Revitalizing villages through creative activities
Ideas Factory Association ·Bulgaria
About this project
<p>The project proposal develops a series of solutions to serious social problems of the villages, such as social and cultural isolation, through a number of specific cultural activities, consistent with the needs of local people, which improve the access to culture of these discriminated groups. The project activities include: realization of cultural-artistic residencies and organization of cultural-artistic events in 6 remote villages in Northwestern Bulgaria, in which the local population will have the opportunity to interact with young creative people and through the means of art to overcome the identified problems. Ideas Factory Association is an initiator of the project and has more than 10 years of experience developing different initiatives, related to social and cultural entrepreneurship in rural and peripheral regions. Some of them are Baba Residence, Social Innovation Challenge and EMPATHEAST. The current project proposal develops a brand new initiative, whose idea is to build upon the achievements of Baba Residence project, which has been to 14 villages so far, by purposeful actions answering the needs of local dwellers through the access to diverse cultural events. The selected villages, part of the most rapidly depopulating region in Bulgaria - Northwestern - will turn into attractive places for young and creative people, who will devote their time, energy and creative potential to enliven them and turn them into inspiring, joyful areas, where people communicate and share common values. The project partners are: Vidin Fund Chitalishta, Vratsa municipality and the Icelandic cultural organization Gullkistan.</p>
Bilateral cooperation results
The partnership with the Gullkistan Center for Creativity has developed into a very organic, friendly and fruitful international partnership. The two parties shared the same mindset regarding inclusive and participatory approaches and the conviction in the key role of culture and art (and the artists themselves) in processes leading to the cultural and economic revitalization of small settlements. In addition to this, the Partner team added their experience to further improve the creative events and artist residencies organised in the villages.
Project partners
- Gullkistan center for creativity Donor project partner· Iceland
- ASSOCIATION "VIDIN FUND "CHITALISHTA" Project partner· Bulgaria
- Vratsa Municipality Project partner· Bulgaria