The "First Autograph" festival of youth and school theatre groups "was launched in 2021.

Author, founder, and organiser of the festival - creative organisation "Art Portal" - director Mikheil Gabaidze, artistic director Petre Chargeishvili, official partner - A.R. of Adjara. Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports and the Batumi Mayer. "First Autograph" is an annual event in the second half of November. The main focus of the festival is on teenagers and the theatre arts.

The first festival year of the "First Autograph" festival was the months of November-December 2021. The theatre troupes of private and public schools in the Adjara region took part in the festival, which was created mainly for participation in the festival. Fourteen schools, including around 300 young people, were involved in the festival. In 2022, 25 schools with around 400 young people have applied to participate in the festival, and 42 school theatre groups have expressed their wish to participate in the 2023 festival programme, with more than 600 young people. Groups are mainly formed for participation in the festival. The number of spectators in all festival years is estimated at 5,000 to 6,000. Saturday, and the opening and closing of the festival is on Sunday.

Due to many groups, the festival has developed two programs, conventionally called festival and non-festival programs. During the festival dates, we present the twelve best works from the applications received, and the non-festival programme is booked throughout the year. We play in different venues agreed upon with the orchestras. The difference between the festival program and the non-festival program is that in one case, the jury evaluates. In the other case, we play without a jury, enjoying all the other good things the festival has to offer in abundance, all planned by the festival participants equally.

Each year, the Festival has a qualified jury that selects the best performances, actors (students), scenography, music, and others, who are awarded a special festival prize, the symbol of the Festival, "Harlequin." Participation diplomas are awarded to each participant, creative group, or representative of schools at the Festival for their participation in the Festival.

Every year, the Festival awards a special prize called "Big Kid," the symbol of the festival "Harlequin" for special achievements of children:

In 2021, the prize was awarded to the writer, actor, and storyteller Guram Petriashvili.

In 2022, the prize was awarded to the composer Davit Malazonia.

2023, the prize was awarded to actor and director Goga Pipinashvili.

The Festival has several partners who distribute paid gifts to the participants when they distribute gifts to everyone with the services available in their service.

In 2022, the Festival established a prize of actor Berdia Intskirveli for his special contribution to Georgian theatre and cinema to immortalise his name.

In 2023, the Festival also established a prize of actor Bidzina Mikautadze for his special contribution to Georgian theatre.

According to the decision of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Ajara and the Minister, Mrs. Maia Khajishvili, the troupe, which was selected by the jury as the "best performance" of the nomination, was funded a tour in the capital as an additional reward.

2021 Nomination "The Best Play" - the Batumi 1 Public School troupe performed at the Nodar Dumbadze Youth Theatre in Tbilisi. In 2022, the nomination "The Best Performance" was given to Khikhadziri School from the village of Khulo, which took place at Nodar Dumbadze Youth Theatre in Tbilisi.

The performances took place in different festival years:

On the "big stage," the "small stage," the "experimental stage" of  Ilia Chavchavadze State Drama Theatre of Batumi, the stage of the Batumi Puppet and Youth Theatre, the stage of the State Music Centre of Batumi, the stage of the University of Arts of Batumi, in the exhibition hall of the Khariton Akhvlediani Museum of Local Lore in Ajara, in the exhibition hall of the museum named after the Nombel brothers, in the courtroom of the Batumi City Court, in the "Vehicle Laboratory" of the Batumi State Maritime Academy. The variety of spaces depends on the specifics of the performances. After viewing the performances, the festival management decides where each performance will be shown.

The festival is diverse in genres, including musical, comedy, pantomime, puppetry, choreography, etc. As part of the festival, a teenager created a new play, especially for one of the school troup.

Every year, an information centre for young people about NATO and the European Union is held during the festival. Information sessions are held on the topics of European integration - bribery, the European Union, and NATO. Irma Gabinashvili, head of the regional centre, moderated the event.