IN CASE IF ONLY ONE THING IS MISSING – NOTHING EXISTS! - PLATON
IN CASE IF "THE SMALL MONTMARTRE OF BITOLA" WAS MISSING, THE MACEDONIAN CULTURE WOULD BE VERY POOR.
THE EYE IS A GUARDIAN OF THE BODY, THE EYE LAST GO TO SLEEP. IT’S OPEN ONLY WHEN OTHERS ORGANS ARE CLOSED.
THE TEAR IS ANOTHER THING, SHE ABANDON THE BODY, BUT THE EYE NEVER.MY EYE WANTS TO SEE "THE SMALL MONTMARTRE OF BITOLA" ALWAYS IN JOY AND FOLLOWING SUCCESSES!
POPOVSKI ALEK
HOW TO PARTICPATE TO BITOLA'S MONMARTRE
At the beginning (the first two art colonies) in Bitola, only teams from the ex - yu republics took participation on The Small Bitola Montmartre on the invitation of the organizers the Children Art Studio St. Cyril and Methody - Bitola. Since 1984, actually from the third Art Children Colony Bitola, the Studio announced the competition for the first time for the participation at the Colony. The first competition was on a free choice of the theme, it was announced at the beginning of the month of September and it lasts till the month of February the next year. On this competition the right to take participation was given to the children from the pre-elementary schools (kindergarten) and from the elementary schools. The participants present their collection of 20 art works, on free choice of the theme and art techniques. Since 1991, when the colony gains its international character, it was allowed to senior pupils to take participation, actually the pupils from the high schools, art schools, lycees, students from the art academies.
The art works that arrived on the international competition are selected and awarded by the international jury. This jury also appointed the schools-participants of the festival as well as the winners of other awards such as: Grand Prix as a highest festival award, best collection prizes, best individual works (golden plaquettes, golden paint-brush, diplomas etc), special awards etc.
The international jury each year select between 1800 and 2000 art works thus promoting the International exhibition of children art works entitled as Bitola. Traditionally the exhibition is promoted on the first day of the festival on 23rd of May in a presence of numerous guests, participants of the festival, pupils and art pedagogues' winners of awards.
The festival Small Montmartre of Bitola is held in Bitola, traditionally on 23-30 May. On this festival took participation the best schools selected by the international jury. Each school participate with a team consist of 4 members - 3 students and 1 art pedagogue.
During those 7 days of May the participants work on open air, on Bitola's streets, accompanied by the citizens, market visitors, craftsman from the Old Bitola Bazaar, also they work on the most famous and most lauded street of the city of Consuls Bitola the Shirok Sokak and other streets on the traditional theme - The Old Macedonian Architecture. The participants are granted free of charge by the organizers with painting equipment, working cloths (T-shirts, caps, bags…etc) and are accommodated in the most representative hotel in Bitola - Epinal.
All art works painted during the festival in Bitola and other cities where it is foreseen to be visited by the art caravan Bitola are selected and awarded on the seventh, the last day of the festival. At that day the jury announced the best school and the best student with the best collection. Also the best individual participants are promoted who gain the right to participate as an honored guests on the next festival. Many times the awards are granted by other institutions and associations (like the Association of the Architects of Maceodnia, Association of the Craftsman St. Spiridon of Bitola)
The best works of each festival are incorporated into the permanent exhibition actually the exhibition entitled as The Pearls of the Small Montmartre of Bitola. All paintings of this collection are regulary prepared for visit of other towns in the country and abroad.