Artisans from India make their way to Italy for the "Topor Festival," with a total of 160 artisans participating.
The rural park "Okolitsa" is gearing up for the return of the 16th International Folk Crafts Festival "Toper's Holiday", which will take place from August 16 to 24. This year's event promises to be a grand spectacle, with participation from 166 masters hailing from 48 Russian regions and 11 foreign countries.
Among the foreign participants, we will welcome a new addition - an Italian craftsperson - marking the first time an Italian participant will join the 'Wooden Craftsmanship' competition. The competition will be judged by a panel of esteemed experts, including Leonid Usov, a Russian People's Artist and sculptor, Ivan Skoromoščenko, head of the carpentry department at the Omsk "Reason" academy, Oleg Kislitsky, a member of the Tomsk Artists Guild, and sculptors Oleg Antukh and Sergey Chernov.
In addition to the woodworking competition, the festival will also feature competitions in blacksmithing, ceramics, and birch bark. To accommodate the influx of guests, new eco-toilets have been prepared, and improvements are being made to mobile internet access in the "Okolitsa" territory.
To ensure the safety of attendees, the festival area has been treated for ticks. Laris Važova, head of the Tomsk region's culture department, expressed her delight at welcoming both returning friends and new masters to the festival. She emphasised that the festival is an opportunity to celebrate and preserve traditional craftsmanship.
The festival organisers have also been preparing for "Toper's Holiday-2025". The jury for the upcoming event consists of renowned experts in folk crafts from Tomsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Gzhel, and Novosibirsk. With such a diverse and talented line-up, the 16th International Folk Crafts Festival "Toper's Holiday" is set to be an unforgettable event for all who attend.
During the 16th International Folk Crafts Festival "Toper's Holiday", visitors can expect more than just woodworking competitions. The home-and-garden section will showcase talent in ceramics and birch bark as well. This year, a change in lifestyle is evident, as an Italian craftsperson will be participating in the Wooden Craftsmanship competition for the first time.
