Events

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The Atoneli Theatre premiered a play called The August Craziness, by Nino Basilaia, on May 7. This three-layered tragicomedy is about war and love, and reflects on Georgian-Russian relations and the lives of Georgian emigrants in Russia. The main character of the first story is a young Georgian man who has emigrated to Russia without a passport. Relations with different people almost drive him crazy. The second story is about the life of a boy caught up in the war and the third is about a man trying to commit suicide after the August war.

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The Lazi Georgian Cultural Centre in Paris held a conference dedicated to Georgia on May 7. A wide spectrum of Georgian diplomats and immigrants shared their views about Georgia with the French. The conference discussed various historical, cultural and literary issues and the further promotion of Georgia to the French nation. Such events, which are often held in Paris, aim to integrate Georgian people into French society.

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The sixth round of the Political Games, a joint project organised by the Youth Forum and International Republican Institute, was held on May 8. The NGOs Join Us and International Union of Young Caucasians debated Russian-Georgian relations at the Georgian-American School. The Youth Forum has been organising these games, aimed at promoting all the concerns of the eight participating political parties and 2 NGOs, since February 2010 with the support of the US International Institute.

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Tbilisi Ethnographic Museum hosted the New Wine Festival organised by the Wine Club on May 8. The event introduced visitors to a wide range of Georgian wine from both family producers and companies. All the wine presented at the event had been specially selected through modern equipment. The event sought to promote new sorts of wine with a traditional Georgian taste.

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Georgian SOS Children’s Village launched a special project for socially unprotected children on May 11. The project will support and employ homeless children and those in danger of becoming homeless. The organisation tries to strengthen such people as much as possible and ensure the professional employment of their family members.

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Per Eklund, head of the EU delegation to Georgia, held a special evening dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the EU on May 11. Representatives of EU member countries, the Georgian Government and the media were all invited to this function at the Bagrationi 1882 event hall, which Per Eklund opened with a special introductory speech. The EU delegation head congratulated the Georgian public on their political achievements, highlighting the importance of the Association Agreement between Georgia and the EU which the sides have already started to work on. Stressing that cooperation between the two sides will continue in future Per Eklund gave a toast to Georgia and encouraged the country to fulfill its action plan, saying he hoped to see Georgia's integration with the EU.

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Tbilisi State Philharmonic Hall hosted an unforgettable evening of three generations of Georgian Voices on May 12. The old, young and youngest members of the group received special awards for their special merit in the development of Georgian national music as part of the Georgian Soul festival.

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Tbilisi State University held an international conference dedicated to America and American values on May 13. This 11th annual conference discussed 170 issues concerning the US, Latin America and Canada. The project aims to promote the discussion of America-related issues in Georgian society and draw the attention of young students to the relations between the US and Georgia.

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The 4th international Olympiad for Young Scientists and Inventors opened at the Sheraton Metekhi Palace on May 13. Participants from 25 countries performed the opening ceremony in their national costumes holding flags. The foreign competitors spent their days with Georgian families to get acquainted with local traditions and habits. Of the 65 projects entered 13 belonged to Georgians. All the participants shared their ideas with all interested parties and received their approval.

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A three-day Open Air Photofest - Night Shows at Old Tbilisi - was opened on May 14. The organisers claimed that this was the largest such photo contest ever held in Georgia. The streets, yards and gardens of Old Tbilisi were covered with photos of the best images from the world’s most prominent agencies and publications from 20:00 till 04:00 for three days.

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A modern Vertical Garden was opened at Avlabari Metro Station on May 15. The project which was financed by Tbilisi City Hall was implemented by the French botanist Patrick Blanc used around 104 species of 4400 evergreen plants. President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili called the Vertical Garden an important invention aimed at the ecological promotion of Tbilisi and improved tourism infrastructure in the capital.

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The National Museum of Georgia offers visitors an exhibition From the Treasury of the Georgian Museum and invited the guests to the Signaghi Museum to see a special exhibition West European Art of XVI-XIX Centuries dedicated to the Europe’s Day on May 15. West European Art has an important place in the Shalva Amiranashvili Art Museum with various German, Italian, Dutch and French paintings.

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Young Georgian musical group Mgzavrebi (Travellers) offered their fans a wonderful solo concert at the Tbilisi Philharmonic Hall on May 16. The group's members played the best tunes from their repertoire and the emotionally charged youthful audience sang and danced with their beloved group. Mgzavrebi appealed for everyone to hold one another’s hands and cry out loudly to get rid of all the negative emotions, the audience became one unique body and relaxed after the two hours of joy. They shared their feelings to others. “No to War,” cried out the audience and united under the unique wish to build a “Dream Town”.

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People are gathering to pay their last tribute to famous Georgian poet Mukhran Machavariani who died on the scene of the Rustaveli Theatre on May 17. He fell ill while reciting a poem at Poet Pridon Khalvashi`s jubilee evening. Medical assistance was provided to the poet, although doctors were not able to save Mukhran Machavariain`s life. Mukhran Machavariani was 81. He is the author of over ten books of his poems. His poems have been translated into Russian, English, German, French, Bulgarian, Czech and other languages. The prominent poet will be buried at Mtatsminda Pantheon with great honor on May 22.

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The Georgian Book Editors’ Association opened its 12th annual Book Festival at the Tbilisi State Philharmonic Hall on May 18. Books presented at the show are in various languages to interest locals as well as foreign visitors.

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Georgian museums celebrated International Museum Day on May 18. According to the instructions of the ICOM, the international museum committee’s council, this year the world's museums should pay attention to social issues. Georgia's Ministry of Culture participated in the International Museum Day by organizing open door events introducing society with unknown collections. The Georgian National Museum invites the guests from May 15 till 23 to visit wonderful exhibitions at the Karvasla - Ioseb Grishashvili State Museum of History, get acquainted with the achievements and new plans of Signaghi Museum, enjoy Ukrainian Modern Art exhibition at Shalva Amiranashvili Art Museum or attend educative classes at renewed Giorgi Chitaia Ethnographical Museum.

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A photo exhibition of Georgian Folklore was launched at the State Folklore Centre’s exhibition Hall on May 18; it runs until May 29. The exhibition has photos of people, representing Georgian folklore traditions, repressed during the Soviet Era. The exhibition includes archive materials about repressed families together with their life stories, among them are many prominent Georgian faces of the Soviet Era.

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Exhibition called Old Tbilisi and Pirosmani opened at Karvalsa - Ioseb Grishashvili State Museum of History on May 19. A special showing of pictures of old Tbilisi during famous Georgian painter, Niko Pirosmani’s era are on view to the public. The project aims to introduce Pirosmani’s lifestyle and his surroundings to pupils and students of art institutions by displaying documentary materials of the time.

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On May 19 the Ministry of Culture of Georgia celebrated the 1st anniversary of the popular scientific magazine “Junior”, the licensed Georgia version of the famous French publication - "Junior Science & Vie“. Junior, dedicated to the teenagers aged 11 - 18 acquaints young adults to the world’s most attractive scientific events, new technologies and inventions. The magazine's articles have high quality visuals and printing.

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Prominent Georgian singer Tamriko Chokhonelidze will give Tbilisi citizens the chance to listen to unforgettable songs by Revaz Laghidze, one of Georgia's outstanding composers at the State Philharmonic Hall on May 23. Lyrics on Petre Gruzinski’s legendary writings and a premiere of late Niko Gomelauri’s last verse on Revaz Laghidze’s music will also be presented to the guests. The event produced by Davit Doiashvili and conducted by Nika Memanishvili and the symphonic orchestra create unforgettable atmosphere.

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The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia (MES) has announced a competition for gifted young Georgians who wish to take Major Degree Courses at leading European Universities. Georgian citizens below 40 who have been accepted at a particular European University will now have an opportunity to appeal to the MES for further details of grants until May 31. Anyone wanting to participate should register on www.mes.gov.ge at the heading Masters Degree Abroad and obtain all the relevant information there.