The Festival “Hyperboreya - 2006”

The Festival of winter kinds of man’s leisure “Hyperboreya - 2006” took place as a part of the program “60 parallel” from 19 January till 18 February in Petrozavodsk (Karelia republic). It was organized by Petrozavodsk municipality with the assistance of Surgut. You can read the conception of the festival on the website in the section of “Hyperboreya”.

The aim of the festival is experience combination of northern cities in the use of climatic and landscape peculiarities of the North zone in the positive course, in form creation of cultural life promoting the emotional support of the northerners and uniting of city community.

The program of the winter festival “Hyperboreya” is always varied and gives the possibility both to professionals from the “real” art and amateurs to express themselves. Events take place almost during the whole month in Karelia. All comers can be participants of these events.

There were competitions of lovers of winter swimming and fishing, demonstrative appearances of aviators, concerts and exhibitions in theaters, the Karelia Philharmonic Society and cultural and educational institutions of the city during the festival. For the first time the citizens could see the exhibition of Khanty doll and visit master-classes of its making. Besides there were sport activity – “Hyperboreya Games” including the city skiing festival and snowmobile races and also several creative projects under the common name “Hyperboreya Art”. The competition of ice and snow sculptures that took place on the quay of the Lake Onega became the culmination of the festival. Not only adults but also young participants could show their creative ability at the competition.

The competition of the ice and snow sculpture became the main competitive event of the “Hyperboreya”. The sculpture “Windy” is declared the winner of the competition this year. It’s made by Surgut team of sculptures under the direction of Vitaly Gorda. The victory is remarkable also by the birthday of the ice master; he is 67 years old.

At once several northern cities of Russia, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Czech Republic took part at the festival “Hyperboreya - 2006”. This year the festival was opened by the exhibition “Play-acting”. Caricatures from the fund of the Art Museum of Surgut city were presented there.

- “Surgut is the city on the 60^th parallel”, photo exhibition of Surgut photo club “Otrazhenie”;

- the exhibition of Khanty doll “The Doll Neryim-Yah” of the Surgut Museum of Local Lore, History and Economy.

The stuff of the Surgut Museum of Local Lore, History and Economy brought for the habitants of Petrozavodsk:

- The play of the Surgut Museum of Local Lore, History and Economy “Surgut tales of marsh people”;

- the multimedia reconstruction presentation of the late Stone Age dwelling that existed at the Surgut Priobie territory six thousand years ago;

- the photo exhibition “Surgut is the city on the 60^th parallel”.

The meeting with Julia Nerush, the editor-in-chief of the magazine “60 parallel” and the presentation of the Surgut program of cities development “60 parallel” took place in the city show-room of Petrozavodsk.

At the end of the festival the citizens of Petrozavodsk could see the wonderful ice-snow-fiery enchanting spectacle and the unique show with use of balloons, garlands and music accompaniment prepared by the Norwegian artists Anke Ström and Yarle Fotland.