The ARTmania Festival is an art festival, held in the Romania

Romania

Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...

n town of Sibiu

Sibiu

Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt...

. The festival, one of the most important projects developed by ARTmania, was first organized in the summer of 2006 and it has been held every summer since.

The main attraction of the festival is the music: rock

Rock music

Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 and metal

Heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

 bands perform in the Large Square (Piaţa Mare) during the first two days weekend days of the festival. Major bands have performed at the festival including Nightwish

Nightwish

Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...

, HIM, Opeth

Opeth

Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...

, Amorphis

Amorphis

Amorphis is a Finnish heavy metal band started by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari, and Esa Holopainen in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums they evolved into playing other types of genres, which include heavy metal, progressive metal, and folk metal...

, Anathema

Anathema (band)

Anathema are an English band from Liverpool primarily known for their ever evolving sound. Beginning as pioneers of the death/doom metal sub-genre, their later albums have been associated with genres such as alternative rock, progressive rock, art rock, new prog, and post-rock.-History:Anathema...

, Lacrimosa

Lacrimosa (band)

Lacrimosa is a duo led by German Tilo Wolff, the main composer, and Finnish Anne Nurmi, currently based in Switzerland, but originally from Germany...

, Tiamat

Tiamat (band)

-Biography:Initially, the band played straightforward black metal under the name Treblinka. After having recorded the album Sumerian Cry in 1989, vocalist/guitarist Johan Edlund and bassist Jörgen Thullberg parted ways with the other two founding members, and subsequently changed the name to Tiamat...

, My Dying Bride

My Dying Bride

My Dying Bride are an English doom metal band formed in 1990. To date, My Dying Bride have released eleven full-length studio albums, three EPs, one demo, one box set, four compilation albums, one live album, and one live CD/DVD release. The band released their tenth studio album, For Lies I Sire,...

 and Within Temptation

Within Temptation

Within Temptation is a Dutch symphonic gothic metal/rock band founded in 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. Their music is described as symphonic metal, although their earlier material, such as Enter, was gothic metal. In an interview, Den Adel said they fell into a...

 and the festival grows each year.

In 2007, it reached a record attendance, with 15,000 people in the Large Square watching Jethro Tull

Jethro Tull (band)

Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...

. A large number of participants come from Romanian towns and other European countries. The festival benefits from the support of local authorities, with funding from town and county councils and it is promoted at a large scale in the regional mass media.

Moreover, besides concerts, the ARTmania Festival features other cultural events, such as: visual art exhibitions in the cultural spaces of Sibiu, museum exhibitions, film screenings, classical music performances, lectures, workshops and parties in club cellars. This large range of cultural manifestations is opened to festival participants due to the partnership with the main cultural institutions of Sibiu, like Brukenthal National Museum and ASTRA National Museum Complex.

For the 2010 edition, ARTmania organized concerts both in the Large and the Small Square. The Sisters of Mercy

The Sisters of Mercy

The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...

 and Kamelot

Kamelot

Kamelot is an American symphonic power metal band from Tampa, Florida. The band was formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared song-writing duties with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011.As of 2010,...

 played on the first festival day while Serj Tankian

Serj Tankian

Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...

 and Sirenia

Sirenia

Sirenia is an order of fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit swamps, rivers, estuaries, marine wetlands, and coastal marine waters. Four species are living, in two families and genera. These are the dugong and manatees...

 performed during the second. The 2010 ARTmania Festival took place between the 13th to the 15th of August 2010.

The 2011, the 6th edition of ARTmania Festival will take place between the 8th and 14th of August, with Lacrimas Profundere

Lacrimas Profundere

Lacrimas Profundere is a gothic metal band from Germany. Their name means "to shed tears" in Latin. Their stylistic aesthetic has evolved over time, originally a death doom rooted gothic metal band, they have progressively changed their style to a more mainstream gothic style with the late...

, Tarja Turunen

Tarja Turunen

Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....

, Lacuna Coil

Lacuna Coil

Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music...

, Republica

Republica

Republica are an English alternative rock band formed in 1994. The height of their popularity spanned from 1996 to 1999. The Republica sound was described by the band as "techno-pop punk rock"...

 and Sonata Arctica

Sonata Arctica

Sonata Arctica are a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, originally assembled in 1995. Their later works contain several elements typical of progressive metal.....

 playing in the Large Square of Sibiu. This year, the festival brings something new, with four bands playing on stage in the Large Square instead of three.

Besides these concerts, the festival will continue offering a rich and diverse cultural program, adapted not only to the public, but also the medieval citadel. Thanks to their tickets or subscriptions, the festival's public will be able to enjoy seven days of exhibits and alternative events, as well as manifestations dedicated to belles arts.

Concerts along the years

2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006
Lacuna Coil Lacuna Coil Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music...  Tarja Turunen Tarja Turunen Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....  Republica Republica Republica are an English alternative rock band formed in 1994. The height of their popularity spanned from 1996 to 1999. The Republica sound was described by the band as "techno-pop punk rock"...  Helloween Helloween Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...  Lacrimas Profundere Lacrimas Profundere Lacrimas Profundere is a gothic metal band from Germany. Their name means "to shed tears" in Latin. Their stylistic aesthetic has evolved over time, originally a death doom rooted gothic metal band, they have progressively changed their style to a more mainstream gothic style with the late...  Sonata Arctica Sonata Arctica Sonata Arctica are a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, originally assembled in 1995. Their later works contain several elements typical of progressive metal.....  Ethernus Heavy Duty Heavy Duty Heavy Duty was the only full length CD release by the band 3-Ply which featured 8 recorded songs from 1995-1996. To help promote the album in the local area, a music video was made for the third track Labeled. The CD itself was released on Cartel Records and sold for $10.00...  Monarchy Monarchy A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...  Interitus Dei Guerrillas Truda Aeternum Flavius Flavius Flavius was a gens of ancient Rome, meaning "blond". The feminine form was Flavia.After the end of the popular Flavian dynasty of emperors, Flavius/Flavia became a praenomen, common especially among royalty: the adoption of this praenomen by Constantine I set a precedent for some imperial...  Classic Beat Orchestra Tagma Tagma A tagma may refer to:* Tagma , a grouping of segments, usually in arthropod anatomy* tagma , a subdivision of the Byzantine army...  Quart'elle Reckoning Reckoning -Music:* Reckoning , 1981 live album* Reckoning , 1984 album* "Reckoning", a song by Killswitch Engage from Killswitch Engage -Television:* "Reckoning", episode of the television series Alias...	Serj Tankian Serj Tankian Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...  The Sisters of Mercy The Sisters of Mercy The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...  Kamelot Kamelot Kamelot is an American symphonic power metal band from Tampa, Florida. The band was formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared song-writing duties with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011.As of 2010,...  Sirenia Sirenia Sirenia is an order of fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit swamps, rivers, estuaries, marine wetlands, and coastal marine waters. Four species are living, in two families and genera. These are the dugong and manatees...  Dark Tranquillity Dark Tranquillity Dark Tranquillity is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Gothenburg. They are one of the longest-standing bands from the original Gothenburg metal scene, and are one of the most integral pioneers of the melodic death metal genre of music....  Swallow the Sun Swallow the Sun Swallow the Sun is a Finnish melodic death / doom metal band.- Biography :Swallow the Sun was formed in early 2000 by Juha Raivio, joined soon by Pasi Pasanen came along . They rehearsed a couple of songs, one of them being "Through Her Silvery Body" which would end up on their first demo,Out of...  Sign Of Agony Act Tiarra L.O.S.T. 9,7 Richter Grimus	Nightwish Nightwish Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...  Pain Tristania Tristania (band) Tristania is a band from Norway, formed in 1996 by Morten Veland, Einar Moen and Kenneth Olsson. Tristania's music is usually classified as symphonic gothic metal with doom/death metal influences , due to its strong ties with the goth metal's history...  Opeth Opeth Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...  Subscribe My Dying Bride My Dying Bride My Dying Bride are an English doom metal band formed in 1990. To date, My Dying Bride have released eleven full-length studio albums, three EPs, one demo, one box set, four compilation albums, one live album, and one live CD/DVD release. The band released their tenth studio album, For Lies I Sire,...  Luna Amara Luna Amara Luna Amară is a Romanian alternative rock/grunge band. The name means "Bitter Moon" in Romanian, and is borrowed from the Roman Polanski movie of the same name, inspired by the eponymous novel written by Pascal Bruckner.-History:...	Tiamat Tiamat (band) -Biography:Initially, the band played straightforward black metal under the name Treblinka. After having recorded the album Sumerian Cry in 1989, vocalist/guitarist Johan Edlund and bassist Jörgen Thullberg parted ways with the other two founding members, and subsequently changed the name to Tiamat...  Lacrimosa Lacrimosa (band) Lacrimosa is a duo led by German Tilo Wolff, the main composer, and Finnish Anne Nurmi, currently based in Switzerland, but originally from Germany...  Agua de Annique Agua de Annique Agua de Annique is the solo project of the former The Gathering vocalist, Anneke van Giersbergen.- History :The project was announced June 5, 2007, the same day that both The Gathering and Anneke van Giersbergen issued separate announcements that van Giersbergen would leave the band in August.She...  Leaves’ Eyes Gamma Ray Gamma Ray (band) Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal Helloween. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent...  Atrocity Atrocity (band) Atrocity is a German Heavy Metal band formed in Ludwigsburg.-History:First started in 1985 as Instigators and playing grindcore, Atrocity arose as a death metal band with their debut EP, Blue Blood, in 1989, followed soon by Hallucinations, a concept album about drug use...  Avatar Bucium Bucium The bucium is a type of alphorn used by mountain dwellers in Romania. Of Dacian origin, it was used in the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia as signaling devices in military conflicts. The word is derived from Latin bucinum, originally meaning "curved horn", an instrument used by the Romans...  Nexus Frozen Dusk	Within Temptation Within Temptation Within Temptation is a Dutch symphonic gothic metal/rock band founded in 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. Their music is described as symphonic metal, although their earlier material, such as Enter, was gothic metal. In an interview, Den Adel said they fell into a...  Anathema Anathema (band) Anathema are an English band from Liverpool primarily known for their ever evolving sound. Beginning as pioneers of the death/doom metal sub-genre, their later albums have been associated with genres such as alternative rock, progressive rock, art rock, new prog, and post-rock.-History:Anathema...  My Dying Bride My Dying Bride My Dying Bride are an English doom metal band formed in 1990. To date, My Dying Bride have released eleven full-length studio albums, three EPs, one demo, one box set, four compilation albums, one live album, and one live CD/DVD release. The band released their tenth studio album, For Lies I Sire,...  Tarot Tarot (band) Tarot is a heavy metal band from Finland. They are most famous for the song “Wings of Darkness” from the 1986 album Spell of Iron. While having enjoyed a broad underground popularity in Finland, the band has never been very famous elsewhere until gaining new success in the recent years when their...  The Gathering The Gathering (band) The Gathering is a Dutch alternative rock band, founded in 1989 by brothers Hans and René Rutten and vocalist Bart Smits in the small city of Oss, North Brabant....  After Forever After Forever After Forever was a Dutch symphonic metal band with strong progressive metal influences. The band relied on the use of both soprano vocals and death grunts. In February 2009, it was announced that After Forever had disbanded.-Biography:...  Altar Cargo Celelalte Cuvinte Celelalte Cuvinte Celelalte Cuvinte is a Romanian rock band from Oradea, founded in December 1981, in Timişoara and still active to this day...  Iris IRIS (Romanian band) Iris is a Romanian hard rock band established in 1977 by Ioan Dumitrescu , Ion Olteanu and Emil Lechinţeanu...  Luna Amara Luna Amara Luna Amară is a Romanian alternative rock/grunge band. The name means "Bitter Moon" in Romanian, and is borrowed from the Roman Polanski movie of the same name, inspired by the eponymous novel written by Pascal Bruckner.-History:...  Vita de Vie	HIM Amorphis Amorphis Amorphis is a Finnish heavy metal band started by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari, and Esa Holopainen in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums they evolved into playing other types of genres, which include heavy metal, progressive metal, and folk metal...  Carmen Gray Carmen Gray -Members:*"Nicklas"*"Lappe"*"Pete"*"J.J"*"O.J"-History:Carmen Gray was formed in the summer of 2000....  Silentium Silentium Silentium is a Finnish Gothic metal band. The band was formed in 1995 and it originates from Jämsänkoski, Finland...  Luna Amara Luna Amara Luna Amară is a Romanian alternative rock/grunge band. The name means "Bitter Moon" in Romanian, and is borrowed from the Roman Polanski movie of the same name, inspired by the eponymous novel written by Pascal Bruckner.-History:...  Altar Kumm

Visual Arts Exhibitions

2011	2010	2009	2006
Din Adancuri (From the Deep) by Anda Cofaru at the Habitus Cultural Centre – exhibition inspired by Tarja Turunen’s music “Rock Memorandum” by Diana and Doina Pantea – exhibition at the Habitus Cultural Centre the photographic exhibition ARTnatomy- The Reconfiguring Eye, by Miluta Flueras, at the Artists’ Café, ArtCafe in the Large Square Live Aeons exhibition by Victor Cristescu and Dumitru Catalin - a collection of photographs	Neo-gothic living vs. The Age of Enlightenment Model – exhibition at the Brukenthal Museum ARTmania Festival in images – photo exhibition hosted by Touristical information Center Ichtys” Paintings by Niklas Sundin Niklas Sundin Niklas Sundin , is a musician best known as the guitarist of bands Dark Tranquillity and Laethora. He also wrote some of the lyrics for the first three and recent two Dark Tranquillity albums and In Flames' album The Jester Race, and...  (DT) – hosted by Bohemian Flow	“From A Dark Mind” Photo exhibition – offered by Aaron Stainthorpe Aaron Stainthorpe Aaron Stainthorpe is the vocalist for doom metal band My Dying Bride. He was born in England but moved to Germany when he was six months old, because his British army officer father was stationed in the country...  (MY DYING BRIDE My Dying Bride My Dying Bride are an English doom metal band formed in 1990. To date, My Dying Bride have released eleven full-length studio albums, three EPs, one demo, one box set, four compilation albums, one live album, and one live CD/DVD release. The band released their tenth studio album, For Lies I Sire,... ) hosted by Habitus Center “TOYMANIA" Exhibion – visual arts exhibition of Romania Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... n artist Daniel Turcu hosted by the Contemporary Art Gallery LIVE on canvas – visual arts show & exhibition by Anda Cofaru Romania Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... n visual artist hosted by Mayoralty Lobby Colorful images – animated films projections by Mihai Badica Romania Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... n visual artist hosted by Art Cafe	Jan Kaila visual arts exhibition hosted by the Brukenthal Museum of Sibiu Sibiu Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt... . Jan Kaila is Head of the Post-universitary Studies Department from the Academy of Fine Arts of Helsinki and has a PHd in visual arts ELINA BROTHERUS visual arts exhibition hosted by the Brukenthal Museum of Sibiu Sibiu Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt... . Elina Broherus one of the most “en vogue” artistic figures of today’s international artistic world. Romanian Arts Exhibition – visual arts exhibition of several Romanian artists hosted by the Contemporary Art Museum of Sibiu

Literature events

2011	2007
Launch of “Room mates. Student in Chisinau” novel by Mihail Vakulovski – in Large Square, Sibiu	Launch of “Bazar bizar” novel by Radu Paraschivescu – at Astra Library in Sibiu Launch of “Fotbalistic manifest” of Traian Ungureanu – at Astra Library in Sibiu

Classical music Concerts & other genre

2009

2006

Guilty Lemon concert – jazz Jazz Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...  concert hosted by Art Cafe.

Classical music Festival-Contest „Carl Filtsch Carl Filtsch Carl Filtsch was a Transylvanian pianist and composer. He was a child prodigy, and student of Frédéric Chopin. -Life and education:... ” - piano concerts and classical music recitals offered by young Romania Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... n artists in Thalia Thalia Thalia was the Muse who presided over comedy and idyllic poetry. In this context her name means "flourishing", because the praises in her songs flourish through time. She was the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the eighth-born of the nine Muses....  music hall of Sibiu Sibiu Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt...  “Carl Filtsch Carl Filtsch Carl Filtsch was a Transylvanian pianist and composer. He was a child prodigy, and student of Frédéric Chopin. -Life and education:... ” Gala concert – offered by the winners of the “Carl Filtsch” classical music contest in Thalia music hall of Sibiu Sibiu Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt...

Film screening

2010
Punksters & Youngsters (FI) 2008 – an ASTRA film projecton in the Small Square

Museum exhibitions

2010

Romanian Traditional Craftsmen Fair – Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization (ASTRA National Museum Complex) “Contemporary norwegian arts and crafts” exhibition – architecture and design exhibition hosted in House of Arts from the Small Square of Sibiu Traditional art exhibitions – Museum of Transylvanian Civilization Exhibitions – “Emil Sigerus” Museum of German Ethnography and Folk Art European Art Gallery & the Brukenthal Library permanent exhibitions – hosted by Brukenthal Pallace Romanian Art Gallery & the Restauration studios permanent exhibition- hosted by the Blue House, in the Large Square Contemporary Art Gallery permanent exhibitions - within Brukenthal Museum “Altemberger House” Museum of History permanent exhibitions - within Brukenthal Museum Museum of Natural History permanent exhibitions Museum of History of Pharmacy permanent exhibitions – in the Small Square ASTRA Museum complex’s permanent exhibitions

Workshops & other cultural manifestations

2011	2010	2009
Miluta Flueras - workshop dedicated to concert photography at the Artists’ Café, ArtCafe.	Kai Hahto Kai Hahto Kai Hahto is a Finnish musician and drummer.-Career:Hahto starting playing drums using a handmade Kumu drumkit.Hahto was a member of the grindcore band Rotten Sound....  (Swallow The Sun Swallow the Sun Swallow the Sun is a Finnish melodic death / doom metal band.- Biography :Swallow the Sun was formed in early 2000 by Juha Raivio, joined soon by Pasi Pasanen came along . They rehearsed a couple of songs, one of them being "Through Her Silvery Body" which would end up on their first demo,Out of... ) Drum Workshop – workshop powered by Guitar Shop in the Small Square	“The Art of Fire” - street fire show by Crispus in the Large Square and the Small Square

Warm-up parties & After parties

2010	2009	2008
SOM Afterparty – by Ian P. Chris (DE) & Ina Lux Noctis, at Flying Time club Silviu D. Heavy Hour - DJ Set at Bohemian Flow club Ina Lux Noctis Afterparty - DJ set at Kultur Cafe Sigi Silviu D. Acid Phonique - Flying Time club	Silent Noise, Onishka & Ina DJ Set held in Bohemian Flow Ewvoll & Nedeea DJ set held in Sigi Kultur Café	Anathema Warm-Up Party – held in “Grigore Preoteasa” Students Cultural Center, in Bucharest

External links

• The official website of ARTmania
• The official website of the ARTmania Festival