"Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" is acquiring new features and remains a unique phenomenon in culture - V.Potupchik

July 16, Vitebsk /BELTA/. The "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" festival has once again confirmed that creativity and art are an excellent foundation for developing spiritual and strengthening cultural ties between peoples. This opinion was expressed at the closing ceremony of the XIX International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" by the Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, Chairman of the festival's organizing committee Vladimir Potupchik, as reported by a BELTA correspondent. "The 'Slavianski Bazaar', held under the patronage of the head of state, is acquiring new features and bright colors, remaining a unique and one-of-a-kind cultural event in Europe and the world," said the Deputy Prime Minister. The festival will be remembered for new names and a rich program. The Deputy Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the festival organizers and the residents of Vitebsk, adding: "We are not saying 'goodbye' to the festival – we are saying 'see you again at the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk'." About 5,000 guests from 34 countries participated in the 19th arts forum. Representatives from Montenegro, Panama, and Cuba attended the festival for the first time. 70 creative projects were held on 16 concert venues of the festival, which were attended by about 150,000 spectators. The XIX International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" offered meetings with masters of arts from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Yuri Antonov, Nikolai Baskov, Larisa Dolina, Valeria, Stas Mikhailov, Elena Vaenga, Inna Afanasieva, the ensembles "Pesniary" and "Siabry", Taisiya Povaliy, Thomas Anders, Chani & Neregrín, Helena Vondráčková, Toto Cutugno, and Alexander Serov performed brilliantly on the main concert venue of the festival, the Summer Amphitheater. Spectators had the opportunity to see performances by popular theaters from Moscow and St. Petersburg and to get acquainted with new works by Belarusian, Russian, and Ukrainian filmmakers. At the festival's opening ceremony, diplomas were awarded to the laureates of the Union State Prize in Literature and Art for 2009-2010. These included the creative team consisting of People's Architect of Russia Yuri Grigoriev, Belarusian sculptors Lev Gumilevsky and Sergei Gumilevsky, Russian sculptors Yuri Orekhov and Grigory Orekhov, as well as the creative team consisting of People's Artists of the USSR Alexei Tkachev and Sergei Tkachev. Among the laureates was People's Artist of the Republic of Belarus Leonid Shchemelev. Yuri Antonov was awarded the Order of Francisc Skorina, and the special award of the President of the Republic of Belarus "Through Art – to Peace and Mutual Understanding" was presented to the ensemble "Pesniary" and, posthumously, to its founder Vladimir Mulyavin. A commemorative marble slab with a cornflower and the engraved names of Vladimir Mulyavin and his ensemble was laid on the "Avenue of Stars" on the first day of the festival. The "Slavianski Bazaar" is one of the major cultural projects of the Union State. Therefore, it has become a good tradition to hold the Union State Day. On this day, a traditional meeting took place between the State Secretary of the Union State Pavel Borodin and veterans of the Great Patriotic War. An exhibition of works by Leonid Shchemelev, "To My Fellow Countrymen," opened at the Vitebsk Art Museum. The Union State Day concluded with a concert "Two Sisters," whose program included songs by Kim Breitburg to the lyrics of Belarusian and Russian poets. Special diplomas and prizes from the Standing Committee of the Union State "For Creative Embodiment of the Ideas of Friendship of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia" were awarded to Belarusian composer Oleg Elisenkov, initiator of many festival projects Vladimir Rylatko, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Vera Glagoleva, and People's Artist of Russia Larisa Dolina, a participant in many concert programs on the Vitebsk stage. The pop song performers' competition is a peer of the festival. The Grand Prix of the XIX "Vitebsk-2010" competition was won by Damir Kedžo from Croatia. 19 performers from 19 countries participated in the competition. The children's song contest "Vitebsk-2010" was held at the festival for the eighth time. The main prize of this competition was taken by Mario from Romania. Throughout the festival week, fairs of folk craftsmen and an open-air exhibition of Vitebsk artists were held in the city. The festival life was covered by about 500 journalists from 20 countries. Br2.5 billion from the President's reserve fund and almost 25 million Russian rubles from the Union State funds were allocated for the organization and holding of the "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" in 2010.