The international arts festival Europalia and gala reception marking the Independence Day of Georgia took place in Belgium. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibahvili delivered a speech at the event.

The audience gathered at the event was also addressed by the Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, Head of Diplomatic Mission of Georgia at the European Union (EU) and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Kingdom of Belgium and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, Foreign Trade and Federal Cultural Institutions of the Kingdom of Belgium; Olivér Várhelyi, EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

It is worth noting that Georgia is participating in the international arts festival Europalia for the first time in the capacity of the Guest of Honor.

Europalia is taking place from October 2023 through February 2024 and covers Belgium and various countries of Europe. Georgia will showcase its culture during these four months and visitors of the festival will have an opportunity to get exposed to the cultural diversity of the country through traditional and modern art.

The Festival will host two exhibitions titled Meeting Place – Georgia and Modernism in Georgia – Fantastic Avant-Garde. Contemporary visual art will be displayed at the festival with an engagement of world-renown Georgian artists.

Apart from the museum expositions, contemporary visual art will be presented at the designated exhibitions of globally celebrated Georgian artists.

Particularly noteworthy is the scheduled concerts of traditional, professional and modern music aimed to promote Georgian music art, along with folk ensembles and chamber choir.

Apart from traditional music, the European community will gain exposure to the art of professional Georgian music composing.

The Festival will host celebrated Georgian musicians and performers. Cherished prose of a Georgian author currently living and working in Germany will be also presented within the scope of the festival.

Georgian professional theatres will be presenting the stage and performing art of the country.

Georgian cinematography, being a world phenomenon, will be showcased at the festival, which has had a keen interest from the general public and this trend is rising in Europe.