The Meadern Festival for the Arts
Yes, I remember the arts of Meadern and how nobility would come to the town to watch the creatives do their work right there before them. Now it is all just a pleasant memory unfortunately...Meadern was a centre of culture with a whole district dedicated to its proponents. But if there was any time that was ripe for nobility, a wealthy merchant or even the poor peasant to witness art and various crafts being displayed it was during The Meadern Festival for the Arts, or The Meadern Festival for short. The festival was created by one of the late Duke of Skirhem for his daughters to enjoy. No festival has been held since the Keepmead riots when Meadern was heavily damaged and many people died. Count George Merown was the last to ever host the festival.— Everam, Teller of Nimenra
History
Meadern grew as one of the larger towns in Skirhem, a duchy in the Kingdom of Ravero. As it would turn out the town evolved into a cultural capital where a whole district of writers, singers and artists would find their patronage. The festival itself came about when the Duke of Skirhem wanted his children, specifically his daughters to find new hobbies. With so many prominent arts in his town he decided to create The Meadern Festival for the Arts which primarily was to show off the various disciplines. At first, painting, sculpting, poetic recital and song were the hosted events. The first festival failed to gain any of his children's interests, so he continued two years later with a new festival and also invited others to participate and watch the competitions.
Eventually, the continued trial and error of the duke made the festival a reoccurring festival, both as a contest and celebration of the amassing culture. Wealthy merchants and artisans primarily became the hosts as the noble family changed and later the dukedom fell out from Meadern as a seat of power. With the merchants in charge, however, the festival focused on entertainment and show. The arts presented were usually performed for free in public spaces and the competition was more friendly and focused on improvement between rivals and friends alike. Nobility would still be present and take the chance to find new artists and courtiers for their courts during the festival.
The event ended, however, after the Keepmed Riots. The hardships and scare of the riots change both the inhabitants and the outside's views on the town due to the violence that was shown. The irreversible damage done to the cultural district built over generations had lost many masters and students, forcing talents to find new areas to practise. The festival had relied on its inhabitants' support and thus discontinued.
Execution
The festival had many different practices. From singing to painting, the masters and students of the town were invited to participate and show their work. During competitions, there were known rivals that tried to outmatch others with newfound techniques and stunning displays of their crafts. Musicians and singers played for the public in the town square while the other talents both did free display and sold their art to the highest and lowest bidders. Charity from the Worshippers of Rhyn was common during the festival where they would gather wealthy to donate money to aspiring artists and the needing. Nilarian priestesses would also do the same while also having their choir singing for charity.
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