Celabration in Lesence Creek Valley

The Lesence region, in the valley named after the stream, is a small area on the periphery of three larger units. Nestled between the shores of Lake Balaton, the hills of the Bakony and the hills of Keszthely, it is a special part of the Transdanubia region. A few municipalities in the area decided to join forces and take part in the VEB2023 ECOC programme of celebrating creativity, combining music, visual arts, art and gastronomy. The participating Lesencevidék (Lesence Region) settlements include Balatonederics, Lesenceistvánd, Uzsa, Zalahaláp and Hegymagas. All five are preparing various events for their inhabitants and visitors to their village. Their aim is the same as professed by VEB2023: to make 2023 a year of celebration and bring culture closer to everyone.

Lesenceistvánd is a village located on the north-eastern edge of the Keszthely Hills, on the top of a small mountain and on the banks of the Lesence Stream. With almost a thousand inhabitants, it is rich in natural beauty and built sights. The Lesenceistvánd organisers have conceived a novel cultural experience based on the existing active community life, showcasing the contemporary art world. Focusing on local assets, the series of events will introduce guests to the world of modern art. They will engage and stimulate the "participants" from the youngest to the oldest age groups. The Lesence Region Contemporary Art Festival was first held in July 2022 and will return in the summer of 2023 to welcome creative minds and everyone interested in the arts. The festival includes workshops, concerts, dance performances and exhibitions focusing on art, landscape architecture and recycling. The programme is all about creation and one of the festival’s main attractions is the exhibition of artworks created during the art camp organised as part of the festival.

The village of just over 1300 inhabitants is picturesque: it lies at the northern tip of the Tapolca Basin, with stunning panoramic views and is only a twenty-minute drive from Lake Balaton. The most exciting treasure of the village is Haláp Hill, a mount of unique natural value whose peak fell victim to basalt mining in the past. Utilising the excellent acoustics of the Haláp crater is a unique venue for concerts and theatre performances in an extraordinary setting with an even more exciting sonority.

Thanks to its beach on the lake, Balatonederics is the most popular tourist destination among the five villages of the Lesence Region. The main elements of ‘Art on the Shore’ are water, the waterfront location, the Balaton lifestyle and visual arts, including the process of creation. The Balatonederics programme will include the Paper-Arts Camp and Exhibition, where paper, water and recycling will take centre stage through paper art. In addition to active creation, the camp will include interactive sessions and a special focus on reaching out to a lay, but importantly, interested audience. It is a real community experience, right on the shores of Lake Balaton, in an inspiring environment.

Creating the Uzsa Artists' Village stems from several factors. One of them is its geographical location. The settlement lies in the shadows, on the western edge of the Tapolca Basin, in a beautiful natural setting, in the hug of the Keszthely Hills, next to Balaton, and along the Lesence Stream. The sacral monuments of the Árpád-era village and its surroundings, such as the Szentlélek (Holy Spirit) Spring, the ruins of the Pauline monastery, the stone crosses of Haláp and its historical past, as well as the cultural and historical spots in the area, make Uzsa a very attractive place for artists.

The second factor is a person: contemporary artist László Koscsó, whose life is closely linked to the village and defines the workshop’s spirit. UzsART uses this close connection to strengthen the link between the visual arts, the village and its inhabitants. The workshop is by invitation only, with artists from all over the country coming for several weeks to work while providing an open studio experience for children and adults alike. The workshop will conclude with an exhibition and a symposium.

Hegymagas has a long tradition of classical music. For several years now, the village on Saint George Hill has been hosting classical music evenings during the summer and autumn – this is a tradition that will continue in the context of the VEB2023 ECOC programme and in the framework of the Lesence Valley collaboration. In addition to music, literature will also play a prominent role: children will be guided into the world of fairy tales by local writers and storytellers, while adults will be entertained with musical fiction story events.

Implemented by: Municipal Governments of Hegymagas, Uzsa, Zalahaláp, Lesenceistvánd, Nagycsaládosok Nyírád és Lesencevidéki Egyesülete (Association of Large Families in Nyírád and the Lesence Region)

Date: Continuously during 2023

Locations: Hegymagas, Uzsa, Zalahaláp, Lesenceistvánd, Balatonederics