Today the International Children’s Art Festival, which will be held on August 1-7 in Ashgabat and the picturesque settlement of Geokdere, has started in Turkmenistan. The organizers of the forum are the Ministry of Culture and TV and Radio Broadcasting and the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan.

The forum of children’s art was first held in the summer of 2006 bringing together the young artists from all over the world on the seaside of the ancient Khazar. Today, it has considerably expanded its geography and entry list. 250 young citizens of Turkmenistan – the winners of the velayat rounds, and 485 children from 22 countries worldwide take part in this bright parade of children’s talents. Among them are the students of the specialized music and art schools, the artists of the famous folklore and ethnographic groups and chorographic ensembles, folk and popular singers, young painters and reciters.

The children’s health-improving centres – Nebitchi and Muhammetmurat Niyazov are given into the young artists’ undivided possession. Nebitchi will be the headquarters and cultural centre of the Festival.

The programme of the Festival included a variety of events and activities organized by the Ministry of Education and aimed at introducing neutral Turkmenistan – the country where children are the most privileged category of citizens to participants of the art contest. The UNICEF Office in Turkmenistan will hold the International Children’s Forum in the framework of the Festival.

For many children the Festival will become a serious examination in mastery as well as the first meeting with Turkmenistan, its ancient culture and rich spiritual traditions. Therefore, the organizers have done their best so that the week the young artists will spend in Ashgabat and Geokdere will be an unforgettable event in their lives. The versatile programme include numerous excursions to the museums, visits to the Turkmen State Puppet Theatre and Alp Arslan Turkmen National Youth Theatre, Ice Palace and Water Sports Complex, acquaintances with the landmarks of the Turkmen capital, sports and intellectual contests, exhibitions and interesting meeting and of course recreation and the joyful minutes of communicating with peers. Undoubtedly, the Festival will become a remarkable event in the country’s cultural life, the holiday of happy childhood, friendship, concord and creation so far as such cultural contacts as nothing else promote strengthening peace among the peoples on the planet, bring them close together make them understand each other better proving the firm humanistic ideals underlying the initiative of holding this international children’s forum.