Radiy Khabirov had an official meeting with representatives of the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF)

Radiy Khabirov had an official meeting with representatives of the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF)

On July 2, the Head of Bashkortostan Radiy Khabirov met with representatives of the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF) at the House of the Republic. The meeting was attended by CIOFF President Philip Beaussant President of the Russian National Section of CIOFF, Director of the State Russian House of Folk Art named after Vasily Polenov Tamara Purtova, artistic Director of the Moscow State Academic Theater "Russian Song", People's Artist of Russia, ambassador of the VI CIOFF®️ World Folkloriada Nadezhda Babkina 

The parties discussed the readiness of Bashkortostan to hold the Folkloriada, the development of folk art and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.

"We are immensey glad to receive you in Bashkortostan. I consider this meeting to be the beginning of the implementation of a large project that the republic has been working towards for seven years – " Radiy Khabirov said. – Almost six years ago, we took the baton of the World Folkloriada, we were preparing for it. Last year, the event was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. And just recently we have had dramatic discussions, but nevertheless we decided to hold the Folkloriada. Of course, with strict sanitary safety measures. All our volunteers are vaccinated, and the medical and sanitary services are ready for any emergency situation. I compare the current Folkloriada with the World Festival of Youth and Students in 1957 in Moscow. Then the countries did not find understanding among themselves, but young people could. I hope that these days we will get the same positive effect. Our republic has prepared very carefully and creatively for the Folkloriada in order to make it a beautiful celebration for everyone. I hope that hundreds of thousands of viewers around the world will see the festival from TV screens and in online formats."

"Our dream, which we have been working towards for the last six years, is coming true," said Philippe Bossan. - CIOFF is a big family that builds cultural peace and mutual understanding between peoples. This event is very important for the collectives who arrived in Bashkortostan, since they have been limited in holding various festivals and concerts for the last year and a half due to the pandemic. Thank you very much for the warm welcome and the high organization of the Folkloriada."

"Our dreams are coming true thanks to you, Radiy Faritovich," Tamara Purtova added. - Of course, this Folkloriada will go down in the history of world culture!".

"This is not the first time I have come to Bashkortostan," said Nadezhda Babkina, People's Artist of Russia. - There are amazing and hospitable people here! Here is the gorgeous honey, chak-chak and baursak! Yummy! So the Folkloriada has finally begun! The best artists of the folklore genre have come to you from all over the world to show the beauty of their countries. The real inflorescence of world cultures is now here, in Bashkortostan. You, Radiy Faritovich, a brave man, have organized a festival of a planetary scale in the republic. Bashkortostan shows a real example for the whole of Russia, how to conduct global events. We are all united and fighting, but not among ourselves, but with a common disaster - a pandemic. And our weapons are beauty, culture and love!"