August 22, 2020 - Some of the most famous Montenegrin art festivals - KotorArt, Bar Chronicle, Budva City Theater, Fiat, Nikšić Street Music Festival, and Korifej, after ten days without a response from the National Coordination Body for Infectious Diseases (NKT), are again sending an appeal to increase the number of people gathered for cultural events, a joint address has announced.
"We demand that the measures approved for political entities also apply to cultural entities, in terms of the delivery of the cultural content, preserving the health of the audience, artists and organizers, and above all confirming that culture is important at least as much as politics," said festival representatives.
KotorArt Don Branko's Music Days is one of the few summer festivals that has been held successfully since July, despite restrictive measures. "That is a clear indication that culture is significant in this extraordinary time, that people want it, but also that people can gather and enjoy quality art content, respecting all measures, such as distance, disinfection, and protective masks."
"We believe that up to 100 people can gather in the open space of a large area to listen to the concert and that no one is endangered," said the festival's PR service.
They explain that the NKT decided on August 10 that up to 100 people would be allowed to convene for political gatherings in the open air and 50 indoors, on the day of the conference "Festivals in times of crisis" within the KotorArt Don Branko Music Days program. The directors of several festivals from different cities of Montenegro and the region - Ratimir Martinović (KotorArt), Ksenija Popović (Bar Chronicle, Bar), Ana Vukotić (Fiat, Podgorica), and Ivan Radojičić (Festival of Street Musicians, Nikšić) - spoke, alongside Zoran Rakočević (Korifej, Kolašin), as well as Dora Ruždjak Podolski (Dubrovnik Summer Festival).
"The conference ended with a common position expressed by participants. An official, a public appeal was sent through all media, that the number of people permitted to gather at cultural events (40 people outdoors, 20 indoors) should be equal to the number allowed for political gatherings. "Ten days later, without a response from the NKT, these festivals were joined by colleagues from the Budva City Theater in a renewed appeal for this measure to be considered and adjusted," the statement concluded.
"The KotorArt International Festival, declared an event of special importance for the culture of Montenegro, has been significantly enriching what we offer in terms of culture and tourism for almost two decades. It is organized together with a large network of local, national and international partners in the field of culture and tourism. UNESCO's sponsorship confirms the quality and importance of the festival, as do the Wild Beauty Award for best event, the EFFE title awarded by the European Festival Association, European Union support for the project and the #synergy project with KotorArt Don Branko's Music Days. We also have long-term cooperation with prestigious companies and organizations. The XIX KotorArt Don Branko's Music Days are held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Kotor, with the support of Luštica Bay, Tonino Lamborgini, the embassies of Germany and Croatia, and many others."
