14. August 2008.

Summer is always a busy time of the year in Herend, while events of the Manufactory, both in Hungary and abroad, are also concentrated during this period. This year's capricious summer, however, is richer in programmes than ever before, many of which we can already call history, but some are still to come.

We have become a City of Festivals. For three weeks colourful programmes enriched Herend, with such notable performers as for example Bikini, Ladánybene 27, Zsolt Árpád Mészáros, and Pierrot. On the concluding day the audience had the opportunity to see the rock opera István, a Király (Istvan, the King). The city of porcelain could thoroughly experience - even live - the atmosphere that is typical of festivals: the spontaneous music, the group sing-alongs, the shared songs of joy, the special one-time gigs. We were given the chance to become a part of a cultural cavalcade that endeavoured to serve every generation and every style. The facilities of the Herend Porcelain Manufactory, with extended "Festival" hours, and with attractions - such as body painting and nail decoration - awaited visitors; at the Apicius Kávéház (Apicius Café) a Tokaj wine tasting, guitar as well as literary evening were held. We can and we must hope to continue next year.

One success can fill us with justifiable pride: This year once again the organisers of the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix have chosen to entrust Herend Porcelain Manufactory with the making of the victory trophies. Certainly many of you have seen this extraordinary race, concluded with the spectacle of Heikki Kovalainen lifting the Herend Cup.

Herend is also attending a ball. Herend has been starring - naturally only following the beautiful ladies - at the ball of balls, the Anna Ball of Balatonfüred. The porcelain hearts, as well as the gifts of the Queen of the Ball and her ladies in waiting, were once again all Herend porcelain. The many hundreds of ball attendees could yet again experience the special feeling that only the Ball in Balatonfüred could provide. On the day preceding the Ball, a Herend exhibition opened at the Kisfaludy Galéria, open to visitors until the end of summer.

Herend is also visiting a castle. It was at the Castle of Veszprém where the Cultural Centre of the County of Veszprém held its programme series associated with the Year of the Renaissance, on the final day of which Herend was the participant. The body painting and nail decoration programmes were a resounding success and our chief executive officer even left a message to posterity in the Renaissance Book. Herend has been undergoing continuous rebirths over the course of the Manufactory's nearly two centuries long history; this, among other factors, is one of the tokens of its success.

Herend the Host: During recent weeks the illusionist Uri Geller, of Hungarian origin, and István Bujtor, the director of the Petőfi Theatre in Veszprém, had also visited Herend.

This year's capricious summer weather often played a trick on us; don't forget that even if it is not acting in a gracious manner towards us and beach weather is lacking, in this case a Herend Exhibition can still be a substantive, excellent family programme; until the end of September, the wildly successful elf exhibition can be viewed in Herend!

The sad autumn nights are still a long way away. There are so many interesting programmes, so many Herend appearances until then... August 20: Never seen before, unusual exhibition at the Palace of Arts, entitled "Herendtrend." October 9: Hungarian Heritage: Herend-Zsolnay Exhibition, this time in Herend. There is more; should I go on? Look us up, visit us, and you can be informed of all there is to know about Herend first hand.

We wish you a pleasant holiday, and hope that your remaining summer and early fall will be rich in experiences, including Herend experiences!