After six days of presenting a series of artistic and cultural activities and public carnival performances, the Erbil Folk Arts Troupe successfully concluded its participation in the 12th International Folklore Festival in the Polish city of Płock.
On the final day of the festival, the Kurdistan Region delegation presented a symbolic gift to the festival director as a gesture of respect and friendship.
During the closing day’s activities, the Kurdistan Region delegation, headed by Sirwan Osman, Director General of Culture and Arts in Erbil, presented a special gift representing the Kurdistan Region to Piotr Onyszko, Director of the Vistula Festival, as an expression of gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to them. The gesture was seen as a message of cultural diplomacy, in which art served as a bridge bringing peoples closer together and strengthening international relations beyond geographical borders.
In an exclusive statement to the website of the Confederation of the Kurdistan Diaspora, Sirwan Osman, Director General of Culture and Arts in Erbil and head of the delegation, said that presenting the gift was not merely a ceremonial gesture or souvenir, but rather an expression of genuine cultural ties and a symbol of mutual respect between Kurdistan and Poland.
He emphasized that the participation of the Erbil Folk Arts Troupe provided a valuable opportunity to introduce Kurdish national identity, traditional Kurdish clothing, and folkloric choreography to international audiences and representatives of the participating countries.
This year’s festival, which ran from August 17 to 23, hosted folklore groups from Spain, Brazil, Latvia, Ukraine, and Kurdistan. Polish media sources noted that the presence of the Kurdistan Region delegation added a distinctive colour and character to the festival and succeeded in drawing the audience’s attention to the richness of Kurdish culture.
The festival’s closing programme began with a religious ceremony at the Cathedral Basilica of Płock, followed by a large carnival parade along Tumska Street. The Erbil Folk Arts Troupe took part in the carnival by presenting the artistic piece “Harvest,” a vivid portrayal of Kurdish social life, work, and traditional dance.
The performance attracted the attention of local residents as well as artists from other participating countries. Music and movement were used as a universal language for the exchange and celebration of cultural heritage.
The Erbil Folk Arts Troupe’s participation in this international event is regarded as an important artistic step toward continuing to promote Kurdish cultural heritage on international stages. It also opens new horizons for artistic cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and international festivals dedicated to preserving and celebrating the folklore of peoples around the world.