The first festival began in commemoration of the 70th birthday of the President in April, 1982.

More than 1 800 art troupes from at least 120 countries participated in the festival over the past three decades.

Over 20 000 artistes including more than 2 500 top class artistes, People's Artistes, Merited Artistes, international and national concours winners and famous artistes well known to the world gave more than 1 600 performances at theatres and cultural halls in Pyongyang and localities.

The above-said cultural event also drew governmental cultural delegations and delegates of many countries and delegations of UNESCO, the International Music Council, the International Dance Council, the World Magic Federation, the International Delpic Cultural Festival Council and other international bodies.

The event took place in various forms such as group performance, joint performance, individual performance and concerts of famous artistes.

Foreign artistes sang high praises of the brilliant exploits of the President and leader Kim Jong Il who ushered in the era of independence and led the human cause of independence to victory.

The aesthetic symposiums on the present era and national art held in the days of the festivals offered opportunities of exchanging the successes and experience gained in the development of the national art in the era of independence, thus increasing the significance of the festivals and contributing to the development of national culture.