Opinions & Interviews

VITEBSK, 14 July (BelTA) – The international song festival Sanremo Music Awards invites the international festival of arts Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk to work on joint projects, Michele Poma, the art director of the Italian festival, told reporters on 13 July, BelTA has learned.

“We already have a couple of ideas for joint projects. For instance, our festival can invite Italian performers to Belarus so that the Belarusian audience could get acquainted with them,” Michele Poma said.

The Italian song festival has recently become a member of the World Association of Festivals (WAF). Michele Poma was awarded a membership certificate in Vitebsk on 13 July. “It is always an honor to work with people who love their job and are interested in a good result. It is an honor for us to be part of the World Association of Festivals,” the guest from Italy noted.

As for the cooperation prospects, Michele Poma noted that searching for gifted singers is the main area of joint work. “As a member of the association, we will be able to organize their concerts in different countries and help them become famous. It is also important to tell people in different parts of the world about the international festival Slavonic Bazaar and the World Association of Festivals which the Sanremo festival has recently joined,” Michele Poma noted. He said with regret that few people in Italy know about the Belarusian festival of arts. “This is why one of our cooperation goals is to tell Italians about Slavonic Bazaar. I hope that in the future, more people in Italy and other countries of Europe will know about this eventful and colorful forum,” the Italian guest said.

On 13 July, Vitebsk hosted a meeting of the World Association of Festivals Council. Membership certificates were presented to several festivals held in Russia, Israel, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today the association has some 20 members. Festival organizers also took part in the second international conference Festival Movement. Traditions and Innovations to share best practices and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation.