Even though I've been to almost half of its editions, Artmania continues to amaze me. After hitting a rough spot because of the Town Hall's decision to ban paid concerts in the Large Square (which threatened to put the festival to death, since Artmania is synonim with Sibiu and there was no good alternative in the city to the square) and still resiliently trying to make a good event despite of the obstacles, they were allowed to go back to the regular paid concerts in the Large Square since last year and started to get their mojo back. It would've been a huge shame to lose the longest-living festival in Romania, and in my opinion, the best festival in Romania to bureaucracy. Especially since I cannot get enough of it and I'm so impressed by how it's possible to leave enough space for everyone in a sold out show (instead of cramming as many people together like all the other organisers do), to never have lines for the tokens and drinks, to have clean toilets with running water for washing, separated trash cans for each type of material and generally a feeling of respect and relaxation that infects everyone. Yes, Artmania is the only event where I haven't seen a single empty cup on the ground, it's like everyone starts transforming once they get there. And then there's the random artist going through the crowd while other bands are playing, sometimes talking to the people and taking pictures, but mostly being left undisturbed to enjoy the show.
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