Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s Open Ukraine Foundation Presented Mandry at the Festival of Ukrainian Culture in Poland
For the first time the band Mandry took part in the 19th Festival of Ukrainian Culture, which was held from July 10-13th, 2008, in Sopot, Poland. On July 12th, Mandry folk-rock could be heard along with authentic singing by Kyiv band Bozhychi, Pokuttia from Kolomyia and also Honoured National academic a cappella Dumka (Kyiv), and vocal by Pikardijska Tertsia, on stage at the Lisova Opera-House.
Petro Tyma, the Head of the Ukrainian Association in Poland and co-organizer of the festival, expressed his delight in the fact that probably for the first time the festival was being supported by Ukrainian authorities along with private charitable contributions of Open Ukraine Foundation and the Donbass Industrial Union.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Head of the Parliament of Ukraine and founder of the Open Ukraine Foundation: "It is important for us that Ukrainians abroad keep their connection with Ukraine. That is why during its first working year, the Foundation has already supported cultural events for Ukrainians in Hungary, Serbia, Australia and Romania and today - in Poland."
About 600 musicians performed during the 19th Annual Festival, among whom were about 400 guests from Poland, 160 from Ukraine, and 10 from Canada. Over 7,000 guests from different parts of the world visited the Festival. In addition, the event was broadcast over Polish television which broadened the audience. Ukrainian book, press, audio and video production fairs were held during intervals between the concerts.
