Press releases

30 Jun 2026

How Vitebsk welcomed anniversary Slavianski Bazaar in 2011

An archive photo

MINSK, 30 June (BelTA) – The countdown is on: just 16 days left until the 35th anniversary edition of Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk. To mark the occasion, BelTA is launching a daily retrospective series. Every day, we look through our archival materials to relive the brightest highlights from each year of the festival. Today’s feature takes us back to 2011.

The 20th International Festival of Arts took place on 6-16 July. Nearly 6,000 participants and guests from 27 countries were accredited. Two days before the official opening on 8 July, Didier Marouani and the French group Space performed on stage, and Patricia Kaas also arrived. During breaks between songs, Didier Marouani said that he often tours post-Soviet countries, but was visiting Vitebsk for the first time.

To mark the festival’s 20th anniversary, organizers decided to go beyond the usual standards and created a new logo: the cornflower appeared in all colors of the rainbow. This solution reflected the festival’s multifunctionality and vibrant mood. Changes also affected the “flower note” in the logo: previously the flag was on the right side of the stem (making it an eighth note), but now it was placed on the left, creating a new note duration.

Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk also became the winner of the professional competition Brand of the Year 2011 in the category Culture and Arts. The jury evaluated brand packages according to international marketing and branding standards and considered the originality of the presentation concept.

In the run-up to the anniversary festival, the title Honorary Citizen of Vitebsk was awarded to Rodion Bass, the festival’s founder and director. A new star also appeared on the Alley of Laureates to honor Igor Luchenok, People’s Artist of the USSR and Belarus, composer, and recipient of the special award of the Belarusian president Through Art to Peace and Mutual Understanding.

The International Pop Song Contest for Young Performers Vitebsk 2011 took place on 11-12 July at the main venue, the Summer Amphitheater. The Grand Prix was won by Belarusian singer Alena Lanskaya. After reconstruction, the Vitebsk Concert Hall reopened and hosted the 9th International Children’s Music Contest. Twenty-three young performers from 20 countries competed (Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine each sent two participants). The main prize went to a singer from Romania.

With a full house and a truly Belarusian atmosphere, the concert evening Syabry Gather Friends was held dedicated to the Day of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. Ukrainian guests presented a bright program Ukrainian Souvenir. As part of the Russian arts concert, the Mitrofan Pyatnitsky State Academic Russian Folk Choir celebrated its 100th anniversary on the festival stage. The diverse program of Theatrical Meetings also drew attention.

In 2011, the festival surprised audiences with many innovations and creative initiatives. The first international festival Fire of Dance was held. Young artists took part for the first time in the national body-art competition, and at the Graffiti venue Belarusian writers created a joint mural on the theme Youth Day at Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk. For the first time, exhibitions of craft houses and folk artisans included culinary products from national cuisine clubs.

At the anniversary festival, 100 exclusive commemorative medals were awarded to artists, festival movement figures, journalists, and staff of the directorate. The 20th Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk concluded with a concert of Shanson TV stars.

The main lineup of the 35th edition of the Slavianski Bazaar International Festival of Arts will run on 16-19 July, while the very first concerts will kick off on 14 July.