About making straw art objects – the "strawing"
Straw art is meant as a free-time funny activity for individuals and families with children, in which participants form straw objects. You get a wire, a string and straw. And everybody has a good time for the whole weekend, everybody plays...
The first run of the Fest took place in the August 1997 at the late gothic Church of Corpus Christi and fourteen friends from ŠVAGR Citizen association participated. The Company for the salvage of the Červená Řečice heritage and ŠVAGR joined and the Straw Fest became known far and wide. The programme of the Straw Fest includes theatre performances, exhibitions, folk and art workshops (smithery, ceramic, painting), film projections on the square and a rock concert.
The second Straw Fest was held at the Church of Corpus Christi again, with accompanying programme situated in the Červená Řečice castle. From that time on the castle is an inherent part of the Straw Fest. Exhibition displays are installed in the castle (ŠVAGR, The Company, The Kosa Art association, flower exhibitions), visitors can stay there overnight and in case of bad weather the castle becomes a shelter for everyone.
The Company uses the Straw Fest to alert to the state of disrepair of the castle, and tries to attract the public to the castle and make steps to preserve the historical building.
The third run of the Straw Fest was supported by the Civic Society Development Foundation and the fourth year Fest was supported by the Via foundation and twice by the Čapík foundation from Putim. The Vysočina foundation supports the Fest since 2002.
The Straw Fest aims:
Get citizens involved in the public life in the village, alternative and active spending their free time, alert to a run-down historical building, making the public familiar with Červená Řečice, region of Pelhřimov and the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.
People from the whole Czech Republic (Prague, Liberec, Plzeň, Zlín, Písek) arrive to the Straw Fest, as well as from Slovakia and, during the last years, we also welcomed visitors from Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, Byelorussia and Canada.
What is the “strawing”?
Creating own straw statue.
What is the “Straw Fest”?
A small cheerful festival of active entertainment with an accompanying programme – theatre, cinema, concert, workshops and exhibitions in Červená Řečice.
Where and when is the Straw Fest held?
The Straw Fest is held in the former archbishop castle in Červená Řečice in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, the Czech Republic, on the third weekend in August, Friday to Sunday on annual basis.
Who organises the Straw Fest?
The Straw Fest is organized by the Company for the salvage of the Červená Řečice heritage and Citizen association from Písek. From 2007 on, the only organiser of the Fest is the Company, while the Švagr association remains a supporter and participant.
For whom is the Straw Fest meant?
Strawing has its fans among different people. Children, youth, mums, daddies and grandparents – all these make straw objects. Aunts and uncles and dogs as well.
How was it born?
At the beginning, there was an idea of Jirka Jedlička, a native of Červená Řečice, a member of the Company for the salvage of the Červená Řecice heritage and the ŠVAGR Citizen association. The idea to hold a symposium on statues for art schools students, where they could create statues from material which is typically used in the country. Straw is such a material, but who can make statues just of straw? Thus, wires were added for objects to keep together, and strings later on as well. And that’s all.
What about the first Straw Fest?
The first strawing took place in 1997 at the Church of Corpus Christi in Červená Řečice and about fourteen friends from ŠVAGR participated. Some fantastic objects were made and that gave birth to the Straw Fest.
What followed?
The second year the Straw Fest was held at the Church of Corpus Christi again, the next years in the castle, with an accompanying programme, in co-operation with ŠVAGR friends, then it became a Straw Fest and remains that since. The Straw Fest is firmly connected with lots of fine people, from the Company, ŠVAGR, with fans and friends, who are fest upholders. Thanks also to visitors, who enjoy strawing and remember it. Interest of all these people keeps the fest alive.
The Straw Fest lasts from Friday till Sunday, what about its background?
You can sleep in a sleeping bag in the castle or find an accommodation in the village and its surroundings, there is a toilet and bathroom with hot water in the castle. There are some groceries and shops in the village as well. Internet for public is also accessible.
Do visitors need to bring lots of money?
Entrance is free, except for the Saturday concert of four bands. Accommodation is free, bathroom is free, the accompanying programme is free, cinema – voluntary admission, food - on your own.
What is the most important for creating?
Fantasy, skills, a good mood, lots of friends, food and nice music.
