The Romanian Cultural Institute “Mihai Eminescu” in Chisinau, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of Moldova and other institutions, are staging the eighth International Poetry Festival “Grigore Vieru” in Iasi and Chisinau on May 17-20. The Institute supports the event by offering the Top Prize “Grigore Vieru”, the Literacy Criticism Prize and the Prize for Translation, IPN reports.

According to a press release of the organizers, on May 17-18 the Festival will be held in Iasi. In Chisinau, the Festival begins at 10am on May 19 with laying of flowers and a recital of poems at Grigore Vieru’s bust on the Alley of Classical Writers in the Public Garden “Stefan cel Mare si Sfant”. The program will continue with a literary-artistic performance entitled “Now and Forever”, staged by the Municipal Library “B.P. Hasdeu”.

The same day, starting at 2pm, the Azure Hall of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova will host the scientific symposium “Grigore Vieru in Posterity”. Among those who will deliver speeches are Mihai Cimpoi, Valeriu Matei, Nina Corchinschi, Andrei Turcanu, Aliona Grati, Alexandru Burlacu, and Vasile Bahnaru. The first day will end with the Festival Award Gala at the National Puppet Theater “Licurici”, starting at 6pm. There will also be held a performance of poetry and music featuring people’s artist Mihai Ciobanu, the brass band of the Border Police, the Musical-Choral Studio “Lia-Ciocarlia” and invited poets.

At 11am on May 20, the Library of the State University of Moldova will hold a literary-artistic colloquium titled “Grigore Vieru – Spiritual Permanence”. The same day at 1:30pm, the monumental complex “Writers of the Union” in Truseni will host a literary-artistic performance entitled “Grigore Vieru – Poet of the Union”.