Ninth Bouquet Kyiv Stage festival opens in Ukrainian capital

The ninth edition of the high art festival Bouquet Kyiv Stage has kicked off at the National Sanctuary Sophia of Kyiv in Ukraine's capital. This year's theme, "Armed with Beauty," emphasizes the importance of beauty during times of existential crises. Festival co-founder Iryna Budanska explained that beauty serves as a counterweight to destruction, just like life itself, which is strong yet fragile and requires protection.

Over the course of four days (August 13-16), over 50 art events will be held across eight venues, each showcasing unique programs prepared throughout the year. These include a retrospective exhibition of Yulia Lazarevska, a photographer, director, and screenwriter, as well as an exhibition titled "Caliber 120x35mm. Family Album," prepared in collaboration with servicemembers who were given film cameras to capture their lives and daily routines at the front.

General Director Nelia Kukovalska of the National Sanctuary Sophia of Kyiv affirmed that despite the ongoing war, the festival must proceed to showcase the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian nation. The program encompasses tours for adults and children, highlighting the historical significance of the location and the ancient children's schools that once existed there.

Festival co-founder Yevhen Utkin expressed the importance of sharing Ukraine's rich artistic heritage with the world, emphasizing the need to put an end to the suppression of culture by neighbors. The festival will conclude with a concert featuring orchestral renditions of film music by Georgian composer Nikoloz Rachveli, performed by the Kyiv Camerata.

Established in 2018, Bouquet Kyiv Stage has grown to bring together music, Ukrainian visual art, film, theater, children's programs, and discussions.