The idea to organise an international folk festival in the capital of a large European country in the heart of Europe has many a time been entertained by student folk dance ensembles, for there are not many capitals that can take pride in the organization of a periodical event that gives the opportunity to know the cultural heritage of the countries that participate in the annual events.
The dream started to become life in 2004 when the staff of the Stefan Żeromski Cultural Centre finally believed that the amphitheatre they operate and which is located in the Sowiński Park in the Wola district of Warsaw is an ideal place to organise such an event.
Why "WARSFOLK" ? (pronounce [varsfolk])
I very much waned the name of the festival to define it’s subject matter and possibly most unequivocally bring up the name of Warsaw. The name of the city, according to a legend, draws from the name of a fisherman called Wars who worked on the Vistula River. The combination of this name with the internationally understandable word "folk" seems to meet the primary requirement. I hope the awareness of the name "WARSFOLK" will increase every year and will be associated with the Warsaw–based festival. I trust that it will become one of the permanent events in Warsaw’s cultural agenda and will be a significant artistic event. I extend this wish to all spectators, participants and all those who will work on the subsequent editions of the festival.
Krzysztof G±siorek
Director
IFF "WARSFOLK"