Speech of Vladimír Grežo, dramaturgist of festival and director of BKIS

Dear Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Visitors and Citizens of Bratislava,

welcome to the 36th volume of city festival of culture and arts in streets
of Bratislava, welcome to the Summer of Culture Festival Bratislava 2011.
Past 8 years of city festival Summer of Culture Festival Bratislava in dramaturgy and production of Bratislava Culture and Information Center – BKIS meant its transformation from festival with tradition into a contemporary festival of 21st century. All this with aim of supporting good projects, building partnerships for art and bringing visitors superior programs. Those visitors which are waiting
on their city festival but as well as to those who are just passing around
and will visit through three months one of the 20 stages – in streets, clubs, courtyards or squares of Bratislava.

I hope that by the opening of the festival there's something good awaking up in the city, something yet slumber that's reviving our festival and improving our city. With input of more than 180 programs and more that 3000 artists from 22 countries the variety of experiences grows and this feeling leaves its trace not only during summer but for the rest of year too. And this is how our relationship to city, to arts and I believe to all people slowly and step-by-step changes.
And that is our wish – bring every day emotions and peace to streets, but also reach something more long lasting – to make next step to culture as value which will be written in travel guides about Bratislava next to hospitality and which you will mainly experience through the whole year in life of city.

I thank to all artistic and financial partners of festival and I'm looking forward to meet you, our visitors and friends.

Vladimír Grežo
dramaturgist of festival
and director of BKIS