Bjelovar was the host of the first part of the 33rd Meeting of Croatian Folklore Ensembles and Original Groups for the second year running yesterday, an annual event that brings together the most successful amateur folklorists from Croatia and abroad. 15 original folklore ensembles and cultural-artistic societies presented themselves at the Cultural Centre.
The meeting is organised by the Croatian Parliament of Culture, with material support from the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, Bjelovar-Bilogora County and the City of Bjelovar. Co-organisers are the Association of Cultural-Artistic Associations of Bjelovar-Bilogora County and the Croatian Composers' Society HDS-ZAMP.
Representatives of folklore ensembles and cultural-artistic societies from various parts of Croatia took to the Bjelovar stage, having earned their place at the national meeting through performances at county festivals. This year, a total of 19 county festivals were held from March to July, gathering 210 folklore groups and 6,720 folklore amateurs across Croatia.
At the start of the programme, representatives of the organisers and hosts addressed the audience. Boris Abramović, President of the Association of Cultural-Artistic Associations of Bjelovar-Bilogora County, received a certificate of appreciation from the Croatian Parliament of Culture on behalf of his association and the Association of Cultural Associations in the City of Bjelovar. Igor Brajdić, Deputy Mayor of the City of Bjelovar, received a certificate of appreciation from the Croatian Parliament of Culture on behalf of the City of Bjelovar, while Marija Jungić, Deputy County Prefect of Bjelovar-Bilogora County, also received a certificate of appreciation from the Croatian Parliament of Culture.
The expert jury consisted of Krunoslav Šokac, Vesna Peršić Kovač and Martin Durbek. The jury selected the best participants of the meeting and awarded the First, Second and Third Prizes of the Croatian Parliament of Culture in the original folklore category. First place was won by HKUD Slavonija Jakšić, second by HPD Zelina Zelina, and third by KUU Zvona Zagore Mirlović Zagora.
This year's meeting is held in two parts, in the categories of original and choreographed folklore. The second part of the event will take place on 24 October in Čakovec, where KUD Bjelovar will represent Bjelovar-Bilogora County.
