Over 1,000 visitors attend Yaroslavl Orphanage Art Festival

February 10, 2004 -- Under the leadership of YARBOO Executive Director Galina Evstifeeva, the YARBOO Advisory Council in Yaroslavl organized, produced and sponsored the city's second annual Orphanage Arts Festival, "Reaching for a Dream." More than 200 invited guests attended the gala opening on January 22 with plentiful hors d'ouvres provided by local restaurants. Over 1,000 people enjoyed the art and performances of more than 300 orphans supported by more than 40 teachers and volunteers.

The young artists displayed their paintings, folk art, painted clay, wood figures, sewn goods and national costumes. Each of the five orphanages also provided a wide range of musical works, dance performances (including break dancing!) and poetry and folktale readings. Each participant received a diploma of achievement.

All artwork at the festival was for sale; nearly $800 was netted from the proceeds of these sales. (Of the proceeds, 60% went to the orphanages' art programs, 30% went directly to the young artists and 10% went to FRO to help defray expenses.)

This highly publicized and well-attended event had positive effects beyond the actual festival. It brought the children and staff of the five orphanages together in a successful common effort.

Thanks to Galina Evstifeeva, the festival brought the orphanage children into a positive public spotlight through a host of newspaper articles, radio and television reports and interviews with children and Advisory Council members. Finally, it engaged crowds of people from Yaroslavl who weren't familiar with the lives of the orphans, pulling the city's society closer to its neediest children.

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