REGULATIONS

About the Festival:

The International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF) “Muses” is a multidisciplinary youth festival and competition showcasing various forms of art: dance, music, theater, visual and applied arts, photography, unconventional forms, literature, and cinema. The festival hosts nearly 2000 participants from 32 countries and is one of the largest youth events in Eastern Europe

It is organized by the “Muses” Association and partners, including the Municipality of Sozopol and Sofia Municipality, and is held annually

Who is invited to participate:

Ensembles and soloists from art schools, academies, studios, cultural centers, children and youth aged 5 to 35 years in competitive and non-competitive programs Adults over 35 years of age are invited as special guests There are no restrictions on the number of performing ensembles and the number of participants All may participate in the competitive or non-competitive program Admission to the audience is free except for participation in charitable causes Participants may optionally join both sessions Extensions of stay are only possible before the start and after the end of the festival

Participation Rules:

To register for participation, please complete the application form by using the Online Registration form or by downloading the form in Microsoft Office Word format (*.doc), filling in the required information, and sending the file to fest@muzite.org New participants must include links to published photos, audio, and video materials for preliminary selection Confirmation of participation will be sent via email from the organizers Group leaders are required to download, sign, and return to the organizers the Declaration of Copyrights and Recording Rights attached here DECLARATION of Copyrights and Recording Rights Participation in the festival is guaranteed after the payment of a participation fee and a deposit for tourist services

Participants in the festival are divided into the following age groups:

First age category: From 5 to 12 years of age Second age category: From 13 to 18 years of age Third age category: From 19 to 35 years of age Fourth age category: From 35 years of age

Each group in a given age category may include up to 30% of participants from a younger or older age group

Schedule, rehearsals, and performance rules:

The competitive program is determined by the organizers based on the received applications The order of performances in the competition depends on the age of the participants (from younger to older age groups) and the art form The program is announced during the rehearsals for the respective day Each soloist has up to 1 minute for technical rehearsal, groups have up to 3 minutes, and ensembles (over 30 people) have up to 5 minutes Rehearsals include stage walkthroughs and quick sound and light checks The rehearsal schedule follows the program order, and changes are not allowed Each team or individual artist participates with a different program The same performance is not allowed in two programs Each team and soloist participate with two performances in the competitions and one performance in the concert of the final session (only first prize laureates), which are specified in advance in the application form Participants take part in the parade, excursions, workshops, and other events

Soundtrack and Music:

Participants are required during rehearsals to present the technical sound team with music files on a USB flash drive Permitted audio formats: MP3 or WAV The USB drive must not contain any other files

Audio files MUST be named as follows

Participant’s Name:_Name of The Track_Duration.MP3 Participant’s Name:_Name of The Track_Duration.WAV Participant’s Name:_3_45.WAV

Texts for printing diplomas and thank-you letters are prepared in advance according to the information provided in the application form In the event of spelling errors in the provided information, the organizers are not responsible for any errors that may occur

The organizers of the festival recommend that creative groups and soloists learn the text, music, and choreography of the “Muses” Festival Anthem

Each group must bring the flag of their country/locality and the group, if any, a signboard with the name of the group and the organization they represent, as well as several gifts for visits to the Municipality or for exchange with other participants

Group leaders are entirely responsible for their teams, costumes, and belongings

IMPORTANT: To participate in the festival, participants must have prepared the following program variants

Performances in the competitive program: two programs for participation in competitions, with duration according to the Festival Statute

Performances in the non-competitive program: concert program (block program or with pauses for costume changes) according to the Festival Statute

Parades in central streets Groups carry the national flag of their country and the flag of the collective (if any): fragments for parades up to 3 minutes

Gala concerts at the festival closing: one closing program up to 5 minutes for collectives and 3 minutes for chamber and solo performers; only Grand Prix winners and first prize laureates participate in the closing concerts

Joint events between groups from different countries (exchange of experience, competitions, games, discos)

Note: Performances containing offensive or disrespectful language or gestures will not be tolerated Violence and/or crime of any kind is strictly prohibited

All tourist services for the festival are provided by an authorized travel agent

The International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF) “Muses” is a multidisciplinary festival-competition of various forms of art: dance, music, theater, visual arts, photography, illusion and circus arts, show programs, acrobatics, fire shows, rhythmic gymnastics, etc.

The competition is open to ensembles and soloists from art schools, academies, studios, children and youth centers, children and youth aged 5 to 35 years

Groups and soloists with representatives over 35 years of age may participate in the non-competitive program: parades, concerts, and the mix-concert at the closing of the respective session of the festival

In addition to the competitive program, collectives and individual performers may also participate in the non-competitive program

Participants may join the competitive or non-competitive program at their discretion

Extensions of stay for participants are possible only before the start and after the end of the festival

Each collective or individual performer has the right to participate in an unlimited number of nominations provided that separate applications are submitted for each nomination and fees are paid for each nomination

The participation fee includes participation in the competition or non-competitive program in one section and one art category Participation in the competition and other sections and art categories is possible for an additional participation fee

A participant from a collective also presenting a solo performance is considered an individual participant and must complete a separate application only for the creative part and pay for the additional nomination

A mandatory condition for participation in the festival is the completion and submission of an application within the established deadline The application must be completed clearly and contain full and accurate information The application certifies that the applicant accepts the conditions of the regulations

Within the same deadline and manner, audio-video recordings of the production, with which participation in the festival events is being applied for, must be sent on a USB drive or electronically The submitted materials are not returned

Participants in the competition are represented in the corresponding age category

Age categories in the competition:

First age group: From 5 to 12 years old inclusive Second age group: From 13 to 18 years old inclusive Third age group: From 19 to 35 years old inclusive

In each collective of a given age group, up to 30% of participants may belong to a younger or older age group

The competitive program is composed by the organizing committee based on the received applications The order of performances in the competitive program is determined by the organizing committee in advance

The order of performances in the competitive program depends on the age of the participants (from younger to older age groups) and the declared nominations (from classical and folk to modern)

Rehearsal Time:

Soloists: Up to 2 minutes Collectives: Up to 5 minutes Rehearsal time includes acoustic and spatial testing of the stage, checking recordings, and technical support (microphones)

Each collective and individual performer participates with a different program Repeating the same performances by one participant in different concerts is not allowed

Each collective and soloist participate with two performances in the competitive program and one performance in the closing concert of the respective session (only laureates at the jury’s discretion), which are specified in advance in the application for participation

Participants not included in the competitive program participate in parades and concerts

On the first day of each session, an organizational and technical conference is held with the participation of the scriptwriter, director, concert hosts, technical team (sound, lighting, special effects), group leaders, and individual participants The recordings of the collective’s (soloist’s) phonogram are presented on a CD with ideal sound quality Each recording must be on a separate medium with the performer’s name, title of the piece, and exact duration indicated It is mandatory to have a copy After participation, the recordings are returned

The organizers recommend that creative collectives and individual participants pre-study and know the text, music, and choreography of the IYAF “Muses” anthem and bring their country’s flag

Group leaders are fully responsible for their collectives, costumes, and props All leaders of creative formations and individual participants must insure the participants at their own expense in advance for the period of travel and stay during the festival

There are no restrictions on the number of presenting collectives and the number of participants in each formation Group leaders independently determine their concert program The musical accompaniment of dance and vocal collectives is preferably with an orchestra of traditional or modern musical instruments, but all media are accepted: CD, miniCD, USB

By submitting sound, photo, or video material, the participant guarantees that they hold the copyright and must complete the Declaration

Performances with offensive or obscene content as well as those inciting violence will not be tolerated

All tourist services at the festival are carried out by an authorized travel agent

Detailed information can be found in the “PRICES” button

Correspondence with the organizers of the festival:

We will be happy to welcome you to the Muses Festival

We are expecting you

Email: fest@muzite.org
Phone: +359 888 512 996 / +359 897 647 005
URL: http://www.muzite.org