XVIIth International Art Festival for Children and Youth "Spring Inspiration" took place in the northern capital of Russia, Saint Petersburg. 805 participants from 28 cities of Russia, Kazakhstan and Estonia presented 298 performances and art works and fought for prizes. As a result of intense and emotional struggle 4 groups won the Grand Prix: participant from the Moscow region, the theatre team from St. Petersburg, a piano master from Krasnodar and the

The first day was devoted to acquaintance with the city. Wonderful Saint-Petersburg was presented for participants on excursions. The first was a survey of the city with a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress, the second - a trip to Tsarskoe Selo.

The festival was held in two different halls. In the big one young dancers, singers and theatre performers showed their numbers. The jury enjoyed a great variety of styles and genres, we could see both - traditional and original pieces, so every viewer could find something interesting personally for him.

Musicians performed in the small hall. They were at different ages and played different types of musician instruments. The participants performed solo, in duets and orchestras. The team «Russian Souvenir» performed two compositions: “Cartoon Balagan” and "Intermezzo". The soloist of the collective, Noak Galina Nikolaevna, received a special prize for the best work as concertmaster.

This edition of the festival gathered singers at different ages. Kovalchuk Vitalina, who performed in the age category over 19, performed an exciting composition "The Ballad of the Mother" and received a prize for artistry. The first Grand Prix went to Maria Bozcheova, who performed the song "Confessions of Love".

As always, the dancers prepared for glory. There were surprisingly elegant costumes, and beautiful music, and original decisions of the directors. For the best costumes, two prizes were awarded at once: the dance-sports team "Sozvezdie" and the Children's choreographic collective "Veterok". Surprise for the audience was the performance of collectives from Estonia. They performed modern and folk dances and get positive judging scores.

In addition to performances the festival, there was a fine arts competition and a master class on pottery. The prize for the best art work was awarded to Kirill Popov from the city of Yakutsk. He performed a brilliant masterpiece – chess with picturing of Yakutian gods.

It is necessary to say about the performances of the theatrical groups – the excerpts from pieces and musicals, which the young artists performed, were surprisingly professional. The audience was excited by the fragment of the performance "I Love You, Camomile!", performed by actors from the theater studio "Skylark" in the city of Ivanovo. The sincere story of the love and friendship between forest animals and plants could not leave anyone indifferent. Creative collective "Collage" from Nizhny Tagil showed an amazing collection of "Smalta vitrum" in medieval style. Participants of the team presented to the audience handmade suits made of cardboard and building materials.

The most memorable and special performance was the play "Thumbelina", which was presented by the studio Mandarin Club from St. Petersburg. Young artists (all younger than 6 years old) in beautiful fairy costumes showed such a level of professionalism that the jury could not fail to note. The studio received awards for the best direction, artistry and, most importantly, the Grand Prix of the festival.

The festival “Inspiration. Spring” is organized four times a year. The next festival in Saint-Petersburg will be held in the first days of July.