Within the 36th International Carnival in Rijeka on Saturday, 2 March, Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral hosted ‘Charity Carnival’ – annual event that brings together numerous famous guests of the carnival and collects funds for selected charity goals with dance and party. Musicians of Novi Sad Big Band performed at the Charity Ball and presented Novi Sad during the one-and-a-half-hour programme. The performance was organised with the support of the ‘Novi Sad 2021’ Foundation, in cooperation with the ‘Rijeka 2020 – European Capital of Culture’ organisation.

The performance in Rijeka is the beginning of potentially long-term cooperation between the two capitals of culture that opens the door for artists from Novi Sad to present themselves within the European Capital of Culture 2020 programme in Rijeka, and for artists from Rijeka to perform in Novi Sad in 2021.Rijeka is the city known for its long carnival tradition, and the plan is to open the ceremony of the European Capital of Culture project during carnival days in this coastal city.

Novi Sad Big Band fosters the tradition of ‘orchestra music’ since 2003, and it consists of professional jazz and pop musicians from Novi Sad, while Fedor Vrtačnik, producer and artistic manager, leads the orchestra.