The International Festival of Creativity “Northern Star 2023” took place

…And may the “Northern Star” always shine above us, reminding us of our strength and unity! 

Incredible impressions, beauty, wild emotions, energy and enthusiasm enough to reach “the very stars” – yesterday Tallinn hosted the gala concert of the International Festival of Creativity “Northern Star 2023”!

30 brilliant performances by 15 participants from 5 European countries – Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Ukraine – the awards ceremony for the winners of the “Arabesques of Estonia” competition and the festival participants, and a packed hall at the Cultural Centre: that was the festival’s final day!

The chairman of the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia, Volodymyr Palamar, welcomed the participants and the audience, highlighted the importance of the festival’s mission and thanked its participants, audience and organisers:

“The ‘Northern Star’ is not just an ordinary song and dance festival. It is a celebration that embodies our culture, our heritage and our history, and shows that we do not forget our roots, no matter where we live. It is an opportunity to meet old friends, get to know new people and build new connections. It helps us strengthen our Ukrainian community in Estonia and shows that we are not alone – that we have each other.

Each of you – the participants of this festival – is an integral part of this great event. Your performances are what make the ‘Northern Star’ special every year. You give us emotions, joy and unforgettable impressions, and we are grateful to you for that!”

The gala concert was attended by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Estonia Maksym Kononenko, who greeted the participants of “the central autumn event for the Ukrainian community not only in Estonia but far beyond”, wished them creative success, and thanked the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia, which has been holding the event for more than twenty years, and the Estonian Ministry of Culture for its support:

“Hundreds of thousands of our young women and men fight at the front every day, holding back the Russian onslaught and defending the right of Ukrainians to remain Ukrainians and speak their native language. I do not want to moralise about how grateful you should be to these people, but I want you to remember that freedom and the opportunity to be yourself have a price. Sometimes they can only be defended at the cost of one’s own life. Yet they are always worth fighting for, because freedom and identity are priceless.

Since ancient times the star has been a powerful protective symbol in Ukrainian culture. Travellers and sailors found their way by the stars. Parents were wished that their children would be born under a lucky star to guide them through life. I wish you all that the ‘Northern Star’ becomes the guiding light that leads you to success, to discovering the talents dormant in each of us, and to the happy moment of creative self-fulfilment.”

This year the festival took place in 3 stages: on 24 October the concert “One Rhythm” was held in Tartu with the support of Tartu City Government and the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia, featuring the folk dance ensemble “Barvinok” of the Borshchahivka Art School from the village of Sofiivska Borshchahivka, Kyiv region (artistic directors Olena and Volodymyr Dolchuk), and dance groups of the Tartu Dance Academy. On 28 October Saku hosted the international choreography festival-competition “Arabesques of Estonia”, organised by the NGO “Barvinok-Kyiv” with the support of Saku Parish and the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia.

At the final concert on 29 October in Tallinn the audience enjoyed performances by dance and vocal groups: they saw the Ukrainian dances “Red Viburnum”, “Hopak” and “Kozachok”, the Lithuanian “Abraham’s Polka”, the Latvian “Dzimta” and the Crimean Tatar dance “By the Spring”. They heard folk and contemporary songs performed by the festival’s talented participants: “Oi u luzi chervona kalyna”, “Stefania”, “Oi liuli, naletily huli”, “Bilia topoli” and others.

To close the festival, all participants of “Northern Star 2023” came on stage and sang the Estonian song “Ta lendab mesipuu poole” together!

• Thank you for supporting the festival to the Integration Foundation (Integratsiooni Sihtasutus) and the creative association “Orpheus”!
• Thank you to the organising committee of “Northern Star 2023” and everyone involved in organising the event!
• Thank you to the hosts of the event – Tetiana Klymenko and Luka Klymenko!
• Thank you to all festival participants, vocal and dance ensembles and performers, and their leaders, for taking part and for the incredible emotions!
• Thank you to Kultuurikeskus Kaja for the hospitality!
• Thank you to the festival sponsor, the SAKU brand.
• Thank you to photographer Volodymyr Slobodian and the event’s videographer Veronika Kukurudza.

More photos at this link. Photos are available for download until 01.12.2023.

Special thanks to our festival visitors – parents, relatives, friends, adults and children – everyone who came to support the performers and the development of Ukrainian culture and art! 

The International Festival of Creativity “Northern Star 2023” is held by the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia and MTÜ ORPHEUS with the support of the Integration Foundation (Integratsiooni Sihtasutus).

See you next time!