The first press conference of the 53rd International Festival of Highland Folklore took place in the beautiful interiors of the Native Culture Center at the Villa Czerwony Dwór. The conference officially opened the grand festival of highlanders from all over the world.

Before all the attention was devoted to the events that would take place at the Dolna Równia Krupowa over the following eight days, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, prof. Piotr Gliński together with the Mayor Leszek Dorula and the Deputy Mayor Agnieszka Nowak-Gąsienica, the Artistic Director of the Festival Hanka Rybka and Małgorzata Wonuczka-Wnuk and Maria Kukuc-Frączysta honoured Zofia Fortecka and Magdalena Fortecka - the creators of the works that can be admired at the exhibition ‘Forteckich Pieśń nad Pieśniami’ (‘The Forteckis’ Song of Songs’). Before the conference, the minister also had an opportunity to visit the Podhale Driving Championship event.

The official opening of the 53rd International Festival of Highland Folklore was announced at the conference. The conference started with a warm welcome to all the honorable guests - prof. Piotr Gliński - Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Mr. Witold Kozłowski - Marshal of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Mr. Leszek Dorula - Mayor of the City of Zakopane, Mrs.Agnieszka Nowak-Gąsienica - Deputy Mayor of the City of Zakopane and Mrs. Hanka Rybka - Artistic Director of the Festival. Among the gathered audience there were also representatives of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Marshal's Office of the Małopolska Region, patrons and partners of the event, the Festival's jury, the Artistic Council, as well as the directors of cooperating institutions.

All the guests gathered at the Villa Czerwony Dwór as well as all the visitors were first addressed and invited by the Mayor of the City of Zakopane – Mr.Leszek Dorula:

- Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to welcome everyone to the 53rd International Festival of Highland Folklore. I would like to welcome Prime Minister Piotr Gliński and express my gratitude for supporting our event (...). It is so exciting to see how our Festival has developed and how beautifully it has bloomed. It wouldn’t be possible without the work of so many people who have been contributing to the event for many consecutive years or those who have joined the organization in recent years. Our Festival has been refreshed and reorganized. Today gives the young generation a chance to become a part of it and that is precisely the transfer of culture and tradition that we care about (...). With this year's leading theme of the Festival – the motherhood and women at home - we want to show to young people that the family is the most important part of the community (...). Once again, I would like to express my appreciation to even the smallest contributiors to the organization of the Festival. The crowds who gathered to witness the events can enjoy the best we have to share and take these moments with them to all different parts of the world.

In his official address, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage - Piotr Gliński - emphasized the importance of the Festival for the local and Polish culture. He also assured that the Ministry’s support is always there for all initiatives promoting regional identity:

- The International Festival of Highland Folklore is a symbol of Polish culture - not only of folk and highlander culture, but of culture in general. It is a great event that is expanding and is very interesting due to its international dimension (...). Such events are naturally supported by the government i.e. by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as well as the recently established National Institute of Rural Culture and Heritage (...). Zakopane is a place known primarily for its culture - the legend of the Tatras promotes the city on the international stage (...). The festival is a huge part of this culture and I would love to invite you all to enjoy it!

In his speech, the Marshal of the Małopolska Region - Mr.Witold Kozłowski - referred to the scale of the Festival as it has been organized for many years. He declared that any initiative of this kind is and will continue to be strongly supported by the local government of the Małopolska region:

- I am impressed with how huge this event is. If we realize that for over fifty editions there have been about six hundred foreign bands and artistic groups and two hundred Polish group performers, it shows the tremendous impact of this annual meeting. The eight-day event requires incredibly good organization and the necessary financial resources, so following what the Mayor said, as one of the representatives of those institutions that financially support this event, I would like to thank all those who contributed to this event. I would like to express my sincere congratulations to you, Mr. Mayor and all associates who participate in the organization of this great event. I am also proud to declare that our official commitment will certainly be greater and greater each year.

This year's Festival combines tradition with modernity and education with entertainment. Anna Karpiel-Semberecka - the head of the Press Office of the Festival - spoke about the event-rich and diverse program of the Festival. Mrs.Karpiel-Semberecka was the person in charge of today's press conference.

During the 53rd edition of the Festival, there will be many events that will be remembered by the audience. The three unique concerts ‘Na Folkową Nutę’ (‘To the folk note’) will defintely be the ones to look forward to. The Artistic Director of the Festival – Mrs.Hanka Rybka – invited to this very event:

- This great beautiful event that we look forward to every year is preceded by the concerts "Na Folkowa Nutę". I would like to invite you today at 7:30pm to a concert of a world-famous star - the Hungarian violinist Robi Lakatos who will perform together with the ensemble conducted by Sebastian Wypych and accompanied by the Beethoven Orchestra. Tomorrow, the winners of the Polish Radio Festival ‘Folkowa Tradycja’ (‘the Folk Tradition’) - the Hajda Bańda band will perform. The concert will be followed by the Trebunie-Tutki band together with the Urmuli Quintet from Georgia. We wholeheartedly invite you, because this is the music that brings beauty and value – definitely something to look forward to at this year's Festival. Ladies and Gentlemen, we are waiting for you!

At the end of the conference, all attention was focused on the theme of this year's edition of the Festival – the motherhood - the Deputy Mayor of the City of Zakopane - Mrs.Agnieszka Nowak-Gąsienica shared her perspective with the guests.

- The main theme of the Festival this year is the motherhood and the role of women in the household. Not only will an exclusive conference tomorrow be devoted to this topic, but many motherhood-related elements will accompany us throughout the Festival. We will talk about the role of women in the past and how women today combine the function of being a mother, a wife and a working woman (...). Combining all these responsibilities is difficult, but not impossible (…). Together with the Director of TVP Woman channel, who is here today, and our associates, we worked out a joint idea of the series that will soon premiere on TVP Woman - the series "Women of Podhale".

Next, Mrs.Iwona Bocian-Zaciewska, the director of TVP Woman channel, shared more details on the series devoted to the women from Podhale - its wonderful heroines, full of passion, inspiration and tradition. The guests gathered at the conference also got to know the host of the series and could watch a trailer promoting the series. The series will be aired very soon – don’t miss it!

The conference brought us closer to what awaits us in the upcoming week. And there is a lot to happen. We have eight days ahead of us, filled with folk sounds and performances by highlanders from all over the world. Come to the Dolna Równia Krupowa and enjoy the shows!


The International Festival of Highland Folklore has been organized under the Honorary Patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland Mr. Andrzej Duda and the President's Wife, Mrs. Agata Kornhauser-Duda.

The organizers of the event are the City of Zakopane, Zakopane Cultural Center

The event was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund - a state special-purpose fund

Main Partner – Małopolska

Festival Partners -PGNiG, LOTTO Brand

The partner of the event is the National Institute of Rural Culture and Heritage, Polskie Tatry Inc., the Association of Highlanders - Zakopane Branch, the Dr.Tytus Chałubiński Tatra Mountains Museum.

The event is under the honorary patronage of the National Center for Culture

The event is under the Scientific Patronage of the Jagiellonian University and the Pontifical University of John Paul II.

Media Patrons: POLSKIE RADIO PROGRAM PIERWSZY, RADIOWE CENTRUM KULTURY RODZIMEJ, TVP, TVP 3 , TVP KOBIETA, TVP KULTURA, TVP3 KRAKÓW, TVP 3 KATOWICE, Radio Kraków, Radio Dla Ciebie, Polska Press Grupa
Gazeta Krakowska, Dziennik Polski, Kwartalnik TATRY, Elity, Gość Niedzielny, Tygodnik Niedziela, Pismo Folkowe, Folk 24, Kultura Ludowa, Tygodnik Podhalański, 24tp, Góral Info
Kultura Podhala, Małopolska Online, Nowy Targ 24, Serwis Informacyjny Watra, Podhale24, TV Podhale, Zakopiec Info

Special thanks to: Społem Zakopane, Gama Zakopane, Top Brand