Celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the partnership between Bolesławiec and Bautzen counties, along with a concert by folk groups, were held in Bolesławiec last week. On 15 October, folk groups from Bolesławiec County and Bautzen performed at the Old Theatre.
At the Old Theatre, we first had the opportunity to admire the Sorbian ballet ensemble. The impressive performance was rewarded with thunderous applause.
The event drew a good crowd. Fifteen groups performed on the stage of the theatre in Bolesławiec, including two German groups, and more than two hundred artists of all age groups took part: children, young people, adults and seniors.
After the ballet ensemble, folk groups began their performances: Bolesławiec Song and Dance Ensemble (as well as the children’s group “Little Bolesławiec”), Ocice Singing Ensemble, Bory Osiecznica, Nad Kwisą, Herbut Family Band, Żeliszowianki, Jutrzenka, Niespodzianka, Podgrodzianki, Leśne Nastroje, Ale Babki, Song and Dance Ensemble of the Bolesławiec Region and Sorbian Choir operating at the Independent Association of Seniors in Bautzen.
The “Cross-Border Folk Scene – Bautzen and Bolesławiec Festival” project was originally intended to be carried out in 2020, but the pandemic thwarted the local authorities’ plans, preventing or severely limiting cross-border contacts and the organisation of larger cultural events.
When the epidemiological threat subsided, the authorities of Bolesławiec County and its partner, Bautzen County, decided to complete the project. As part of the “Autumn in Bautzen” series of events, the Many Cultures Week in Bautzen was held. On 18 September, the Bolesławiec Song and Dance Ensemble took part in the German street festival. Forty-five people, including children, young people and their guardians, participated in the colourful intercultural event. The next event planned as part of the project was the second Cross-Border Festival of Many Cultures, featuring folk groups from Bolesławiec County and Bautzen County.
The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and by funds from the state budget under the Small Projects Fund of Interreg Poland-Saxony 2014–2022.
