The 2017 edition of Lublin's flagship festival, Magicians Carnival, will refer to the Grand Jubilee of the city’s 700th anniversary. As every year, hundreds of the world’s best artists representing the new circus will come to our city, whose performances can be admired live on the streets of Lublin. The streets of Lublin will hold dozens of performances, live concerts, workshops and events dedicated to children. An unusual scene will be set up at Po Farze Square, evoking the silhouette of one of the first churches in Lublin, while the beauty of the city will be highlighted by special light decorations.
From 23 July to 26 July a Backyard Circus will visit eight districts of Lublin, announcing the main events and inviting the residents to attend the Carnival. Traditionally, you can expect a mad sense of humour, a bit of horror and many twists during performances by Mr. Ząbek, Aryman, Kacper Wydmański and Marcin Styczyński.
The culmination of the events under Magicians Carnival will take place on 27-30 July, in the most beautiful places of the city at the same time. Artists’ performances will be held in the following locations: the square in front of the Centre for Culture in Lublin, Centre for Culture in Lublin, Litewski Square, Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street - monument of the Union of Lublin, square behind the Crown Tribunal, square at the former Andersen Theatre, the courtyard of the Dominican monastery, Po Farze square, the Błonia area at Lublin Castle, the Castle Square and the Tarasy Zamkowe shopping centre (where some of the workshops will take place).
Magicians Carnival is one of the symbols of Lublin, an event recognizable not only in Poland, but more and more often outside of Poland, too. Every year, Lublin attracts a growing number of guests and artists of the new circus art. They are attracted by festival’s renown and the fame of stars appearing in the official programme. This makes us happy, because it means that the festival's formula is developing, and Lublin has become an important point on the world map of the new circus, says Krzysztof Żuk, Mayor of Lublin.
On the occasion of the city’s 700th anniversary, the organizers have prepared an unusual scene in the heart of Lublin’s Old Town. An artistic construction that will serve as a stage will be erected on Po Farze Square. The contour of the object will invoke the silhouette of today non-existent, one of the first churches in Lublin. As in the old days, this place will bring together the residents of the city and visitors to see performances and concerts. After dark, the Old Town Square, the building of the Crown Tribunal and the Krakowska Gate will light up with illuminated decorations made by Philips, the official partner of Magicians Carnival.
Another indispensable element of the carnival atmosphere is Urban Highline Festival. This year it will host more than 300 of the world's best slackliners from 30 countries. Acrobatic feats on 16 suspended tapes, contests and tricks will start on July 25 in the morning and evening, at the Old Town Square, the Trinitarska Tower and the Krakowska Gate, and on July 29 and July 30 – above Wieniawska Street.
Every day families with children can watch numerous shows, take part in workshops and have fun in the Klanza’s City of Unusual Games at the square in front of the Centre for Culture in Lublin in Peowiaków Street. An extraordinary attraction for children will be a show by Teatro Tatro from Slovakia. It is a show that has everything in it - the world closed in a circus tent, theatre, dreams and their fulfilment, Australian hares with live music. The artists invite children of any height and parents of any width.
The strength of Magicians Carnival lies in its unique programme. The art of the new circus is an unpretentious language that provides effective communication regardless of the nationality and age of the audience. Lublin hosts the best performers in the world, whose artistry provokes strong emotions and attracts bigger and bigger audiences every year, says Rafał Sadownik from the Workshops of Culture in Lublin, Artistic Director of Magicians Carnival.
Magicians Carnival is also about live music. The audience will see five diverse bands that will infect them with their energy. Neljä Ässää and "The Best Cover Band in the World" will play all-time favourites in unusual arrangements. The 3 Kings band will play acoustically drum'n'base, disco and house rhythms using two saxophones and percussion. Timingeriu will present popular and unknown pieces of Gypsy, Balkan and Jewish music. The 12-person Franco-Belgian band Orchestre International du VETEX will rouse the audience with their combination of intense Colombian melodies, melancholic Balkan sounds and Afro-American beat. Rajzefiber will enchant the audience with charming sounds of their own compositions on double bass, banjo and ukulele, and accompanied by magical vocals. Live music will first be played in Po Farze square and late in the evening at the Jugglers Bar, located in the Błonia area at the Castle.
Magicians Carnival with its peculiar artistic language joins in the celebration of the 700th anniversary of the city of Lublin. The main character of a spectacle entitled "A city that wasn’t" is Lublin as seen by artists from other places in Poland. We will discover how our city is perceived by people from outside, and what Lublin means to them. The performance was directed by Jack Timinger and Marta Kuczyńska, and produced by Magicians Carnival and Kolektyw Kejos.
This year, for the first time, Sony has become a Technology Partner of the event. Thanks to virtual reality devices, the audience will be able to feel like a highliner and admire Lublin from the perspective of a slackline tape. The devices will be available around the Crown Tribunal, in the heart of the Urban Highline Festival, at the Old Town Square.
Sony, an expert on photography, is also announcing a competition for best photographs in the category "Street Art." Photo enthusiasts are encouraged to take photos during Magicians Carnival. From among the photos posted on the Carnival's Facebook profile (under the dedicated post), a jury appointed by Sony will select three most interesting shots. Photographs may depict any situation, buildings, artists, or event. An eminent jury member will be Tomasz Tomaszewski, the brand’s ambassador, a regular associate of National Geographic and other Polish and foreign titles, a winner of numerous international photo awards. On 27 July in the Centre for Culture in Lublin, Tomasz Tomaszewski will also give a presentation titled "How to be a fire, not a moth. Or on searching for your own signature in photography. " The registration for the meeting will start on 14 July, after the launch of the information on Facebook (up to 40 participants, free of charge).
RMF FM, a media sponsor of the festival, has also organized competitions for its listeners. Among others, you can win a trip to Lublin to see Magicians Carnival 2017.
Tickets to the ticketed shows can be purchased via www.ticketpro.pl
As every year, Magicians Carnival is accompanied by nationwide promotional activities. From the beginning of July, 100 billboards have been put up across Poland, in Warsaw, Poznan, Cracow, Wroclaw and Tri-City and Lublin. In addition, there are promotional campaigns run on the radio and on the Internet, as well as PR activities.
Once again, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage appreciated the innovative formula of Magicians Carnival, and awarded it with a 3-year grant amounting to 500,000 zloty.
