July 3, 2020 - The Government of Montenegro has decided to ban all large-scale festival events planned in Montenegro for this summer. It is stated that only low epidemiological risk events will be recommended.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, KotorArt Don Branko's Music Days, the Kotor Children's Theater Festival, and part of the Podgorica Cultural Summer will not be held, the Government of Montenegro announced.
"In planning summer cultural events, we recommend consulting the National Coordination Body for Infectious Diseases (NCT), the Ministry of Culture or the Institute of Public Health," reads the Government's Twitter account. "Everything has stopped, but the children are still growing", is the motto of the 28th Kotor Children's Theater Festival, which was supposed to open last night in the Old Town.
"The decision to postpone the festival is difficult for all of us. In addition to protecting children's health, we need to preserve both culture and freedom of expression. It is a big challenge for us who are engaged in education and pedagogical work to approach children and young people in this situation. Due to the specific situation, we decided not to ask for sponsorship this year. Still, people applied themselves, "said the Director of the Kotor Children's Theater Festival, Petar Pejakovic, at the press conference, recalling that 65 programs were prepared in nine days.
"A large part of these programs, especially those related to art or educational work, is already in place or indeed ready, so the festival will start in a certain way. In the next week, more than half of these programs will be held, by way of exhibitions, literary evenings, educational programs and installations that have already been put in place," said Pejaković.
