17th International Youth Festival of Arts "Muzite" (The Muses)

The International youth festival of arts (IYFA) “Muzite” (in English “The Muses”) a multi-genre youth festival and contest of different forms of arts: dance, music, theater, fine & applied arts and crafts, non-standard forms, fiction and film. The festival hosted close to 2,000 participants from 25th countries and is one of the biggest youth events in Eastern Europe. The Muses festival is organized by the Association “Muzite” in a partnership with the Municipality of Sozopol and it is held annually  from  5th to 15th July  in the town of Sozopol, Bulgaria.

Sessions and arts:

Who is invited to participate:

• Ensembles and soloists from the art schools, academies, schools, studios, cultural centers , children and youth from 5 to 35 years in a competitive and non-competitive program.
• Adults over 35 years old are invited to participate as special guests.
• There is no limit to the number of performing ensembles and the number of participants in each formation
• All participants can participate in the competitions and in the non-competitive program of the festival.
• Audience input is free!

• Arrival to Sozopol for the first session – 05th July; departure – 10th July.
• Arrival to Sozopol for the second session – 10th July, departure – 15th July.

Participation rules:

• In order to register for participation, please fill all the details of the registration form and email it together with the corresponding pictures.
• All applicants are required to pay a deposit of 30% (thirty percent) of the total amount. In case  of a cancelation of the application prior to the deadline, the 30% deposit is non-refundable.
• Please consult the price carefully prior to processing the payment.
• Your application will be reviewed and confirmed by email after the application package and the payments are received.
• The remaining participation fee should be paid not later than 30 calendar days prior to the beginning of the festival, i.e, not later than May 31^st.

• First age group: From 5 to 12 years old.
• Second age group: From 13 to 18 years old.
• Third age group:  From 19 to 35 years old.
• Fourth age group: From 35 years old.

Schedules, rehearsals and performances rules:

• The competition program will be scheduled by the organizers  on the basis of the applications received.
• The order of performances in the competition is determined by the organizers committee in advance.
• The order of the performances in the competition depends on the age of the participants (from junior to senior age groups) and the art form
• The programme is announced during the rehearsals for the respective day.
• Each soloist has up to 1 minute for technical rehearsal, the groups have up to 3 minutes and the ensembles (over 30 people) have up to 5 minutes.
• The rehearsal includes a quick sound & light check.
• Rehearsal order follows the order of the program and Changes to the program are not allowed no changes are allowed.
• Each team and individual artist participates with a different program. Same performance is not allowed in two programs.
• Each team and soloist participate with two performances in the competition and with one performance in the closing session concert (laureates only), which are previously indicated in the application form.
• Participants participate in parades, field trips, workshops and other events

• The texts for the printing of the diplomas, certificates and letters of appreciation are prepared in advance in accordance with the information provided in the application form. In the event of spelling errors in the information provided to them, the organizers are not responsible for the errors that may occur.
• Organizational and technical meetings with the writer, director, concert leaders, technical team (sound, lighting and special effects), managers of teams and individual participants are held each day.
• Managers of the festival recommend that creative formations and soloists learn the text, music and choreography of the anthem of The Muses Festival and carry the national flag of their country.
• The group leaders are fully responsible for their teams, costumes and belongings.
• The team leaders alone determine the concert program.

Important: For their participation in the Festival the ensembles and the individual participants should have prepared the following types of programs:

Program: