Press releases

23 Jun 2026

Muse with cornflowers: Story behind Slavianski Bazaar’s 2005 special cultural award

An archive photo

MINSK, 24 June (BelTA) – There are 22 days left until the opening of the 35th International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk. BelTA invites readers to dive into a retrospective: each day we recall the festival’s brightest moments from different years. Today’s story is about the festival held on 15-21 July 2005.

The 14th Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk was dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Great Victory. Flags of 33 countries flew over the Summer Amphitheatre, with Austria, Iran, Singapore, Chile, and Brazil participating for the first time.Remarkably, tickets for the gala opening concert were completely sold out two weeks before the festival began.

A major event that year was the establishment of the award Through Art to Peace and Mutual Understanding by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. Since then, it has been presented annually to cultural and artistic figures who have made a significant contribution to strengthening international cultural cooperation and promoting achievements of world artistic culture based on humanistic ideals.

The prize (a special award) was created by Minsk sculptor Vladimir Slobodchikov. He recalls that he was asked to develop several sketch options that year. His idea was based on the image of a woman-muse holding a wreath of cornflowers, one of the symbols of Belarus. She is draped in a flowing cloak resembling wings, creating a sense of flight. Touching the globe with one foot, the figure appears to soar, encircled by a ribbon bearing the inscription Through Art to Peace and Mutual Understanding. “My son and I cast, polish, and lacquer each detail by hand every year. It takes about two months. I am pleased that my work is held by great people who have contributed so much to world art. It is also a great honor and responsibility that the award is presented by the head of state. It is very dear to me, and I am proud that a piece of my work has become part of such a festival as Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk,” he said years later.

At the gala concert, the head of state presented the very first award to People’s Artist of the USSR, composer Andrei Petrov.

In addition, from the stage of the Summer Amphitheatre, Mario Moreno, Secretary General of the International Federation of Festival Organizations (FIDOF), announced that President Aleksandr Lukashenko had been awarded a medal and diploma For a Significant Contribution to the Development of the World Festival Movement.

During the festival, Vitebsk became the center of an important international event: the 39th assembly of the International Federation of Festival Organizations was held there. Notably, for the previous 38 years, the assembly had taken place in Cannes, France. For the first time, an International Forum of Festival Laureates, FIDOF members, was held, featuring about 20 pop performers from various countries. Belarus was represented by Piotr Yelfimov, the Grand Prix winner of the previous year’s Slavianski Bazaar pop song contest.

The jury of the 3rd International Children’s Music Contest Vitebsk 2005, chaired by renowned Bulgarian singer Nikolay Binev, included singers, composers, and producers from 11 countries. In the 14th International Pop Song Performers Contest Vitebsk 2005, 21 young artists from 18 countries took the stage.

Alongside traditional projects, the festival featured special concerts by masters of the arts from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Bulgaria, Jerusalem, and Warsaw. The gala concert Belarus – a Hospitable Home impressed the audience of the Summer Amphitheatre with the richness and diversity of Belarusian art. Belarus Day concluded with the ONT television project Song of the Year of Belarus 2005, featuring the country’s most popular performers.

In addition, throughout the week, various other events were organized for residents and guests of Vitebsk. For example, The Festival of Bells took place on Millennium Square, featuring some of the best bell-ringers. The City of Craftsmen was set up in Frunze Park on the banks of the Vitba River. Special attention was drawn to the project Art of Fire and Metal. There, blacksmiths held a wedding ceremony for newlyweds, presenting them with rings handcrafted on the spot.

The main events of the 35th International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk will take place on 16-19 July, with the first concerts scheduled for 14 July.