The Estevan Arts Council is hosting the Poltava Ensemble for the Estevan Concert Series on Sunday, March 12, which will bring the sights, sounds, and tastes of Ukraine to Estevan.

"They started back in 1922 when it was a children's stringed orchestra," said Wilma Mantei from the Estevan Arts Council, "But now it is growing to include dancers and singers as well as the musicians."

The group from Regina has 50 members and has performed all over the world, including nationally in Canada and internationally in the Drummondville World Festival, at Disney World in Florida, and also in Spain and Portugal. The Poltava Ensemble has performed in Ukraine three times as well.

"Their mission is to preserve, develop and share the culture of Ukraine and its European neighbours," explained Mantei, "So they do this through song and dance in an artistic performance."

The concert will also feature a fundraiser for the Sunflower Network. "We're really happy to have invited the Sunflower Network to be there as they are going to set up a dessert table fundraiser," said Mantei. "It's a good organization to support because they are helping the new Ukrainians that are coming to Saskatchewan and Estevan."

The Sunflower Network assists with flights, finding homes and furniture, and providing groceries to the new families.

The concert will be held in the Cafetorium at the ECS School on Sunday, March 12 at 2 PM, with doors opening at 1 PM. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $35 at Hender’s Drugs, or for $40 at the door. For more information, visit the Estevan Arts Council Facebook Page.