HIGH FEST International Performing Arts Festival

HIGH FEST International Performing Arts Festival was established in 2003. It is organized by Armenian Actors Union NGO. "HIGH FEST" International Performing Arts Festival gives great opportunity for Armenian audience to get in touch with the values of world performing arts. The organizers are aimed to bring to Yerevan the best and most innovative companies, presenting the rich palette of worldwide art. At the same time, the Festival promotes Armenian Culture on the international area making it closer to the world of the performing arts. Over the past ten years the Festival has significantly expanded and has drawn international attention. As a result of international recognition Armenia joined several international theatre arts networks namely ASSITEJ (International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People), IETM (international network for contemporary performing arts), IFEA (International Festival and Events Association).
From 2006 HIGH FEST was announced as the Main Performing Arts Festival of the countries of former USSR (except Moscow).
Since 2003 the HIGH FEST presents productions in all genres of performing arts including theatre (drama, comedy, mime, movement, circus, street performances, puppet/marionette, fingers and visual theatre), dance (contemporary, folk, classic etc.), music (opera, classical, musical, contemporary, jazz, folk etc) and other forms of performing arts.
During these years over 2000 participants (300 foreign companies, presidents of well known international theatre festivals, representatives of international networks, producers etc) from 50 countries participated at the Festival. The performances were held on 16 venues (indoor and outdoor) of Yerevan.
Besides the main program of the Festival i.e. the performances, other events such as seminars, master classes, round tables, and trainings were organized to create a favorable atmosphere of exchange of ideas and experience on New Writing, Networking, Cultural Management, International Cooperation in Arts, Cultural Policy, etc issues. The master classes led by foreign arts practitioners were concentrated on new trends and methods of contemporary performing arts and presented the new approaches in different spheres of art.