International Festival of Twin Cities of Perm “Come Together!”

The I Twin Cities Festival “Come together!” closed on Sunday with spectacular show performed by foreign and Perm teams. After festival ended there was organized social program and meetings with Perm schools and university students, as well as meetings with our guests’ counterparts.

John Hawkins - the guitarist from Louisville, said the trip to Perm has turned his consciousness. Of course, music does not require translation; it helps people who do not speak foreign languages find common ground. John found like-minded Perm group named “Babatu” which in 2004 represented Perm in Louisville.

Chinese ensemble “Yange” was probably the brightest and most colorful team who has been preparing their program for more than a month to show it to the people of our city.

The city of Oxford was represented by saxophonist George Haslam and photographer Simon Murison-Bowie. Saxophonist George Haslam performed his jazz improvisations, and the photographer Simon Murison-Bowie, who is actively engaged in strengthening of twin-city relations, presented his “Artists and Studio” series of works.

Ceramicist Diana Bell brought “The Third Largest Book” that has already visited three twin cities of Oxford. Perm residents and guests of the festival wrote on its pages their thoughts, ideas, poems, and wishes for Perm. Creative cooperation took place not only between Perm and foreign participants of the festival, but also between the participants representing different cities. So, Grenoble invited the Choir of the Perm State Pedagogical University, and Oxford group thinks of organizing an exhibition of works by Louisville photographer Michael Brohm.

From the city of Duisburg there came a large delegation led by Vice-mayor Benno Lensdorf.  Heike Maus, representative of the Municipality of Duisburg, and Frank-Michael Rich, Duisburg City Councillor, also were members of the delegation.

Representatives of Duisburg workshop for people with disabilities together with the "Territory of Success" NGO took part in the opening of a similar workshop in Krasnokamsk.

Architect Ralph Heusner, a specialist in redevelopment of industrial areas, held series of lectures for students of higher educational institutions of Perm. Also the delegation consisted of teachers and students of Sophie Scholl vocational college. They held cooking classes with students from Perm trade and technological college.

Photographer Thomas Seyffert and artist Artur Klose took part in various workshops and photo exhibitions. Maximilian Bilitza and his theater troupe together with the Perm Dance Theater "Shake Dance Group" prepared a modern theater performance.

Absolutely all participants noted the high level of organization. From 17 to 23 September in the framework of the festival there were presented exhibitions, workshops by photographers, film screenings and performances, open-airs, interactive shows for Perm citizens and guests of our city. About 12 thousand Perm citizens attended festival events.