Tunis: The international shows of the 7th edition of the "International Festival of Circus and Street Arts" opened on Friday evening on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis. The artists, who will arrive in Siliana on Saturday, June 22, will perform acrobatics before continuing their tour in the city of Sfax (June 27), Hammam Lif (June 29), Sousse (June 30), Kef (July 2) and Zaghouan (July 5), which will host the closing show at the Temple des Eaux. The festival will run from June 1 to July 5, 2024, with shows in ten governorates: Tunis, Ben Arous, Siliana, Sfax, Sousse, Mahdia, Monastir, El Kef, Bizerte and Zaghouan. The festival welcomes circus companies from 11 countries: Argentina, Chile, Egypt, France, Italy, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Russia, Senegal and Tunisia. Egyptian and Russian troupes will be present for the first time in the festival's seven-year history. Free circus shows, children's workshops and courses for circus enthusiasts will be organised throughout the festival. For the first time, a n ational competition dedicated to the circus arts was held on June 30 at the Tunis Opera Theatre. Three prizes were awarded: Yosra Swissi (first prize), Saifeddine Rgham (second prize) and Montaha Weslati (third prize). This annual event is organised by the "Paparouni" Circus Arts Association in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, the National Establishment for the Promotion of Festivals and Cultural and Artistic Events, the Tunis Opera Theatre and the regional authorities of cultural affairs in ten governorates. The festival is renewing its partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts and the Tunisian National Tourist Office (ONTT) through a special programme to promote cultural tourism. It is organising an artistic village with activities for all ages, including circus arts workshops and virtual tours of Tunisia's main archaeological sites. The International Street Circus Festival, launched in 2018, aims to disseminate circus arts and promote the latest international trends in contempor ary circus. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse