Artists from 21 countries come to Minsk for circus art festival

From 17 to 20 September the Fourth Minsk International Circus Art Festival takes place in Minsk. It is attended by artists from 21 countries. The number of participants of the festival, according to a member of the jury of the festival, director of the Belarusian State Circus Vladimir Shaban, is growing, if last year about 70 artists took part in it, then this year - about 120. Spectators and jury will see performances in Minsk in all genres - from acrobatics and juggling to dressing and clowning.

- Our geography has greatly expanded. After 2010, when the reconstruction was carried out, Belgoszirk is the best circus in Europe. Every artist today considers it an honor to perform at his arena. We were inundated with applications. We made a tough selection so that all genres were represented.

Member of the international jury of the festival, General Director-Artistic Director of the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard Maxim Nikulin answered the question of why circus art festivals are needed today:

The circus is an integral part of the general world culture. Like painting and literature, the theatre is operatic and dramatic. The festival is the quintessence of world circus activity. Why are there so many in the world? For three reasons, which are reflected in the three types of audience present. For the viewer, viewing numbers and artists they simply wouldn't have seen under other circumstances is always a celebration. Such performances are true circus performances. For artists, this is an opportunity to show themselves. Plus, it is always a contest and competition, where there is always a winner and a loser. There's jubilation and grief. For the circus figures themselves, collective leaders, producers, impresarios, agents, the circus art festival is a stock exchange. We select rooms for our future projects and our future programs.

Thanks to such festivals, it is always possible to trace trends in how circus art will develop in the future. This is a very big deal for the circus, for the audience, and for the country that holds it. This is one of the points of contact of different cultures. If we know as much as possible about each other, become better, stronger and more interesting friends, there will be a chance to remove the huge number of conflicts that are happening today.

Does the career of an artist change radically after winning such a festival?

- Sure! It's a portfolio! These are not titles and ranks, these are specific contracts! To get to the circus festival, for example, in Monte Carlo, means to provide yourself for the rest of your creative life! You may not even win there, but just participate. It's like the Olympic Games for athletes.

Minsk is a very important place for the whole circus world, because today there are only 15 large circus festivals: 5 of them are held in Europe, 5 in Russia, 3 in China, 1 in Minsk and 1 in the United States. At this special moment in history, the circus shows that it is a place of peace. Circus is culture, not politics. People from all over the world gather under its roof always with one goal - to bring happiness to the audience.

Participants of the Fourth Minsk International Circus Art Festival will compete for the Grand Prix, three gold, three silver and three bronze awards. Also in the palette of awards is the prize of the Minsk City Executive Committee and the prize of audience sympathy:

- Jury members and honorary guests also always bring their prizes, said Vladimir Shaban. We will reach artists who deserve awards to the maximum. The awards will be presented on Sunday after the gala show.