Regulations

Vytauto st. 84, 76285 Šiauliai, Lithuania Tel.: +370 685 33142, emal: saulesziedasfestival@gmail.com www.saulesziedas.lt

X INTERNATIONAL FOLK CONTEST-FESTIVAL

“THE FLOWER OF THE SUN” 2025

CONTEST-FESTIVAL REGULATIONS

PREAMBUL

PURPOSE OF THE EVENT

• To develop, educate and promote miscellaneous sociocultural and economic development of Šiauliai Region.
• To develop a positive image of Šiauliai Region in Lithuania and foreign countries.
• To promote the interest of society and festival guests on the traditional culture of Lithuania.
• To develop and promote cultural, interinstitutional cooperation, knowledge, dispersion, tourism of Northern Lithuania, and entrepreneurship.
• To develop a more qualitative, professional, discursive approach, by assessing the ethnic culture, its dispersion.
• To create conditions for young artists to get knowledge and take over the traditions of folk, to promote the interest of youth on folklore.
• To decrease the differences of culture dispersion between centers and regions.
• To promote the idea of volunteering.

 

ORGANIZER

X International Contest-Festival “The Flower of the Sun” 2025 is organized by the Board of the Organizing Committee led by the Festival Director.

Festival office: Vytauto St. 84, 76285 Šiauliai, Lithuania, Tel.: +370 685 33142, e-mail: saulesziedasfestival@gmail.com, web: www.saulesziedas.lt

I. PARTICIPANTS AND ORGANIZATION

1. X International Folk Contest-Festival “The Flower of the Sun” 2025 will be held on 1-6 July 2025 in Šiauliai and Šiauliai region (Lithuania).
2. Contest-festival participants should submit in the Online Application Form by 15^th February 2025. Online Application Form can be found on the festival website saulesziedas.lt
3. The organizers of the festival will consider the received material and select the groups and soloists. All selected participants will be informed via email by 1^st April 2025.
4. The participants (including the drivers, officials etc.) will have to pay their registration fee of 38 Euros per person by 1^st June 2025.* Participant’s registration fee is irrevocable.

*The organizers committee reserves the right to reduce or exempt groups from participation fees in exceptional cases.

5. The participants, officials and a driver will be offered free accommodation (in students dormitory) and meals, not less than three times per day, for the duration of the festival.*

*No accommodation can be provided for any persons under the minimum age limit of the category entered (younger than 17 years old).

6. The maximum number in one group, including two officials & 2 coach drivers may not exceed 32. Only two coach drivers per group are permitted. Extra members will have to cover the expenses themselves.
7. Groups/soloists coming to the contest by air transport will be transported from the airports to the festival place by the organizers. Arrival to the contest should be planned at the International Riga Airport-RIX (Latvia) (120 km distance from Contest City Šiauliai), the International Vilnius Airport-VNO (Lithuania) (210 km distance from Contest City Šiauliai) or the International Kaunas Airport-KUN (Lithuania) (160 km distance from Contest City Šiauliai).*

*Other travel expenses will be covered by the group/soloist.

8. Arriving to the Contest-Festival the participants must have valid health insurance.
9. Each participating group will have 1-2 volunteer-guides for the duration of the Festival to help navigate the city and festival programme.

 

II. FESTIVAL REGULATIONS

 

10. All music should be performed live. Recorded music and electric musical instruments will not be permitted in any competitions and festival concerts.
11. During the performances the participants will have to wear national costumes.
12. The competitors oblige themselves to take part in concerts and other engagements arranged by the organizers without any payment.
13. Participants must follow the programme schedule agreed with the organizers.
14. All festival-contest events will be recorded and/or photographed. All footage can be published and used for creating festival related content and advertisement without any payment.
15. The duration of performance at the Festival (not the Contest programme) is expected to be at least 30 minutes. Groups must be prepared to demonstrate their traditional national folk dances, games and actively involve the audience into the dances and games in the areas indicated by the festival organizers (these performances may not be on stage).
16. 1-2 pieces should be prepared for the festival concert in the Cathedral of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul.

 

 

III. CATEGORIES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONTEST

 

I Category: TRADITIONAL FOLK DANCE GROUPS

Number of dancers: 8 to 20. Plus, up to 12 others, including musicians/flag bearers.

Age limit: 17 years and over.

Duration of the contest performance: up to 12 min. total.

At least two dances, performed in their traditional manner. The sources of origin should be indicated in the application.

Musicians will be mic’ed (microphones will be provided).

 

II Category: CHOREOGRAPHED ARRANGEMENTS OF FOLK DANCES

Number of dancers allowed: 8 to 20. Plus, up to 12 others, including musicians/flag bearers.

Age limit: 17 years and over.

Duration of the contest performance: up to 12 min. total.

At least two choreographed dances or one dance composition. The authors of music/arrangement and choreography should be indicated in the application.

Musicians will be mic’ed (microphones will be provided).

 

III Category: INSTRUMENTAL FOLK MUSIC ENSEMBLES

Number of musicians allowed: 3 to 12.

Age limit: 17 years and over.

Duration of the contest performance: up to 7 min. total.

The ensembles should perform the instrumental traditional music of their country or region. The sources of the performed pieces should be indicated in the application.

Contest programme will not be mic’ed (acoustic performance).

 

IV Category: ENSEMBLES OF TRADITIONAL SINGING

Number of singers allowed: 3 to 16. Age limit: 17 years and over.

Duration of the contest performance: up to 7 min. total.

Two traditional one-part or two-part songs, performed in their traditional manner.

The instrumental accompaniment is allowed if it is characteristic of the tradition (the piano/grand piano excluded).

The performance of the accompanists will not be evaluated by the jury or awarded.

The sources of the songs should be indicated in the application.

Contest programme will not be mic’ed (acoustic performance).

 

V Category: FOLKSONG SOLO

Age limit: 17 years and over.

Duration of the contest performance: up to 7 min. total.

Accompaniment is allowed if it is characteristic of the tradition (the piano I grand piano excluded). The soloist may accompany himself/herself. The performance of the accompanists will not be evaluated by the jury or awarded. The sources of the songs should be indicated in the application.

Contest programme will not be mic’ed (acoustic performance).

 

 

 

VI Category: INSTRUMENTAL SOLO

Age limit: 17 years and over.

Duration of the contest performance: up to 7 min. total.

Traditional tune(s) of the competitor’s own country should be performed by a single player on one or several traditional instruments, performed in their traditional manner. Other musicians can not accompany the soloist.

The sources of the pieces should be indicated in the application.

Contest programme will not be mic’ed (acoustic performance).

 

IV. EVALUATION AND AWARDS

 

17. The International Jury of the Contest will be formed by the organizers of the Festival according to the recommendations of the FIDAF and IOV.
18. Jury decisions are final and indisputable.
19. The Contest winners will be awarded Festival prizes, diplomas and money prizes:

I category: 1000 € II category: 1000 € III category: 500 €

IV category: 500 € V category: 200 € VI category: 200 €

20. The Contest 2^nd and 3^d place winner will be awarded Festival prizes and diplomas.
21. The Grand Prize (“Grand Prix”) is 1,500 Euros.
22. The organizers of the contest-festival (taking into account the recommendations of the Jury) will award The Grand Prize to the most successful, distinct and outstanding group for the best performance in competitive and non-competitive concerts.
23. Other prizes can be presented by the organizers, sponsors and officials.
24. The organizing committee reserves the right to change any money prizes and other awards if fewer than 5 applications to compete in a certain category arrive. Participants will be informed in case of any changes by 16^th June 2025.
25. The organizers hold the right to change the regulations and conditions of the Festival.