Festive opening of 29th Hansa Convention of New Time with
presentation of all delegations took place on 18th of June on
Yaroslav’s Courtyard. The President of Hansa League, the Mayor of
Lübeck (Germany) Bernd Saxe called this event the historical one
because “…for the first time in Hansa history Hansa Convention took
place on the territory of Russia, in the city tightly connected
with Medieval Hansa. Participants of today’s Hansa festival will
tell in their cities about firm modern international cooperation
and international friendship traditions that arise and receive
further development in the ancient Russian city of Veliky Novgorod
– the Birthplace of Russia”.
Deputy Chairman of Russian Federation Government Alexander Zhukov,
while welcoming the participants of the international event, said:
“It’s great that Hansa Convention is taking place exactly in Veliky
Novgorod. This year this ancient and, probably, the most beautiful
city of Russia is going to be 1150 years old. The older Novgorod is
the more beautiful. Two thousands of European messengers, which
came here, will have the opportunity to ascertain that this city is
really great, that many tourists can come here, and that nowadays
Russia is the open country…”. The delegates were
welcomed by the Governor of Novgorod region Sergey Mitin and the
Mayor of Veliky Novgorod Yury Bobrishev.
Hanseday today
29th Hansa Convention 2009 in Welikij Nowgorod
18 - 21 June, 2009
29th Hansa Convention of New Time took place in Veliky Novgorod on 18-21 June’2009 under the motto “… widening the borders”. According to the Informational Center data, 2712 International Forum participants were registered, including: official delegates and participants - 1662 from 84 cities of 14 European countries; representatives of Russian and foreign mass media - 220, about 60 mass media of Russia, Europe and other countries; Youth Hansa delegates - 75 from 32 cities.
President Bernd Saxe, Mayor Jurij Bobryschew, Deputy Mayor Olga
Popova during opening ceremony
(photo: Welikij Nowgorod)
Light and music show
(photo: Welikij Nowgorod)
The official opening ceremony in the Basin of Volkhov River was
completed by light and music show “Music of light and water”, which
amazed citizens and guests by its immensity and beauty. Effective
laser illustrations were changing the volleys of salute in the air,
multicolored sails of yachts – on the water.
Business program of Hansa Convention included official meetings and
conferences of Hansa Committee, Hansa Guild, general Assembly of
Hansa cities delegates, where the issues of modern Hansa movement
development were examined. Three new cities were accepted to Hansa
League of New Time by the decision of general Assembly of Hansa
cities delegates: Groningen (Netherlands), Polotsk (Byelorussia),
and Stykkisholmur (Iceland). Now Hansa League unites
175 European cities.
For the first time in the size of Hansa Convention the meeting of
Russian section of Hansa was held. There was taken a decision to
accept Torzhok into Russian Hansa League. At present time 10 of 12
cities – Hansa members are the members of Russian Hansa
organization. Veliky Novgorod was again elected to present
Russia in Hansa Committee during 2010-2013.
Economic Forum
(photo: Welikij Nowgorod)
On 19th of June the International Economic Forum “New League – new possibilities for the sustainable development” was held. Representatives of federal, regional and municipal authorities, politicians, businessmen, scientists, representatives of Russian and foreign enterprises and institutions of EU countries took part in its work. According to the Forum participants’ opinion, the size of Hansa League gives wide possibilities for the positive practices exchange. Assumption of the general declaration became the result of the Economic Forum. It contains common mood of Economic forum participants, aspiration to develop useful contacts on the municipal level, promote to the development of small and medium business, which is the most flexible in the crisis conditions, adopt successful experience, mostly in the effective use of sources, and solve different problems by the joint efforts.
youthHansa participants
(photo: Welikij Nowgorod)
Program of Youth Hansa included business meetings and discussions
devoted to the youth participation in the salvation of issues of
historical and cultural memorials preservation in Hansa cities,
acquaintance with the city historical past, sports competitions,
entertainment events, seminars, interactive grounds and ecological
projects presentation.
During all four days Veliky Novgorod presented traditions,
handicrafts and creative work of European cities people. Hansa and
medieval markets located on the Trade side received guests. Fifty
four market stands were installed on the river quay. Here were
presented traditional folk crafts, presentational materials and
souvenirs. Three hundred craftsmen worked on the medieval market.
Russian and foreign guests studied to weave birch bark goods, felt,
work on the ceramic wheel, and even tried to beat together with
hammer men on master-classes. Altogether 140 master-classes
were organized. The ground for children and family leisure
“Children’s suburb” was very popular. International festival
exotics were enlarged with interactive grounds, such as
“Inquisition yard”, “Store of money-changer”, “Measured yard”, and
“Funny yard”.
The International historical scientific conference “European
cultural heritage: Hansa window” was organized in a very unusual
way. It was on the boat following the rout St. Petersburg – Oreshek
– Staraya Ladoga – Veliky Novgorod. The conference was the joint
event of the City Administration and Cultural Adoption Fund, which
published the Collection of the conference participants reports
based on double-sided agreement. During this trip the book
“Novgorod and Hansa” written by E. Rybina was presented. Fifty five
scientists, museum employees and research workers took part in the
conference. The work of the conference was leaded by the
academician V. Yanin.
Historical boats parade
(photo: Welikij Nowgorod)
For the first time the historical boats parade was organized on the
river Volkhov where foreign boats were met during medieval times.
Three-master “Sanctifier Peter metropolitan of Moscow”, which was
constructed per sample of the ancient merchant boat, Slavonic boat
“Great cataract”, conventionalized raft “Mitka” of the creative
association “Mitki” sailed from Moscow to Veliky Novgorod.
Kiev was presented by the Slavonic boat “Svarok” of the Ukrainian
Institute of submarine archeology. Boats from Novaya Ladoga and
Estonia also participated in the parade.
In the context of Hansa Convention battles of military retinues
were organized, which had only friendly nature. 540 warriors from
Russia, Byelorussia, Ukraine, Estonia, Sweden, Poland and Germany
took part in the Historical Reconstruction Festival.
Representatives of 46 historical associations and 12 individual
participants lived in 72 tents on Yaroslav’s Courtyard. They
conducted 7 military battles and 3 exhibition performances, several
master-classes, demonstrated horsed tournaments in accordance with
Old Russian rules. Besides the professional archers,
many spectators participated in the straw targets shooting.
View on Hansa market
(photo: Welikij Nowgorod)
Cultural creative work of many people from different countries was
widely presented on 29th Hansa Convention. About 500 performances
of more than 120 cultural groups took place on 11 stages. Street
theatres festival with the participation of 65 actors was
implemented in Veliky Novgorod for the first time.
Straight under the open sky actors from Poland, Finland, Sweden,
Estonia, Russia (Tikhvin and Veliky Novgorod) presented their
plays.
Extensive exhibition program was provided
in the context of Hansa Convention. “Hansa art of Pomerania”
exhibition of Pomeran Association of painters and International
Union of free painters from Germany was opened in the State Art
Culture of Novgorod Land Museum. International Hansa art exhibition
“HANSEartWORKS” took place in the show-room of trade center “Diez”.
Exhibition of children’s works “Big Hansa Journey” exhibited in the
children’s museum center.
Hansa convention program intended activities for different social
and age-specific groups. Rock concert on the stadium “Centralny”
was prepared specially for youth. Tennis and beach volleyball
competitions were organized for sports lovers.
Especially for the journalists the international press-center work
was organized, which provided efficient information delivery to all
mass media.
Procession of the participants
(photo: Welikij Nowgorod)
29th Hansa Convention of New Time was completed by the colorful
procession of the participants along the historical city streets.
After the procession, Hansa League flag was solemnly put together
into birch bark basket and passed to Jane Mets, vice Mayor of the
Estonian city Pärnu, which will host 30th Hansa Convention in
2010. Big balloons with Russian and Estonian flags were
let out into the sky as a sign of Hansa Convention baton
pass.
Mayor of Veliky Novgorod Yury Bobrishev received the gratifying
letter from Hansa League President Bernd Saxe. According to his
estimation, which he announced during the final press conference,
at present time Hansa community embraces more than 20 millions of
people, 500 thousands of people from different countries became the
participants, spectators and guests of Hansa Convention in Veliky
Novgorod. Numerous positive references about Novgorod citizens’
hospitality and high quality organization of the festival were
given by the delegates from many European cities.
Dear friends, we are very grateful to you that you found the possibility to
participate in 29th Hansa Convention in Veliky Novgorod and share
the joy together with the citizens and guests of our city.
This festival wouldn’t be so bright and impressive without you!
During all days of the festival city had the atmosphere of
friendship, pleasant communication and unity. 29th Hansa Convention
can be considered successful only because of our joint efforts and
long persistent cooperation, and this is our common success!