Seven hundred special needs children from around Latin America will gather in the Colombian port city of Cartagena to perform in plays, dances and dozens of cultural activities as part of the fourth Festival de Artes Especiales (Fides) from April 20 to 25, reports El Universal.
The number of groups participating in the festival this year has doubled to 45 from last year’s 22 participants. Groups from Guatemala, Argentina, Panama and Venezuela, as well as Colombia, are expected to participate.
“This year there will be painting, dance, theater and street art in the San Diego and Bolivar parks, where people can see how these children are devoted to art, their dreams and hopes to serve humanity with their spirits” said Fides president Alejandro Escallon, speaking to Aja Cartagena.
The festival kicks off April 20 in the Baluarte de San Ignacio. Each artistic event will take place in a different location: visual arts and painting in the Palace of the Inquisition, dance in the arena of San Pedro Salesian Claver College and theater in the auditorium of the University of Cartagena. The festival closes in the Getsemani room of the Julio Cesar Tutbay Ayala Convention Center.
Entrance to the performances is free.