A date with European culture will take place in any weather

Only 50 days left till the start of “Europeade”, which will take place on the 22nd of July for the first time in Lithuania. Two cities prepare intensively for this great festival: Klaipėda, which will become home of 46th  “Europeade”, and Antwerp, where International committee of the festival is coordinating preparation process.
On the occasion of 50 day countdown till the start of the festival, organizers held a press conference and stated, that economic downturn didn't cold down the enthusiasm of “Europeade's” community – more than 4000 performers will represent 24 states in Klaipėda this year.
Despite harsh transportation conditions we will welcome guests from the farthest of European countries such as Spain, Italy, Portugal, Armenia, Cyprus and even Greenland.
The biggest number of folk groups will arrive from Estonia – 32 groups, 16 will visit us from Belgium – birthplace of “Europeade”, 15 – from Germany, 13 – from Latvia, 11 – from Italy, 10 – from Spain, at least one band will visit us from Slovakia, Greece, Scotland, Ireland.
From evening of July 22nd, till July 26th, tens of concerts will take place in the streets of Klaipėda, open city areas, 5 major concert are planned. Concert of Lithuania's culture and so called “Ball of Europe” will be held in Theater sq., opening and closing concerts and evening of Music – in the Summer stage of Klaipėda. Cheerful night dances are also planned in Theater sq.

5 groups will represent Lithuania
5 Lithuanian folk groups are included in the official “Europeade” list. More groups from Lithuania will perform during the evening of Lithuanian culture on the 22nd of July. Also, during the festival, Lithuanian craftsmen will occupy whole Market street, presenting even more of Lithuania's traditions and cultural heritage.

Classrooms and mattresses instead of hotels
Organizer of “Europeade” in Klaipėda is public company “Sea festival”. Currently, there are 9 members in the team working on all organizational issues: beginning with street closures, technical support, transportation, catering and hygiene, ending with recruitment of volunteers, installations of stages.
Most of “Europeade's” participants will be accommodated in 18 different schools. Mattresses will be laid, additional showers and toilets will be installed. A mere 200 participant booked hotels. Guest will be catered in the  sport hall of LCC International University.

Budget had shrunk... so did prices!
Budget of “Europeade” felt saving policies of the Government of Lithuania – funding was reduced by 200 th. Lt. Organizers claim they managed to save this sum from the process of public acquisitions.  Initially, “Europeade” in Klaipėda had a budget of 3 mln. Lt, now it is 2,5 mln. Lt.

All events are free!
All concerts and events will be free. So even the financial downturn won't affect the possibilities of Klaipėda's citizens and city guest to enjoy costumes, songs and dances from all over Europe. Organizers encourage citizens of Klaipėda to participate in events, don't hesitate to cheer our guests,  be helpful and friendly, so honorable performers will have a lot of great memories to recall.
The festival of national cultures of Europe “Europeade” is included in the list of official list of Lithuania's millennium events.

02 06 2009

International committee wishes good luck preparing the „Europeade“ festival

The President of European national cultures festival's „Europeade“ international committee mr. Bruno Peeters positively evaluated all effort in preparing Klaipėda to accept thousands of festival participants.
Next year on 22nd-26th of July 4500 „Europeade“ festival participants from various European countries are expected. Representatives of festival's organizational committee visited schools in which participants will be settled, surveyed the main event place – Summer concert stage. International committee representatives where acquainted with regional organizational committee. Decisions were made under questions like: alimentation of participants, concert and leisure schemes, financing.
After some meetings in Klaipeda, President of international committee of „Europeade“ mr. Bruno Peeters expressed confidence in festival success. „Every time we pick a city of „Europeade“, we choose out of 5-6 candidates and very carefully grade their ability to secure good organization of the festival. It is very important to be able to give a good accommodation and food for the musicians and dancers. Otherwise they will not have energy to spread a wonderful uproar so inherent to this festival. I ascertained that organizers in Klaipeda will manage to prepare well for this great feast“, - stated mr. B. Peeters.
The leader of „Europeade 2009“ supervision group Nijole Laužikienė stated that preparation for the festival has gained momentum. The group agreed under fundamentals like: event places and schemes, accommodation and alimentation of festival participants. „One of the greatest concerns right now – to gather as much volunteers as possible. We are looking for energetic, enthusiastic and good-natured people who could help in accepting guests , escorting collectives and help them to overcome all issues that they may face in a foreign country. People who are not afraid of any challenges and want to become the members of organizational group are welcomed to register themselves on the official web page: www.europeade.lt“
Moreover, international committee of „Europeade“ informs that registration of participants has already started. 235 collectives out of 27 various countries have already inquired about the possibility to attend next year's festival. Exact number of participants will be announced at the end of February when the registration comes to the end.
„Europeade‘ is intended into the commemoration of the Lithuanian name millennium event scheme.

First „Europeade“ volunteers – from Kaunas, Mažeikiai and even Pakruojis

Organizers of Europe's festival of national cultures “Europeade”, which will be held in Klaipėda on the 22-26 of July, 2009, began registering volunteers. It is calculated, that almost 4500 participants will require somewhat 250 goodwill helpers.

First applications for volunteering were received back in July. Members of folk groups from different cities, such as Pakruojis, Mažeikiai, Kaunas, provided help in Europeade this year, which was held in Switzerland. “These volunteers are very valuable, because they once participated in this festival themselves, so they understand the importance and the responsibility of their work. They are also highly motivated: volunteers want Klaipeda's Europeade to be the best ever! Europeade also gives them a very good chance to widen their outlook, communicate with their coleagues from abroad, enjoy the racket of the festival” - said the coordinator of Europeade in Klaipėda Asta Dirgėlienė.

To become a volunteer, who will have to be dedicated helper and assistant of foreign guests, you don't necessarily have to be into folk or traditional crafts. Organizers hope, that this opportunity will gain interest of students, studying foreign languages, culture, music, dance. They also started meetings with students of different universities. “It is a very interesting experience to participate in organizing team of such a big festival. So if you are communicative, fluent in English or any other language, aware of Klaipėda's history, we expect you to join the volunteer team. Summer experience like no other guaranteed!” - said A.Dirgelienė.

Volunteer application form as well all info on the festival is available at www.europeade.lt. Applications will be accepted until the 19th of December, selected volunteers will receive trainings in spring, special costumes for them will be sewn.

Next year, the flag of Europeade will visit Klaipėda

45th cultural festival Europeade held in Switzerland, Martinji, ended with Lithuanian accent.
Next year's flag of Europeade was handed to the deputy of mayor of Klaipėda city,  Lithuanian dance ansambles ended the celebration with a special dance composition.

During closing ceremony, Bruno Peeters, the president of the international committee of Europeade thanked mayor of Martinji and all of it's people for support organizing this year's event and for exclusive hospitality. The president also encouraged  delegation of Klaipėda to successfully handle all challenges organising next year's Europeade in Klaipėda. Since 2001 Klaipėda tried to receive permission to organize this exclusive festival and next year this beautiful and lively city is expecting 5000 participants.

Since 1964 Europeade will visit Eastern Europe only for the second time – first time was 5 years ago in Riga, capital of Latvia. “The right to host this festival is a sign of trust for our city and country, and, of course, a great marketing opportunity” - said Judita Simonavičiūtė, deputy of mayor of Kalipėda.

This year Klaipėda organized a vast campaign in Switzerland, inviting this years participants to come to Klaipėda next year. Souvenirs were handed out as well as informational flayers in stand of Klaipėda. Participants of this year's festival could also help themselves to some traditional Lithuanian beer and fried bread. Everyone, who visited Klaipėda's stand could also make a special coin all by themselves or to receive a wooden spoon.

It is very important for us to show, that we are open-minded, hospitable, that little Lithuania is very interesting and is worth visiting, despite the distance, which sometimes seems to be big. Guest from South Europe inquired about the airline routes and prices to Lithuania, because most of performers plan their schedule much in advance” - said Nijolė Laužikienė, head of social department in Klaipėda municipality.
Europeade in Klaipėda, which will be held in 2009 07 22-26 is included in programme of events, dedicated to millennium of Lithuania's name.