spurred the development of a civilized entertainment infrastructure. Perhaps not yet as large-scale as abroad, but everything abroad also started somewhere... Belarusian Minister of Culture Pavel Latushko, at a press conference on the occasion of the opening of the 21st "Slavianski Bazaar" Arts Festival, shared interesting data that during the previous festival, trade turnover in Vitebsk reached Br20 billion, an increase of more than double compared to ordinary days. There is no doubt that this figure will increase this year. And trade turnover means taxes, orders for industrial and processing enterprises, and ultimately, stable work with decent wages. Largely thanks to the festival, the hotel business has begun to develop in Vitebsk, and cafes and restaurants are appearing. And although there is still no five-star hotel, and during the festival days there are not enough places in cafes, these are issues that will undoubtedly be resolved very soon. Local authorities are actively promoting investment proposals, particularly for hotel construction. And how the city has transformed in the last three years: the central historical part has become more beautiful, the golden domes of ancient churches have begun to shine. The river Vitba, which gave the city its name, has transformed from a drying stream back into a full-fledged river, on which you can sail by catamaran, and along the embankment – walk with a child or ride roller skates. The Western Dvina also has an embankment with fountains, gazebos, and comfortable benches. Passenger boats are again plying the river. And this is far from a complete list of what attracts tourists and makes the rest of the townspeople pleasant and comfortable. On the website of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, on the eve of the festival, a poll was conducted on the topic "What do you like most about the 'Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk' festival?". So, 77.4% of respondents noted: they like the festival because it improves the appearance of the city and its infrastructure. And only 3.3% of respondents believe that the festival brings nothing to the city. There is no doubt that the example of "Slavianski Bazaar" – a long-standing festival in the post-Soviet space – has prompted other Belarusian cities to create and hold their own large-scale holidays and festivals. And this is correct. This means that the entertainment industry is developing, and with it, a new direction of the economy is progressing, in which there will be a place for both state enterprises and private business. Diana KURILO, Vitebsk, BELTA.-0-