SLOVAKIA

This is us, International Folklore Festival

The international folklore festival Takí sme (This is us) is specific and unique in the Nitra region. It is one of the festivals in Slovakia, which is organized under the auspices and with status of CIOFF, which guarantees its high artistic level and organizational quality.
In the twelve years of its existence, the festival has grown quantitatively, but especially qualitatively. Every year it offers an interesting programme structure to the audience and performers. Since 2016, the main partner of the event has been the Slovak Arts Council. Since 2008, the main organiser has been the Regional Education Centre in Levice (hereinafter referred to as ROS). The Fund for the Promotion of National Minority Culture or Nitra Self-governing region also contributes to the financing of the festival, as the Levice district is a mixed nationality region. We firmly believe that culture is extremely important at regional level. It is one of the most important pillars of our lives. It is in regional culture that we can see our strength. Continuous efforts to improve the quality of the programme offer, an increasing number of interesting and stimulating side events for all ages are paying off in the increasing attendance at the festival. High-quality organization and staffing, and extensive promotion contribute to the stability and improvement of the festival and, consequently, to increasing public awareness of its importance and value. Each year we try to organise the festival in a different village or town of our district. Our intention and goal is to bring traditional folk culture to the awareness of all inhabitants of our region, to deepen international relations and friendships, to spread awareness of the regions of Tekov and Hont. However, the most important and significant role of the festival is that it connects. It connects the modern with the traditional, entertainment with education, culture with art, but above all it connects people from different countries with different interests.
Our goal is to bring fully-fledged folk ensemble programs to the people. We will contribute to the revival of cultural centres in the villages and make traditional folk culture accessible to people of different social classes.