On Tuesday evening, the President of the Municipality of Kotor, Vladimir Jokić, handed over the keys to the city of Kotor to the youngest, and Vladan Radonjić, a student of the Elementary School "Savo Ilić" from Kotor, received them on behalf of the children.
With this traditional act, the 32nd Kotor Children's Theater Festival was officially opened in the "Nikola Đurković" Cultural Center.
"We gathered a lot more love, the ones that were sometimes received during the year, in one place", according to the announcement of the organizers.
The opening ceremony was held as part of the program called "Step by step...the city", which is also the slogan of this year's Festival, with the symbolism of the initiative to restore the status of a city to Kotor.
Jokić said that all that Kotor has and has nurtured for two and a half millennia is not worth it without children in its squares, with the message that we nurture love for others, nurture empathy and learn that those who need a little more love - we give it to them first.
"Dear children, you have seen the videos and participated in all the squares of Kotor. Kotor has large shops - Trg od óruža, Trg Sv. Tripuna, Salad Market, Flour Market, Pima Palace, Drago, Vrakijen, countless famous historical and cultural monuments. It has lasted for two and a half thousand years, it has our hope that they will recognize us as one pearl and declare us a special city, but everything that Kotor had and everything that lasted for two and a half millennia would be worth absolutely nothing if you weren't on that team squares. That's why this will be a real city even without anyone recognizing it, because this is the only city where children will rule for the next eight days, and you will surely be much better at it than we are," said Jokić.
The program was prepared by the Secretariat for Culture, Sports and Social Activities of the Municipality of Kotor, in cooperation with the Editorial Board of the children's program of Radio Television of Montenegro.
The performance brought together children from Kotor elementary schools, as well as students from the School for Elementary and Secondary Music Education "Vida Matjan" from Kotor. The audience in the full hall of the Cultural Center had the opportunity to watch the choreography of Kotor children recorded on the squares and piazzas of the Old Town on the video screen.
Special guests at the opening of this year's Festival were children from the non-governmental association "Ljubav za ljubav", and Jokić asked for a big round of applause for their "wonderful and brave parents".
The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, unable to attend the ceremony, sent a letter in which he pointed out that the numerous contents, programs and workshops, as well as the inclusive nature of the festival on the wings of volunteerism, represent an exceptional example of how art enlightens and creates future generations of loyal theater audiences.
"This event, which celebrates the creativity, imagination and talent of our youngest, is an event of special importance in Montenegro. It also provides an extraordinary opportunity for the promotion of culture and art among children and young people... I am convinced that the Festival will gather a large number of talented children, visitors and theater lovers, and that your and our Kotor, like every year, will be filled with play , with joy and laughter", said Milatović.
Jokić also reminded of the promise made years ago, about the establishment of a theater for children and youth, and stated that at the next session of the Kotor Municipal Assembly, the Kotor Children's and Youth Theater will be officially established.
"Through that theater and this festival, cultivate something that is much more significant than any other progress - cultivate love for others, cultivate empathy and learn to give to those who need more love first," added Jokić and declared the festival open.
This year, the 32nd edition of the Kotor Children's Theater Festival is organized in cooperation with the Municipality of Kotor - the Secretariat for Culture, Sports and Social Activities, the Public Institution Cultural Center "Nikola Đurković" and the Tourist Organization of Kotor. The patron is the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro, while this year it is also under the high patronage of the President of the country.
Bonus video:
