The International Festival Sarajevo “Sarajevo Winter” is a traditional meeting place for artists and citizens from all over the world. The first “Sarajevo Winter” Festival was held from 21st December, 1984 to 6th April, 1985. In the course of twenty nine years of its existence, the Festival has become an inseparable part of the city life. More than 3.721 performances and exhibitions with over 3.145.000 visitors and 33.830 participants from all parts of the world took place in the 1298 festival days.
The “Sarajevo Winter” Festival was not prevented from taking place even in the times of war, and has become a symbol of freedom of creativity and a place for familiarizing with diverse cultures and civilizations. Together with the International Peace Center, “Sarajevo Winter” initiated and organized the project “Sarajevo, Cultural Center of Europe” from 21st December, 1993 to 21st March, 1994 (i.e. the period between the two Cultural Centers of Europe – Antwerp ’93 and Lisbon ’94). The idea was supported by the Sarajevo City Assembly and by 11.000 renowned personalities and institutions from the whole world. The International Peace Center and the International Festival Sarajevo “Sarajevo Winter” plan to renew the same initiative. Twentieth anniversary of the Festival Sarajevo “Sarajevo Winter” was dedicated to Project Sarajevo, Intercultural City of the Council of Europe.
The International Festival Sarajevo “Sarajevo Winter” is numerous international awards and acknowledgments winner, as well as the winner of the highest award of the City of Sarajevo “Šestoaprilska nagrada Sarajeva”.
(Source: sarajevskazima)