Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

ArtGanja festival will be opened in Ganja, the country's second largest city, on September 19.

The festival is organized by YARAT Contemporary Art Space, an organization promoting Azerbaijani modern art worldwide, and Taghiyev Group Co., and will last until September 22.

According to YARAT, by holding this festival, the authors and organizers of the event pursue the purpose of popularization of the art and material heritage this ancient city and the entire Azerbaijan are richly endowed with.

The festival program includes a series of exhibitions of Ganja-based artists or painters who hail from the Ganja region.

Ramal Kazimov, Vusal Rahim, Elchin Valiyev and other contemporary art community representatives are expected to take part at the festival events.

The picturesque canvases they produced will be showcased in tents at the central square of the city, in front of the Ganja executive power building.

An open-air art photography exhibition is another top event to be held as part of the festival in Khan Baghi (Khan's Garden), a historical site in the city center.

The exhibition will display the best pieces created by the participants of one-week master classes led by Mir-Naib Hasanoghlu, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Photographers Union, and is to reflect the historical heritage as well as the current state of affairs of the city.

Master classes for children are scheduled to be given on the second day of the festival, September 20, and will provide an opportunity of creating solo installations under the guidance of highly skilled artists.

The festival program also includes contemporary poetry -- an event during which emerging yet skilled Ganja actors will recite verses by five popular Azerbaijani poets.

The poetry party will start at 5 p.m. in a local trade center and will continue in Khan's Garden at 7 p.m. on September 21.

This event is of paramount necessity for the country as it is precisely this year that Azerbaijan celebrates the 900th anniversary of Mahsati Ganjavi, a Middle Age Azerbaijani poetess.

ArtGanja Festival will conclude with a jazz concert in Khan's Garden.