The international ethnic festival, held annually in the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, was called the "Sayan Ring". It existed from 2003 to 2012, excluding the 2006th.
Claimed project
Musical ethnic groups from Buryatia and Tuva, Altai, Khakassia and the Krasnoyarsk Territory gathered at the very first festival - only about 40 groups. Spectators came about 7000 people. The festival was held in Shushensky, an urban-type village, where there is a fairly large and well-equipped district center of culture, well equipped with modern sound and lighting equipment. This PGT for a sufficient number of years has hosted tourists following the Sayan Ring route. Maybe that’s why the festival got its name.
One of the pearls of Siberia
The infrastructure in Shushensky is well developed, although it is remote from Krasnoyarsk and Abakan. In addition, there is the only monument to the Siberian village of the late 19th century in Russia. Everything genuine - a tavern and a grocery store, barns and huts of both prosperous and poor peasants. In household plots, all the cultures necessary for life grow, as it was at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Where, if not here, to hold the Sayan Ring ethnic festival of ethnic music?
Permanently
The ideological leader of the festival was Andrei Kataev, who conceived it as a one-time event (exceptional, aimed at promoting an idea) project. But immediately after the opening, it became clear that the idea is very popular and timely - musicians should meet annually. Thanks to these original collectives, the cultural traditions of the peoples inhabiting Siberia are preserved. For the first time, ethnic music groups met and loudly declared themselves.
The project turned out to be so successful that the musicians came from all over Siberia to the second Sayan Ring festival in 2004. And then - more, and now the festival becomes international. He is highly appreciated by all music officials, he is supported by famous domestic and foreign musicians from France, the USA and Great Britain, from Ireland and the Netherlands.
Organizers and Leaders
The first and second review of ethnomusicists was led by Artemy Troitsky, starting from the third - Sergey Starostin, a multi-instrumentalist, a famous musician, collector and arranger of Russian folk music.
“Sayan Ring” is a festival known to many and having more than representative expert advice under the jury. Famous national masters of ethnic music and prominent representatives from other countries select individual musicians and ensembles whose mastery corresponds to the high level of the festival.
Despite the fact that the number of participants has grown to 100 nominees, the number of people wishing to get to the "Sayan Ring" in Shushensky is growing every year. In 2013, for the groups and performers who were not among the contestants, the third stage opened. At the same time, the number of viewers increased to 35 thousand.
Significant Events
It should be noted that this review is constantly being improved, the program replenished with various master classes and lectures is becoming more diverse. "Sayan ring" from 2019-2010. It contains a powerful educational and communicative component - participants acquire a new ethnological experience and improve the existing one. New folklore events appear - dances, crafts, ritual performances.
The undoubted achievements of the festival include the commissioning of an open-air cinema, in which films related to ethnic culture are shown. The cinema received viewers in 2009. The opening in 2010 of ethno-jazz laboratories allowed musicians who came from other countries and worked in different traditions to improvise and freely exchange views on the different facets of classical, folk and modern music. The opening of this laboratory is considered a landmark event in the history of the Sayan Ring.
Steadily increasing status
Here, the forgotten dances, crafts, tunes, games are resurrected - everything that surrounded the life of distant ancestors. The most important thing is that guests of the festival take an active part in all events. It should be added that the network has a three-day festival program with a detailed breakdown not only by day, but also by hour, minute. The jury, as well as the members of the expert council, with all the regalia of each, is also widely available. The fact that the festival’s status is growing is evidenced by the fact that since 2010 the Shushensky district administration and the Ministry of Culture of the Krasnoyarsk Territory have become its founders.
Indisputable Achievements
The anniversary festival in Shushensky “Sayan Ring”, held in 2013, summed up the results of the festival, which turned out to be more than impressive. The large and small festival venues worked (the small one is called EthnoTechnoPark). In addition to them, a free stage and a ceremonial platform, the “City of Masters” for craftsmen, a family recreation park were involved. As well as the Ethno-Interactive and the museum. Separate words deserve the "City of Masters." At the anniversary festival, craftsmen who came from 16 regions of Russia created and shared their experience.
"World of Siberia"
Therefore, a decision was made to rename the Sayan Ring, which was far beyond the announced at the very beginning of the framework, into the World of Siberia - the International Festival of Ethnic Music and Crafts, which will be its successor. This decision confirms the significantly increased status of the festival.
The festival, which was held just from September 1 to 3, 2015, became an event in the cultural life of Russia. It presents several awards, one of which, the “National Event Tourism Award”, is one of the most prestigious in the Russian Federation.