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The opening ceremony of awarded artworks at the 15th The World of Art magazine international competition on the theme “Ethnological dresses and folklore dances of my people” and the award ceremony of the same competition alongside the exhibition opening of Afghan children that took part in a art workshop organized by the Institution for creative development of young people in execution of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Teheran on the same theme drew quite a few diplomats of foreign countries and representatives of the Foreign and Defence Ministry in Slovenia and award winners from foreign countries to Celje. The diplomats that were present were: Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy Guro Katharina Vikør and secretary Andrej Djordjević, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Predrag Filipov and Consul Ms. Aleksandra Stanković, Chargee d’ Affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Teheran Ms. Kristina Radej and her partner Mr. Alan Ujčič, Consul of the Embassy of Belarus in Budapest Ms. Ljudmila Klebanovic, Deputy head of mission from the Romanian Embassy Ms. Cristina Mortu, Deputy head of mission from the Greek Embassy Mr. Nikolaos Fouyas and his spouse Ms. Aikaterini Nikaki, Consul from the Embassy of the Czech Republic Mr. Petr Šmejkal, Deputy head of the Turkish Embassy Mr. Bore Atatanir, Cultural Attache of the Russian Embassy Ms. Natalia Klišenkova, Consul from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia Mr. Sulisto Djati Ismojo, representatives of the Foreign Ministry Mr. Aleš Verdir and Mr. Jurij Rifelj and a representative of the Defence Ministry Mr. Srečko Zajec. The members of the expert jury Dr. Bogomil Karlavaris from Croatia, academic artist Emil Sfera from Serbia, Breda Bračko from Slovenia, future Honorary Consul of the Republic of Slovenia in Turkey Ms. Mizyal Karabiber Nacaroglu and award winners from Afghanistan, Iran, Slovenia, Serbia, Latvia, Slovakia, Croatia, Turkey, Poland, Hungary… and other important guests also attended the ceremony.
The founder and leader of this competition, founder of the first permanent gallery for young people in Slovenia, the founder of The World of Art magazine and the International graphic art workshop, Mr. Mihailo Lišanin used the occasion to say farewell to the exhibition that will be handed over to the Municipality of Celje next year.
Mihailo Lišanin received many international awards and acclamations for his work in the field of art culture and for promoting artistic creativity and culture of young people. Among them are “The golden key of an honorary guest of Villa Constitucion, Argentina”, “Unique plate of the Turkish Ministry of Education”, “Remembrance medal of the Russian Ministry of Culture”, “The medal of honorary guest of Montana, Bulgaria”, “The honorary guest of Bangalore in India” and is also a honorary member of international juries at international young people’s art works competitions in Gaziantep, Turkey and Minsk, Belarus. In Slovenia, he received the “Bronze Shield of the Municipality of Celje”.
The Afghan children in their homeland and those living in exile in Iran were given the opportunity to present themselves outside the borders of Afghanistan in an organized manner for the first time after their 30 years of isolation due to the wars. The artworks were created in organization of the the Institution for creative development of young people Celje in practical execution of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Teheran under the leadership of the Chargee d’ Affaires Ms. Cristina Radej with the financial support of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Foreign Affaires and Municipality of Celje.
The award winner from Afghanistan, a 16 year old Farzaneh Akhondi from Pamchal Art Gallery in Herat also attended the ceremony and spent a week in Slovenia accompanied by her father and Ms. Maleko Ghoriani, the representative of Help, Germany.