VaClaF 2024: “Dreams to Come True”

The first classical music concert, Children of Vares play for Vares, was held in 2009 in the beautiful old church of St. Michael in Vares [Varesch]. After a tremendous success, it has become the traditional “Miholjski concert.” In 2013, on its fifth anniversary, VaClaF: Vares Classic Festival was enthusiastically initiated and the “Miholjski concert” became its final, most festive concert. Growing ever since, VaClaF has become a festival of international importance for the state of BiH and received international acclaim, collaborating with some of the most important cultural institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, The Netherlands, France, Germany, China, EU, and many more.

Connecting fantastic artists from all around the world and people of diverse backgrounds through the universal language of music, VaClaF has become an interdisciplinary, socially engaging artistic movement. Violinist/violist/conductor Andrea Nikolić is the founder, general, and artistic director of VaClaF, curating musical programmes and broadening them to theatre, literature, and visual arts. In 2023, to mark the beginning of the second decade, VaClaF has developed a new concept: Festival - Academy - Residencies - On Tour. Its 12th edition will occur from July to October 2024 in Vareš, throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, and internationally, hosting artists from all around the world and creating cultural heritage for the generations to come.

Special project of the edition are the Artistic Residencies “Zvjezdane staze | Star Trek” , created in collaboration with the composer/pianist/artist Belma Bešlić - Gal in 2023, which will host 5 emerging artists, selected through an open call published in April 2024.

Official programme announcement: May 2024

Introduction event: June 2024

VaClaF Festival | Academy | Residencies | On Tour “ : July - October 2024