In an interview with this newspaper, the artistic director of the festival indicated that there are 400 people from the cultural artistic sector participating in this edition.
Minutes after the set time, and after the third call, at the Benjamín Carrión National Theater the opening ceremony of the VI edition of the International Festival of Living Arts of Loja (FIAVL). The event was attended by the French Ambassador and the Ministers of Health, Social Inclusion, Education and Culture.
A colorful parade anticipated the inauguration of the Loja 2021 International Living Arts Festival
The Benjamín Carrión National Theater, with almost all seats occupied, was the setting for the authorities and organizers to highlight the importance of the festival that will end on November 28.
The director of the festival in this edition, Maria Jose Enriquez, she was very excited when she started her speech. “What a pleasure to see this entire room full of people called by art, it is inevitable to be standing tonight and not feel gratitude for meeting art again, for reliving the experience of what happens every time the curtain is close. Raise. The energy of the bodies, a gesture that transforms everything, a text through the voice, the music that crosses the memory, the movement alive, awake, alert. Every time someone we don’t see turns on or off a light, the magic and power that art has over us is incomparable ”, said.
The ambassador of France, Frédéric Desagneaux, He highlighted the alliance that his country has with Ecuador on cultural issues. “Together with my colleagues from the French Alliance, I am grateful for having honored France as a guest country for this edition of the emblematic annual event of their city and the entire country. A symbolic issue, a social revival issue, a cultural revival issue, after the withdrawal episode due to the pandemic. France is pleased to participate thanks to the presence and creativity of French artists ”, he claimed.
The mayor of the city, Jorge Bailón, He invited the locals to be participants in this event and assimilate the knowledge left by the protagonists. “In this small city we continue to make art and over time this cultural contribution will be a legacy”, he stressed.
The Minister of Culture, Maria Elena Machuca, for his part, he highlighted the alliance and participation of PAHO, WHO, invited countries, private allies and public institutions that have allowed more than 140 artistic activities and 14 countries participating in this festival. “This edition of the festival has allowed us to find the power of unity, articulated work (…). Loja with its charm and magic is a permanent source of inspiration, it has brought to the world the imprint of a city of creators ”, He assured and showed his satisfaction with the vaccination campaign of his government, which has allowed to present works with the public again in this edition and invited the world to enjoy the festival.
France, the guest of honor that inaugurated the festival
Raoul’s portrait It was the inaugural work that started with the FIAVL, with a live audience. Raul Fernandez is the main actor of this play, who in his monologue captures the attention of those present with a story that imaginatively embarks them to Paris, using short musical themes such as Dos gardenias, Song of the simple things, Song with everyone, from time to time, and in his speech he refers to characters like his parents, but mainly his “Mamama”, a seamstress and his dreams of success.
An intimate piece in which the actor exposes himself and opens the channel in search of an inner peace that turns off and clears all his doubts about his gender.
Fernández received a diploma for his participation at the end of his presentation, in recognition of his contribution, after being intensely applauded by the public that gathered at the Lojano theater.
Loja, epicenter of the living arts
In an interview with this newspaper, the artistic director of the festival indicated that there are 400 people from the artistic and cultural sector participating in this edition. “This city receives so many people that we are feeling the human warmth”, expressed Enriquez.
There are more than 140 activities that will be held on the agenda in person and also in the so-called virtual room available at www.festivaldeloja.com. “We have created a unified agenda with the Municipality of Loja to be able to deliver from this platform all the programming and in all the public spaces to which the public will have access”, he claimed.
He adds that there will be activations in health centers, in the social rehabilitation center, in centers for the elderly with choreographers and dancers, “We have France, Spain, Indonesia, Germany, the United States and Ecuador with artists on stage live. At the national level, artists come from Guayaquil (Sánchez Aguilar Theater). We have experimental proposals, dance, theater for all audiences. There are two functions of each work so that most people can reach them to see them ”, the official detailed.
In addition, there will be experts from other countries who will transmit their experience in dramaturgy, the culture of Japan, Mexico, Spain, and others. “We have had the possibility of having different components in this edition and I want to speak especially about the health and art program articulated with PAHO and WHO, and this time we are going to have a space for dialogue and reflection on art and health. . How art is such an important, healing tool, but also how health is a benefit and is also necessary for artists “, he claimed.
Among the notable national works, is In the name of the mother, a co-production with him Sánchez Aguilar Theater of Guayaquil, which he described as wonderful, with the performance of Montse Serra.
Tickets for the different works have been mostly sold out, he said.
The FIAVL laboratory
For people who want to enter training processes, Enríquez mentions the FIAVL-LAB, which is the festival school. On this occasion, it is sought that this component is permanent, in this way, it will begin in November and end in September of next year, thus allowing significant processes for the cultural sector of different artistic genres and different branches of the scene. “This will be available and free of access to see what training processes the person wishes to take, on our website”, holds the artistic director.
He also ends by saying that the live broadcasts are master classes with experts from other countries with whom experiences of contemporary dramaturgy, contemporary cinema, a mental health discussion for artists will be shared, and they will maintain dialogue and take actions. (I)
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