Time of the Event: August 16 to 19
Organizer: The Cultural Artistic Association "Drimkol"
Director: MA Toso Chochoroski
Expert advice:
Prof. Dr. Mirjana Mircevska, ethnologist (Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology at the University of Sts. Cyril and Methodius - Skopje),
Prof. Dr. Velika Stojkova - Serafimovska, ethnomusicologist (The Institute of Folklore - Skopje),
Prof. Dr. Davorin Trpevski, ethnologist (The Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology at the University of Sts. Cyril and Methodius - Skopje),
Jovica Blazheski, professional dancer and singer (The Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances of Macedonia - Tanec)
Natasha Kukoska, ethnologist - CAA "Drimkol" Vevcani
The Festival of Folk Culture "Preobrazhenje"(Transfiguration)Vevcani, starting from 2011, is traditionally held from 16 to 19 August, organized by the Cultural and Artistic Association "Drimkol" from Vevcani.
The festival takes place in anticipation of the days when Vevcani celebrates the holiday “Preobrazhenie Hristovo”(Transfiguration of Christ), and from that originates the title of the festival "Preobrazhenje."
The festival has a special significance for the organizers and the municipality, because besides enriching the cultural life sof the village it allows continuous development, preservation and presentation of the folklore and tradition in the country, through an organized public event which, also, represents an excellent contribution to the enrichment of the touristic offer in Vevcani in summer.
The festival has its own technical council that aims to give contribution to the theme which is being processed at the festival through field studies, evaluating the performances of the ensembles participants, conversations with the heads of the ensembles at the festival and giving directions to their improvement in their work, as well as, maintenance of workshops, seminars and symposiums during the festival.
The festival brings together domestic and foreign ensembles. It has a competitive component for the ensembles which present native folklore, while ensembles performing stylized folklore do only a revue. Preference for participation in the festival are given to associations that cherish the autochthone folklore, in order to motivate organizations in Macedonia to begin to explore and set up on the scene this type of folklore, and, to slowly return to the original tradition in order to preserve them from extinction.
The most successful group that fosters authentic folklore is award with the prize "Chuvari na izvornata tradicija” (Guardians of the Authentic Tradition).
The third and last night is the closing ceremony of the festival "Za mnogu godini Preobrazhenje” (For many years Transfiguration) and is reserved for the singing tradition, on which soloists, groups, bands present authentic, original music. Furthermore, bands and groups which create music inspired by the native – traditional could , also, take part. On this evening, together with the audience, the assessment of the expert council of the performances takes place, the conclusions of the workshops and all that is important for the viewer to be educated about the importance of the folk culture.
Painters who produce naive art (art inspired by folk tradition) can also participate in the festival. During the festival, the artists paint inspired by the folklore and tradition, and their art will be a testimony about the festival that year. The painters will elaborate their theme, and exhibit the work to the public on the third night of the closing of the festival, when they will have the opportunity for public presentation.