Europalia is a major international arts festival held every two years to celebrate one invited country’s cultural heritage. Its name is a combination of two words: “Europe” and “Opalia,” an ancient Roman harvest festival held in mid-December in honor of Ops, earth-goddess and fertility deity. Her name lies at the root of the Latin word “Opus”, that denotes a work of art.

Since 1969, Europalia has organised some twenty-one festivals. Each has turned the spotlight on one culture in a comprehensive programme of music, fine arts, photography, cinema, theatre, dance and literature. From October to February, the festival fills numerous locations in Brussels, other Belgian cities and in neighbouring countries. The festival offers guest countries a unique opportunity to present their cultural heritage and contemporary arts in an optimal format. In this way, Europalia hopes to promote better understanding between nations and stimulate cultural exchange between peoples.

Europalia contributes to the cultural dimension of European construction by promoting Europe’s diverse cultures and encouraging their dialogue with the world’s great cultures. It has brought new insight into the many different countries that form Europe including Italy, the Netherlands, Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Austria, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria, as well as into more distant lands: Mexico, Japan and Russia.

In 2007, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome the festival was dedicated to Europe and its 27 Member States. In 2009 China will be Europalia’s guest country. Each festival enjoys the High Patronage of His Majesty the King of the Belgians and the guest country’s Head of State.

Source: www.europalia.eu

Editor: Dong Jirong