Two-days exhibition-festival "Rudana’s treasures " has been held in Kryvyi Rih

On the first day, 18th of September, at the conference hall of SHEI "Kryvyi Rih National University" about 60 representatives of industrial enterprises, geologists, mineralogist, stones handlers, producers and sellers of souvenirs gathered to discuss the development prospects of souvenir industry in Kryvyi Rih.

The meeting was opened by Mayor Yuri Grygorovych Vilkul, who stressed the importance and uniqueness of the event which gives an opportunity to demonstrate all the diversity of subsoil resources of Kryvyi Rih so-called "Rudana's treasures " and discuss the formation of a new, but enough demanded branch of souvenirs production.

The preparation of the event was held with active participation of Acting Rector of "Kryvyi Rih National University" Stupnik Nikolai Ivanovich, Head of the Department of Geology and Mineralogy of the same institution Yevtyehov Valery Dmitrievich together with their experts.

During the plenary session there were presented the key factors that create demand for the production of quality souvenirs, namely:

- active development of industrial tourism in the city, which gave a push to a significant increase of tourist flow in Kryvyi Rih, both by the residents of other cities in Ukraine and abroad;

- unique minerals of Kryvyi Rih region, decorative and collectible stones, which have no analogues in Europe and sometimes even worldwide;

- the presence of a national heritage object - Research Geological and Mineralogical Museum that contains within its walls one of the richest collections of stones in the country;

- the establishment and implementation of the city brand - image of a horn in bright purple-red palette with the slogan "Life-long city".

During the roundtable, the meeting participants moved on to the practical aspects of the production of souvenirs and identified the main problems of the industry.

Particular attention has been focused on the lack of promotion of souvenirs in the city, because most city residents are not even aware of the existence of Kryvyi Rih souvenirs with unique symbols.

During the active discussion all participants have agreed to joint the efforts of producers, local governments, tourism providers and the public.

During the second day, on September 19, the event started on the Art square near the theater named after Taras Shevchenko with an exhibition of souvenirs, where everyone could choose the product according to one's taste and preferences - from stones and filigree wrought iron flowers to delicious cakes and cake depicting the symbols of the city.

All holiday guests were offered a lot of competitions, quizzes and exciting excursions to the geological and mineralogical museum and the old part of the city. It's nice that there were more than enough people who wished to visit the museum - more than 50 people, that proves the interest of the residents to the natural resources of their native land.

In addition, there was an exhibition "Country of masters", which provides for incredibly attractive handicrafts that attracted mainly female part of the holiday.

Youth members of the executive committee of the city pleased the smallest holiday guests by interesting contests and competitions - "Carry iron ore", "Draw your city" and others.

Active participants received nice gifts - badges and other souvenirs, kids got the masterpieces mad ewith their own hands - painted stones, and in the evening there was a dance flash mob, organized by the students of Kryvyi Rih National University and the most exciting moment of the fest - magical laser show, which gathered a huge number of spectators.

More emotions and impressions - in the video.

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That this was the first exhibition-festival "Rudana's Treasures " which, according to the experts, has to become traditional since Kryvyi Rih has a lot to be proud of and to demonstrate, though the most valuable treasure, according to Yuri Grigorovich Vilkul, lies not in the ground but in Kryvyi Rih people, due to work of which the city lives and develops.

We hope that the roundtable decisions will be turned into reality and in the near future every tourist or visitor of the city will be able to buy unique souvenirs from Kryvyi Rih, which have no analogues in any region of the country and are able to adequately present "iron heart" of Ukraine.