VELIKO TARNOVO 2019 by PixelStudio

VELIKO TARNOVO CANDIDATE CITY FOR EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2019

CONTENTS

Preface........................................................1

Chapter I

Basic Principles........................................... 3

Chapter II

Structure of the programme. . ................... 35

Chapter III

Organisation and financing of the event....71

Chapter IV

Infrastructure.. .......................................... 81

Chapter V

Communication Strategy.......................... 91

Chapter VI

Evaluation and monitoring....................... 97

Chapter VII

Additional information........................... 105

Annex

Financial Details. . ......................................... i

Preface Veliko Tarnovo is honoured to be among the four remaining candidate cities for Bulgaria’s first ever European Capital of Culture, in 2019. In my opinion, our City has stepped up to the challenge since the Jury invited us to develop our ideas further. As Mayor, I am extremely proud of the way the whole community have responded to this opportunity with boundless energy, excellent ideas and tremendous support – from the part-time volunteers, to the business sponsors, to neighbouring municipalities, to cultural operators and artists, from university professors to waiters - I believe we can be proud of our efforts and achievements. We decided early on to bring a fresh look to the bid, to upgrade and refine it and have moved beyond an abstract concept of Happiness and Well-Being into a set of clear, demonstrable steps for actually making it happen. In specific terms, we have focused on addressing the Jury’s recommendations in order to clarify areas of our concept, and to strengthen our capacity, governance and organisational structures. New, dedicated people have joined the VT2019 project team, combining deep, local knowledge with a European dimension. This bid book sets out an exciting and highly innovative, conceptually relevant programme of events based around the themes of transforming from a city of history to a city of the future. We have paid particular attention to the Jury’s request that we demonstrate wider community involvement and engagement with our regional partners. Our efforts to encourage greater participation throughout Veliko Tarnovo city and region, have been spearheaded through an extensive cultural programme of engagement at many levels, and have met with considerable success. The range and scope of recent events and initiatives has been designed to involve an extremely broad range of participants including kindergartens, schools and workplaces. Events have been showcased throughout the region from city centres to distant villages, using both traditional and very contemporary art forms: the level of visibility throughout the city has been raised to an entirely new level. In a short space of time, VT2019 has become part of the cultural and social fabric of our city. Our bid has become a part of everyday discussion, in the home, in the workplace and in our streets and cafés, amongst residents and visitors alike. To me, this is one of the best demonstrations of the success of our efforts since the pre-selection stage, and shows the strong level of our support and our ability and will to win. I very much look forward to welcoming the Jury to our city in September, to feel the atmosphere for themselves, and to meet the many, many people who this event has energised and brought together. Culture and art, happiness and well-being are part of the genetics of our City. I have no doubts whatsoever of Veliko Tarnovo’s ability to succeed in the delivery of an excellent, innovative year in 2019.

Daniel Panov Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo

Chapter I Basic Principles

Why does the city which you represent wish to take part in the competition for the title of European Capital of Culture?

Veliko Tarnovo. A great city with a great past and great potential for the future. ECoC offers us the unique chance to use the city’s fantastic potential for an innovative relaunch of Veliko Tarnovo. A university city of arts, culture and knowledge – driven by creativity, innovation and international influences. A real European city in its best sense. A good quality of life, a fantastic urban atmosphere set in a stunning natural landscape provide the basis for the city producing sustainable happiness and well-being – much more than common short-term economic indicators can show. We want to strengthen, focus, and upgrade these great locational factors that explain the success of the city over the centuries. By revitalising the city in a new way, we can adapt Veliko Tarnovo to the challenges of today and the future. In doing this, we aim to bring a dynamic of innovation and creativity back to the city. Using the energy, entusiasm and talents of the young people, VT2019 will provide them with the extraordinary opportunity to stay and to become the main actors in this process of changing and transformation of the city. Veliko Tarnovo is called the soul of Bulgaria, the spirit of Europe. If we have to describe the city in one word – it is unique. Here, every single step measures time – historical layers of Prehistory, Antiquity, Middle Ages and Bulgarian Revival all overlap. The high cultural value is supplemented by the complex and multilateral exchange of influences as a crossroads between the East and the West. The town is a unique symbiosis between architecture and nature and a center of living traditions and cultural and spiritual communication. History and heritage are a huge legacy of Veliko Tarnovo and the region, but the city must look to its future, and especially to its people with their achievements in the fields of knowledge, culture and lifestyle, and their ability to create and experience. These skills and competencies will form the new European heritage. Veliko Tarnovo’s attractiveness for many tourists is often based on its glorious past. But we want more than a city of ancient facades.We want to improve the cultural attractions in an innovative and international way to establish a new, fresh spirit in the city. This will make the city

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

more dynamic and more European. And most importantly, it will be a city that stimulates and supports civil participation to achieve sustainable economic growth and a correspondingly high level of happiness and well-being. About Veliko Tarnovo and its Strengths as a Candidate City Veliko Tarnovo is a charming, deceptively quiet city but in fact it has a great charge and atmosphere – “as though you have it in your palm, unfolded before your eyes, but by simply turning your hand you see its different faces. In addition, it has a rich history with many visible layers – medieval, renaissance, socialist and it will be interesting to see how in such a complicated situation a new architecture could be developed”. These are the words of an architecture student who will participate in the 34th European Architecture Students Assembly (EASA) taking place in July 2014 in Veliko Tarnovo. Veliko Tarnovo has a rich and unique historical and cultural heritage, tracing relations, influences and cross pollinations between the city and the rest of the world through the centuries: Veliko Tarnovo, in the 1st century, became part of the consolidation of the Roman Empire and the model of the United Europe which has been existed for nearly two millennia. In the 4th century, in the nearby town of Nikopolis Ad Istrum, Bishop Wulfila translated the Bible into the Gothic alphabet and laid the foundations of Germanic literature. From 1185 to 1393, Tarnovgrad, (the City of Kings), was the capital of the restored Bulgarian kingdom, an embodiment of the idea of a holy city of Bulgarians. In the 14th century, the city was one of the largest in Europe, because of its cultural influence in the Balkans and the entire Orthodox world. The regal town in the Middle Ages gave birth to the Tarnovo literary, artistic and architectural schools that sent the most significant cultural messages to Orthodox peoples and states. These scholastic centres were also conductors of the achievements of the century-old heritage of Byzantium. The Ancient Bulgarian language was one of the three classic languages in Medieval Europe, together with ancient Greek and Latin, Tarnovo was a literary center that influenced the whole of Europe. European political ideas such as liberalism, conservatism and social democracy germinated here: the first Bulgarian constitution,– one of the most democratic in the world, was created and adopted here. In addition, the independence of the Principality of Bulgaria (1908) was proclaimed in Veliko Tarnovo. Veliko Tarnovo’s unique history, sets it apart from other Bulgarian cities. The internationally successful trademark of the city as the Medieval Bulgarian capital, encapsulates the idea of the city’s rich cultural and historical heritage. It stores and promotes local and regional and national identity and is a key factor in the cultural, social and economic development of the town and the region. Significant investment has been made in this sector, new institutions have been created, the capacity of the workers in the cultural sector has increased, numerous administrative, social and economic barriers for access to this heritage have been removed.

Chapter I • Basic Principles

Veliko Tarnovo and the region are closely associated with Biblical literature. The Tarnovo literary school laid the foundations for the Second Golden Age of the Bulgarian literary language. Its place is defined as the beginning of a several century long stage of evolution, not only of the Bulgarian literary language, but also of the literary languages of Russians, Serbs and Romanians.

“And as I look at this incredible, unthinkable town, I think it’s a vision, a kind of optical illusion that stands in front of me!“ Ivan Vazov, playwright, poet and novelist (1850-1921)

Veliko Tarnovo is generously endowed with historical and cultural landmarks, such as fortresses, churches and monasteries. The Yantra River, with its picturesque curves, flows through the city. The Yantra is a tributary of the Danube River, the cultural connection to the rest of Europe. The atmostphere of this city is entwined with its unique natural, historical and cultural heritage. There is no other town in Bulgaria which gives rise to such admiration from the very first glance because of its beauty, architecture and setting, and the juxtaposition of its natural and urban environment. All this and much more has been the fundamental driving force behind the great advancement of the city over the centuries. Veliko Tarnovo has a number of impressive advantages: a great diversity of heritage, a fantastic symbiosis between its atmosphere and beautiful architecture, a wonderful nature and landscape,not to mention the world renowned University St. Cyril and St. Methodius, with more than 20 000 students, including the Faculty of Fine Arts and the National Military University Vasil Levski. It boasts numerous artists and one of the richest networks of local cultural centers (chitalishta) in the region. All of these factors mean that Veliko Tarnovo has the opportunity to boost long-term culture and creative-based development and ensure its place on the cultural map of Europe and the world. Another great advantage is the city’s position as a crossroads of geography, history and culture. This satisfies all the preconditions for the city and the region to develop as an area for global cultural exchange. Active work has been done in this direction for the recovery of the historical and cultural connections between the individual settlements, by developing joint cultural projects and networks. The presence of history and the culture of the modern town are simultaneously felt here. Here you can feel calm, cosiness and intimacy, you can even get lost while you explore the small streets, taking pictures or trying to understand where the cheerful voices and incredible flavours of the homely atmosphere come from. “I don’t want to leave”, is a phrase so often heard by visitors. Every year, more than 400,000 tourists visit Veliko Tarnovo. The city never loses its charm and it challenges you to come back again and again.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

1.1.

What, for it, would be the main challenge of this nomination? What are the city‘s objectives for the year in question?

Our main challenge is to reconnect the city to the sphere of innovation and fresh creativity, with a focus on the fields of arts and culture. This is in ambitious challenge, involving many obstacles that we have to overcome or at least reduce in scale. Veliko Tarnovo has a great base on which we can build on, particularly concerning increasing civil participation and dialogue in the city. There is a need for more: • active participation of individual citizens, especially young and open-minded people, who are interested in developing the cultural life of the city; • artists and people who create new and exciting cultural products; • civic multipliers who can communicate new ideas to enthuse people; • communication, exchange and collaboration between existing communities and initiatives to enhance the cohesion of of the communities; • deep co-operation between local authorities and the independent scene; • spirited innovators and decision makers who launch and lead professional, entrepreneurial and internationally oriented companies and NGOs, especially in the fields of arts and culture; • expansion of the range of cultural programmes; • wide tourism concepts to address the increasing short stop tourism. These challenges are compounded by a desire to further improve the city’s infrastructure (i.e. cultural premises, urban spaces, technologies and transport). Over time, the city has developed underused potential in the sectors of culture and tourismamongst others. As with many historic cities, there is a view amongst some members of the community that that the vision of Veliko Tarnovo could be more forward-looking, and that there is a general resistance to move out of the cultural comfort-zone based on its successful historic and traditional cultural offerings. Young people are an example of these developments. Visibly, the town is filled with them, but unfortunately, their empathy to community life is insufficient. Young people have the potential to be a very active and creative community and attracting them as the main partner in organizing and conducting the events in 2019 is of primary importance in preparing the candidacy of Veliko Tarnovo for European Capital of Culture. The process has already started and becoming ECoC would offer us a big chance not only to keep involving young people more, but also to let them become the main actors of VT2019. In a wider context, this is a Community issue. The city has just over 80,000 local residents, plus more than 20,000 students and more than 2,000 artists and scientific workers who have graduated from the prestigious local universities and opted to settle in the town. There are also more than 400,000 tourists per year, along with more than 2,000 peo-

Chapter I • Basic Principles

ple involved in the tourist business, which are directly connected with the production and distribution of culture. As a whole, the interaction between these groups is good, but it could be further improved through cultural expression and exchange. Despite the large number of cultural events hosted by the town every day, there is still an untapped potential to engage the community even further with European and global trends and models. We wish to expand non-standard creative original ideas and encourage and nurture the feeling of creative energy and dynamism. Many visitors love the city because of its past, but they too often see the city only as a museum – particularly short stay visitors. Although the city has wonderful facades it has the potential for even more outstanding cultural content behind them. In order to change this situation, we will strive to create an atmosphere of innovation and creativity mainly through activating the civil society of Veliko Tarnovo and its region.This will result in a high level of well-being, not only in economic terms, but also as a feeling of happiness. Objectives We can express our aims through five key objectives as follows: • to provide a positive repositioning of the image of Veliko Tarnovo, in the fields of art and culture, to audiences, partners and stakeholders across Bulgaria, and throughout Europe and beyond, including an increase in our existing tourist base; • to widen, and deepen the networks within our own communities, between the citizens and public institutions, and between our city and the cultural and tourist sectors throughout Europe; • to develop and share our happiness and well-being agenda with the rest of Bulgaria, and Europe, and to contribute to the global discussion on a model for the achievement of personal and social development beyond purely economic indicators; • to increase citizen and visitor participation in culture and the arts, and to enhance opportunities for citizens as producers as well as consumers of cultural products, and to develop an appreciation in lifelong learning in the field of culture and art, for young and old alike; • to provide a legacy of building up both physical and human capacity, through the upgrading of urban and tourist infrastructure, alongside human resource interventions, such as experiential and training opportunities within the cultural management sector, in both the public and private spheres. Culture and creativity Our belief is that culture and creativity are intrinsically linked to the concept of human well-being. We believe that we can contribute to this well-being by encouraging innovative thinking, investing in creative activities and developing talents and inquiring minds. By motivating

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

people to participate in cultural activities and share their experiences, we strengthen networks and social collaboration, thereby fostering a sense of community well-being. The happiness and well being agenda is increasingly looked at across Europe and indeed the world. Creating Happiness is a more comprehensive approach to the importance of arts, culture and creativity and their contribution to personal and societal development at local, national and European level. Creativity is an opportunity to achieve happiness. Participation in the creative process, as well as the sharing of the achieved creative results, allows a conversion into a cultural value for the community and society. Strategy How to reach these objectives? Our strategy consists of the following actions and tools: • Providing a stage for quality cultural products and achievements at a European and global level in Veliko Tarnovo; • Creating an environment for partnerships to flourish between government and non-government agencies, between communities and multi-disciplinary teams, between artists, health workers, planners, scientists, policy makers and community workers; • Adopting the best practices from European capital cities will contribute to the positioning of Veliko Tarnovo as a town which preserves its authenticity and gives space to contemporary art, through the implementation of an attractive cultural program; • Improving the proposed cultural product performance, improving the quality and applicability of creative skills and innovative thinking, ensuring free access to the cultural life of the city and extending civic participation within it and the cost-effective use of resources; • Implementing an increased dialogue on culture: the preparation of the ECoC candidacy of Veliko Tarnovo and the process of preparation of the strategy unlocked the debate between artists and the local authority regarding the directions of the town’s future development; • Strengthening community ties. A specific feature of the town of Veliko Tarnovo is its multifaceted community (students, artists, British expatriates, Roma, Turkish ethnic groups, etc.) A priority challenge in the period to 2019 is achieving the desired togetherness in the implementation of the cultural policies of the town and to help in preserving their creative identity. VT2019 can facilitate the achievement of inter-institution and inter-sector communications for establishing long lasting, effective and efficient partnerships; • Providing opportunities and stimulus for the active involvement of students and young people;

Chapter I • Basic Principles

• Building and refurbishing the infrastructure for cultural events. Veliko Tarnovo is planning the development of new halls, a new library (the second largest library in the country is already located in the town), and cultural centers in the town periphery to allow the creation of a high quality cultural product, the creation of new interactive spaces, for example in unused buildings or outlying industrial spaces; • Providing a high quality urban environment by refurbishing urban areas for business and services, increasing the quality of important public spaces in the town, the creation and/or improvement of the quality of the infrastructure for culture and recreation, renovation and maintenance of buildings, representing real cultural values according to the Cultural Heritage Act; • Improving the optimism of the local population through arts, culture, and creativity, i.e. allowing the happiness to happen.

The Pavillion of Happiness In May 2014, The Pavillion of Happiness, designed by the architect Stefan Tsonev, situated in the central city park, was officially opened. The Pavillion was sponsored entirely by local companies, as a gift to the city and a support for Veliko Tarnovo’s ECoC candidacy. It is an example of how contemporary architecture can bring changes to the lives of everyday people. In fewer than two months the Pavillion has hosted more than 25 events: Children, youngsters, students and adults have met there and actively participated in creative workshops and discussions. Furthermore, they have attended presentations, concerts and other events, all under the motto of Creating Happiness. More than 1,000 messages about the city have been written and shared on the Pavillion.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Veliko Tarnovoâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s candidacy for 2019 European Capital of Culture is an unique and apposite occasion for the town and the region to build and implement an inclusive long-term, sustainable cultural strategy in an active and competitive environment. This will bring benefits and prosperity to the participants, regardless of the final results in the ranking of this prestigious competition. We want to be a city of well-being and happiness. We are convinced that creativity is a value, which can bring happiness to all people who have the chance to co-create and share a diverse and high-quality culture. Veliko Tarnovo has all the prerequisites to achieve its ambitious objectives. By unlocking its vast potential for providing diverse, and high-quality cultural offers, and innovative ideas for development. We beleive we can overcome any challenges with the full support of our numerous creative citizens. Volunteering at VT2019 Creative workshops, meetings and discussions have taken place not only in the city centre, but also in suburban areas, outside the city, in schools and cultural centers in neighbouring villages and in other cities in the region. All these activities have been undertaken with the support of our team and the committed engagement of our volunteers. VT2019 places an emphasis on working with volunteers and on developing a greater understanding on the benefits of volunteer work. During the last months, we have hosted training sessions and informal meetings with local and international organisations. We can now truly claim that we have successfully formed a team of dedicated, engaged young people, who have adopted the cause of VT2019 as their own.

Chapter I • Basic Principles

Explain the concept of the programme which would be launched if the city was nominated European Capital of Culture?

Our concept is broad and simple. Art and culture allow us to feel better and happier and to connect to a human dimension which cannot be measured simply in terms of money and the usual suspects of economic indicators. Art and culture add value, enrichment and meaning to our lives – happiness through culture in its widest sense brings self-expression, life-long learning, community connectivity and realisation of human self-identity. Culture is now seen as the fourth pillar of development, after economic, social and environmental pillars. VT2019 sees art and culture as an instrument to revive the city within this fourth pillar as a complement to the original three pillars of societal development. We intend to reactivate the civil society, to create an atmosphere of creativity and innovation, to provoke people’s engagement and consequently to see economic and social growth as well as environmental benefits. This will lead to a better quality of life in the city and the region, increase the feeling of happiness and well-being and create a new and modern image of Veliko Tarnovo. Our innovative programme will provide an opportunity for our participants to engage in this enrichment process, and our strategy will shift the city’s focus from the traditional to a new forward-looking and contemporary position. About Happiness The happiness agenda brings an innovative way of measuring the development and quality of life. The financial crisis of recent years has brought a new focus to this discussion. Today this dialogue is as much spiritual as economic. It is a crisis of ideals, impacting throughout Europe and the world. At a critical time for the process of European integration, people are asking what kind of Europe we want, and what kind of community of nations are we building. The happiness concept brings to the agenda an ability to debate and explore the social democratic concepts within an increasingly globalised world. In this sense the debate is very current, and very European in its dimension. The crisis is a challenge to us and a chance for change associated with the formation of a new value system. The continuous economic uncertainty is a serious challenge not only to the way we understand and measure economic growth, but also to what kind of indicators we choose to measure societal development. The conclusion has now been made that the use of gross domestic product (GDP or GNP) as an indicator of the level of economic development has a number of well recognized limitations. This subject is increasingly entering Government agendas, and people are seeking an answer on how to measure happiness and how to make policies to achieve a better quality of life. For example, in July 2011 at its 109th plenary session the UN General Assembly called on the UN member states to take steps which attach more importance and attention to happiness and well-being as criteria

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

in determining how to achieve social and economic development. Following this, on the 28 June 2012 the UN General Assembly (Resolution 66/281) went further and announced that the International Day of Happiness was to be on 20th March, thus putting the role of happiness and well-being in our lives firmly on the international agenda. Since 2011, happiness in the UK has been measured by local government, and in 2012, the UK Government announced for the first time that the happiness of its citizens will be measured by the level of satisfaction with lifestyle, health and job security â&#x20AC;&#x201C; categories that are only partly covered by traditional indicators. Happiness Indices The question of how to measure happiness and the indicators to be used remains a question of debate and research. However, examples abound of an increasing interest in developing a suitable methodology. In 2011, Lord Layard, an economics professor from the London School of Economics, launched the campaign Action for Happiness, another example of the increasing attention paid to the feeling of satisfaction and well-being to go alongside the economic indicators of development. In another local initiative, the Mayor of Vilnius placed a happiness barometer, onto the city hall building that will monitor the mood in the Lithuanian capital. The happiness index is calculated through messages sent by the local citizens via mobile phones and computers. The Happy Planet Index (HPI) from the New Economic Foundation is another example of a new measure of progress. It points toward achieving integrated and sustainable well-being for all, based on ecological considerations. VT2019 will seek to develop a new Happiness Index alongside our evaluation process, utilizing everyone from doctors to anthropologists, within a proposed Impact Assessment Unit at the University of Veliko Tarnovo. We will use VT2019 as a tool to achieve our ambitious objectives and as an instrument to encourage more people to unfold their talents through creativity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we believe creativity helps people solve problems in new ways, redefines their goals, and makes them feel happier. This process will lead to greater success and happiness which will again stimulate creativity. This is a cycle where these two conditions complement each other. Happiness brings a greater sense of civic pride and responsibility. Happy citizens are healthier and more socially active.

Could this programme Our slogan is Creating Happiness: a clear, catchy message which fobe summed up by a cuses on the positive aspects of everyday life and can be seen as an slogan? ongoing process. The idea of creating happiness has grown during the preparation of VT2019 candidacy, developing a common language, generating new ideas and a sense of change. One of our main challeng-

Chapter I • Basic Principles

es is involving all people, from the most culturally active to the most sceptical about VT2019. The topic of happiness is neither a local nor a modern issue. It is a common issue among mankind everywhere in modern civilization. The stimulation of participation and discussion in public life, the sharing of knowledge and skills and the development of respect and tolerance in society will be just some of the outcomes of this project, along with the process of Creating Happiness. The meaning of the word happiness in modern Bulgarian stems etymologically from a word in Old Bulgarian: съч#стьнъ has evolved to mean ‘involved’. The idea of the role of arts, culture and creativity in improving the well-being of people and society not only in economic terms, but also in instilling a feeling of happiness, is fundamental to Veliko Tarnovo’s application. Our logo also represents the vision of VT2019. Its design combines elements of the historical tradition of the city with modern colourful waves. The logo shows the intention of the city to combine tradition and innovation and to bring a new dynamic of creativity for the future.

Which geographical area does the city intend to involve in the “European Capital of Culture” event? Explain this choice.

The City of Veliko Tarnovo The city of Veliko Tarnovo, with a population of around 80,000 people will be the centre of the major programme events of VT2019. The city will be the focus of VT2019, but there will be a strong regional emphasis on our neighbouring municipalities too. The city is visually exceptional and will be a strong component in our imaging within the wider communications strategy. The Region of Veliko Tarnovo Veliko Tarnovo is an urban municipality but also a region with a total population of 258,000. The region includes ten municipalities: Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Lyaskovets, Elena, Zlataritsa, Pavlikeni, Polski Trambesh, Svishtov, Strazhitsa, and Suhindol. With the Happy – Nes(t)s projects, all the districts will be active participants in the program. By the creation of cultural routes, the region will be connected to other Bulgarian and European cities. Veliko Tarnovo and Bulgaria The recent initiative of Bulgaria 2019 is aimed at sharing the ECoC award amongst various candidate cities and shows our commitment to involving the entire country. We want to share our experience with the other candidates including the one selected as ECoC. We hope to be able to cooperate on different levels on various projects for 2019, in order to maximize the benefits from the work put in. It is intended as a

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Russia Japan

Chicago Israel

Indonesia

south america

Vilnius

Liverpool London

Berlin Leeuwarden

Novi Sad

Marseille

Ravenna Veliko Tarnovo

Siena

Toledo

Istanbul

Perugia Lecce Matera Cagliari

Valletta Morocco

Chapter I • Basic Principles

mechanism whereby the other candidate cities in Bulgaria are able to be a part of the ECoC in 2019. Our suggestion is to follow the model in Italy, whereby some resources are set aside from the overall national budget for the 2019 European Capital of Culture to ensure the best programs in other cities can be implemented. Veliko Tarnovo and Europe During the bid process, VT2019 has helped us to develop our existing contacts with European cities, partners and networks, as well as creating numerous new ones. Exchanges, co-operations and co-production projects will be implemented between different cities and countries. Our themes, from cultural heritage to nature, art, technologies and more, will bring together our 20 twin cities, other ECoC cities, a wider audience and at the same time specific groups and networks. Veliko Tarnovo in Europe and Internationally Bulgaria has a long-standing tradition of migration. There are many Bulgarians living abroad who we would like to encourage to become part of our common goal, in order to present a different image of Veliko Tarnovo and Bulgaria abroad: an innovative and happy image connected to VT2019. At the same time, PR campaigns will present the city on a European level and offer, especially through the well-developed tourism channel, a new image of Veliko Tarnovo and Bulgaria in Europe. Our cultural ambassador programme will include influential citizens abroad in Europe, but also further afield. In the USA, for example, we have made contact with a radio producer/station in Michigan/Chicago area which will promote VT2019 through public broadcasting. Chicago has the largest Bulgarian population in the USA, a tradition which goes back to the 19th century.

Please confirm that In April 2013, the Community Council of Veliko Tarnovo formally deyou have the support clared its support for the candidacy of Veliko Tarnovo for ECoC in of the local and/ 2019. or regional political authorities. Declaration of support for the candidacy of Veliko Tarnovo for European Capital of Culture in 2019 DECISION No 676/ 25.04.2013 On the grounds of article 21, paragraph 2 of the Law for Self-governance and the local administration, the Veliko Tarnovo Municipal Council accepts Declaration with the following text:

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

We, the councilors of Veliko Tarnovo Municipal Council, chosen by the will of the citizens of the Ancient capital, by preserving the image, the character and the specifics of our political parties and formations, unanimously declare: • our unconditional support for the candidacy of Veliko Tarnovo for European Capital of Culture in 2019; • our intention to continue our work to strengthen the culture and the cultural industries as a strategic priority for the development of Veliko Tarnovo and the region; • our readiness through our actions and in the frame of our authorities, given by the Bulgarian legislature, actively to support this candidacy; • that we will support and encourage every original, constructive, innovative and creative idea from any professional group, civil organization, group of artists and individuals, which represent a contribution to the preparation and organization of the events in the frame of the biggest and most prestigious cultural event in Europe; • successiveness, continuity and sustainability of the policies and the efforts in accomplishing the preparation of the candidacy for European Capital of Culture, regardless of the political situation; • commitment, personal involvement and contribution in the preparation and organization of the events in the frame of the candidacy; • readiness to work for informing, popularizing and stimulating the active participation of all citizens and their organizations in the process of preparation as well as in the realization of the program in year 2019.

Nikolay Ashikov, Chairman – Veliko Tarnovo Community Council

In addition to this, Veliko Tarnovo’s bid is supported by the local authorities of the city and the district. All nine neighbouring municipalities (Elena, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Zlataritsa, Lyaskovets, Pavlikeni, Polski Trambesh, Svishtov, Strazhitsa and Suhindol) are committed to the candidacy of Veliko Tarnovo. The links to our region are not only defined by administrative borders. We have strong historical, cultural and economic links with neighbouring cities outside our region, who have also offered their support for our candidacy, including Ruse, Razgrad and Gabrovo. Our community of friends extends beyond Bulgaria and we have the support of all of our twin cities throughout Europe.

Chapter I • Basic Principles

How does the event fit into the long-term cultural development of the city and, where appropriate, of the region?

The cultural heritage of the city of Veliko Tarnovo is crucial for the image of the city. Cultural values play an important role in its sustainable urban development and the conditions for the development of tourism. Referring to our objectives for ECoC, we want to strengthen Veliko Tarnovo as an important contemporary cultural player. The application submitted is the result of sound policies in the field of culture and tourism over the years: • In 1997, Veliko Tarnovo became the first city in Central and Eastern Europe to receive the Special Prize of the European Union for a sustainable city. • Hosting the annual international exhibition Cultural Tourism – the largest forum on the issues of tourism and culture within Bulgaria. This event was initiated by Veliko Tarnovo and partners from the tourism industry, and included the International Film Festival “On the East Coast of Europe”, promoting Bulgarian and European cultural heritage and tourism. • In 2009, Veliko Tarnovo was declared the capital of Balkan cultural tourism by the International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IH & RA). • In 2009, Veliko Tarnovo was accepted as a new member of the League of Historical Cities, by resolution of the Board of Directors; the latter now supports the application of the city for European Capital of Culture. • In 2010, the municipality of Veliko Tarnovo initiated the establishment of the Bulgarian Association of Cities with Cultural and Historical Heritage. • Veliko Tarnovo is twinned with twenty cities in the world and maintains active cultural and economic relations with them. They areAsti (Italy), Bayonne (France), Bitola and Ohrid (Macedonia), Golden, Colorado (USA), Graz (Austria), Krakow (Poland), Xian (China), Menara-Geliz and Marrakech (Morocco), Nis (Serbia), Poltava (Ukraine), Serres (Greece), Tver (Russia), Toledo (Spain), Cetinje (Montenegro), Sopron (Hungary) and Giurgiu and Iasi (Romania). Negotiations are under way for entering into a partnership agreement with the Italian city of Verona, and the main linking factor is the experience from the organization of the prestigious outdoor opera festival, Arena di Verona, in which the natural scenery of historic monuments is used. Veliko Tarnovo Municipality operates the Tourist Information Centre Tsarevgrad Tarnov, specialised in the management of cultural tourism resources of the municipality and in the organisation of special events. Beside this, Veliko Tarnovo is one of the few cities in the world, which has its own unique Sound and Light show, associated with cultural and historical heritage. The Summer Opera Festival Stage of the Ages, which is held in the open air on the hill of Tsarevets in Veliko Tarnovo,

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

“To break the stereotypes, the municipality accepts the principle that the main role of the administration is not to create cultural events. The role of the municipality is to provide the preconditions for artists and cultural operators to create cultural events”. Nelina Tsarova, Director of Culture and Tourism Directorate, Veliko Tarnovo

is a series of musical performances of opera and ballet and one of the iconic cultural events in the city. • During the last three years, the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo has successfully established the Art and Culture Veliko Tarnovo (2012–14) programme, with the aim of financing and supporting culture projects and organization in the city and region. On March 22nd this year, Veliko Tarnovo Day attracted more than 100,000 visitors from Bulgaria and abroad. The Shepherd’s Festival in May was attended by more than 70,000 people. Likewise, both the annual Folklore Festival and the Festival of Roma Culture are similarly well-attended. These events, along with our full annual cultural programme are examples that we have the experience and capability to successfully organise and manage large scale events within our existing capacity and resources. Our strength in organising bigger and more international events and in providing the necessary capacity to handle them is a process that has already started and will be constantly developed by 2019: • In July 2014 the European Architecture Students Assembly (EASA) will bring more than 500 architecture students from all over the world to actively work and engage with the city and its citizens. • In September 2014, the first World Summit of Community Arts Centers and Networks will take place in Veliko Tarnovo and host participants from more than 50 different countries. This is a great opportunity for the cultural centers of the region (chitalista) to develop international contacts and joint projects. VT2019 – a unique opportunity to transform our city – from a city of history to a city of the future Now is a once in a generation opportunity to transform the city through the prestigious events of ECoC into a city of creativity, diversity and contemporary cultural offerings. We are an open-minded city: open to new ideas, new technologies and media. Active participation and involvement are our keywords to find new approaches for a dynamic and forward-looking city of culture. Art and culture are, for us, instruments for the development of personal and social values and general well-being. ECoC is, for us, a logical extension of the strategy to reshape and revive the city. The long-term development of Veliko Tarnovo is entirely in keeping with the five key objectives of the ECoC, relating to re-positioning our domestic and international image, building networks, citizen participation, developing human and built capacity, and promoting the happiness and well-being agenda.

Chapter I • Basic Principles

In doing so, we shall strengthen the European identity and European values, build up a working civil society and intensify the collaboration between the NGO sector, institutions and authorities. We will re-shape our cultural sector based on a forward looking cultural policy and encourage education as a life-long learning policy through arts and culture. To achieve these objectives, we are continuing to build new partnerships and networks. This is one of the justifications for our proposal to establish an independent organizational structure in the form of a Foundation working with a Board and a Project Office to directly implement VT2019. We think this is the best way to fulfil our long-term perspective for the city with our concept for Veliko Tarnovo 2019.

To what extent do you plan to forge links with the other city to be nominated European Capital of Culture?

As mentioned in the previous bid book, Veliko Tarnovo has already established partnerships with four cities in Italy – Bergamo, Matera, Ravenna and Venice. Planned joint projects, such as the Grammar of Fantasy with Bergamo and Tour Codex Argenteus with Ravenna are further developing. We have already begun the process of forging new working relationships with other Italian Candidates and with other cities in Bulgaria. We now have active and ongoing links with all other Italian ECoC candidates. Contacts, meetings and discussions with the Italian teams have been very useful and informative, as has the opportunity to share many common problems and common possible solutions and objectives. Since then we have had the chance to host a meeting in Veliko Tarnovo with representatives of Ravenna, Siena, Matera, Lecce and Perugia and to participate in different meetings and workshops in all these cities. A memorandum of agreement has been signed (or is under discussion) with all the short listed cities of Italy. With all of them, we have established active co-operation and joint projects for the upcoming years and for 2019. The European Bread Route, for example, will start from the city of Veliko Tarnovo and its Bread House cultural centre, and will go through six countries (Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, Croatia, Greece and Italy), passing through Perugia and Lecce before ending up in Matera. Between 2014 and 2019, each city that is part of the Bread Route will be developing and organizing its own local cultural activities and at the same time developing its cooperation with the other cities of the Route. Perugia, for example, will develop the project Do it your Food, reviving traditional culinary recipes. Lecce, in collaboration with Veliko Tarnovo, will develop a specific project connected to their regional features. In August 2019, this long-term cooperation will culminate in a big joint event, a European Bread Route Festival in the city of Veliko Tarnovo. Here all the participating cities will come together and bring local groups of traditional bakers and young artists to present their innovative cultural projects, mixing bread traditions and art forms.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Another concrete example is the Erano Ariani project. This project is both an artistic and touristic idea linking Ravenna, Nicopolis Ad Istrum, Speyer and Uppsala. Further projects in collaboration with Ravenna are being developed: these include a project in the field of Land Art and the so-called Dante 2.0(19) project, in which the 100 cantos of the Divine Comedy will be adopted by 100 secondary school classes, twinned with classes from countries around Europe. Cultural Emergency Room – Culture that Makes you Feel Good, is one of the main projects of Siena’s candidacy, where teams of physicians, artists, and cultural specialists will offer cultural prescriptions to citizens and visitors. The concepts of Veliko Tarnovo and Siena are very close to each other and this, as well as other cultural and social projects, like the Creativity and Well-Being Week, inspired and in co-operation with the eponymous festival in London, will be organised and implemented together. With Siena, we will work further on the topic of stereotypes, those that exist about people, countries and also specific regions. The bitter Laugh of the Happy Man and Tuscany in your Bathroom will offer another opportunity for exchange between the two cities and the possibility of overcoming together some of the many stereotypes we face every day. Perugia’s projects Thinkers-in-residence and our Residences for the future, are examples of planned residency programmes that both cities will implement in cooperation, with the aim of encouraging the mobility of artists and cultural operators, and the exchange of ideas and best practices in the field of culture. In 2019, Capital Selfie (Perugia) and Volvox will develop together a touring exhibition of Italian and Bulgarian artists. Graffiti in the Air and Open Space are two of our projects that we will implement in cooperation with Lecce 2019. They will deal with art in public space, and will not only concentrate on the artistic results achieved, but also on the social, economical and political content of the works. Both Promised Land, a project about womenwho migrate from Eastern to Western countries to work as elderly care nurses, and Censura, a project about freedom of expression and the media‘s monopoly in Italy and Bulgaria, deal with two specific realities that our countries share. Both projects want to explore these issues at a deeper level, and will be developed over the years in co-operation between Veliko Tarnovo and Lecce.

1 In case your city gets

the title, do you plan to cooperate with the other bidding cities in your country which have been pre-selected?

We also have strong cooperation with other Bulgarian cities, including those who did not pass the first selection, such us the neighbouring cities of Gabrovo, and Ruse. With each of them, inspired by the Italian model, we are in the process of creating a network of the candidate cities (‘Bulgaria 2019’) with a common goal for the year 2019, regardless of which city is awarded the title. Similarly, we will support each other in our efforts to implement the best projects in our planned pro-

Chapter I • Basic Principles

grammes, at least in part, and we remain committed to creating a better cultural and social life for our cities. In addition to the actions mentioned above, we intend to forge links with the ECoC cities which were nominated in the years prior to and post 2019, those being Leeuwarden and Valletta, and the future nominated cities from Serbia, Croatia, and the Republic of Ireland.

Explain how the event could fulfil the criteria listed below. Please substantiate your answer for each of the criteria. As regards “The European Dimension”, how does the city intend to contribute to the following objectives:

Our Candidacy aims to stimulate and increase civil participation and exchange. Therefore, we recognise a need for more cooperation between cultural operators, artists and cities of our country and Europe. This is one of the most important prerequisites in order to achieve our objectives. As part of the ECoC project, we intend to undertake the following national and international collaborations: • To establish residency programs, for artists as well as for cultural operators and theoreticians. An example of this kind of exchanges are projects like Residences for Future and Volvox*. • To develop projects together with other EU and non-EU partners, make co-productions, invite artists and experts to Veliko Tarnovo to share their skills and experiences with local artists and local people, to work on common aims and to create specific works for the city like those planned in the projects Open Space and the Festival of Quarters.

... to strengthen cooperation between the cultural operators, artists and cities of your country and other Member States, in all cultural sectors • To create a new sustainable international network of artists, cultural

operators, organizations and cities and improve the existing links.

• To support the long-term development of creative industries.

1 ...to highlight the richness of cultural diversity in Europe

Theme five Cultura Ex-Machina in our programme is specially designed to address exactly these latter two objectives and to provide a sustainable base for the development of a culture-specific professional sector. Veliko Tarnovo is a European city. It is a good example of the coexistence of different minorities, languages, landscapes, histories and traditions. The program of VT2019 is based on all these different aspects. The tolerance of Veliko Tarnovo could be a model for all Bulgaria and Europe. Becoming the ECoC would be a great chance for us to demonstrate and share the rich cultural diversity of Europe through our city. At the same time, it will also offer the chance to show the European dimension and perspective on Bulgarian territory. With different projects, not only the richness of Europe, but also that of Bulgaria itself, will become more * Full descriptions of the projects mentioned here and later are to be find in chapter 2.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

visible: the good coexistence of different groups in Veliko Tarnovo should be the starting point for the development of more tolerance and understanding in all the country, with the neighbouring countries, with Europe and the world.

1 ...to bring the common

During recent years Veliko Tarnovo has successfully hosted the international Open Heart Festival, organised by the Centre for Inter-ethnic Dialogue and Tolerance Amalipe, which brings different Roma communities and many visitors from across the countries to present the positivity and high level of creativity of the Roma traditions in all the fields of art and culture. Similarly Veliko Tarnovo is a base for the rich and diverse nature of Bulgaria customs and folk history. This festival are good examples of the tolerance one can feel and breathe in the city, and the message we shall share with Europe for 2019. Veliko Tarnovo shows how fruitful the encounter of different cultures,

aspects of European knowledge, arts and culture can be. Therefore, we will support excultures to the fore changes and networking between people and different projects.

We will present the diversity of Europe, and simultaneously, we will show how strongly Europe is connected by its cultures and what these cultures have in common. To achieve this, in our program we will reflect not only on contemporary Europe, but also on the important cultural and historical epochs of Europe, for instance, the culture of ancient times, the Thracians, the Romans, the Slavic culture, Christianity, Ottoman influences, and the circumstances of the Cold War between the East and West from 1945 to 1989. Our program will offer events on the above-mentioned aspects of art and culture, but will also focus on specific issues linked to Europe. As an example, the festival of the Old Capitals will build creative links between former European capitals and focus on their common past and present experience, challenges and goals.

1 Can you specify how

The Migrant Route will follow even more the common aspects of European cultures and present stories and experiences of Bulgarians and foreigners moving from here to there. A positive specific example in the history of our region is represented by the gardeners who migrated to Hungary in the period between the First and the Second World War. There they became important, fully-integrated professionals. One of our objectives is to improve and diversify the level of interna-

this event could help tional cooperation. We want to intensify our existing partnerships and to strengthen the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s need new partners to create sustainable networks with other European links with Europe? cities, organisations and institutions, as well as directly with people

(artists, different experts, etc.). We will share our best skills and knowledge with others and we will be open and welcoming to other experiences, best practices and know-how.

The process of making this application for VT2019 is an example of how the city wants to link with Europe: many European citizens, living in Veliko Tarnovo and Bulgaria, have been active parts of the bidding process and have been contributing to the realisation of this project.

Chapter I • Basic Principles

All the route projects, from the bread to the migrants, will specifically contribute to linking the city physically and professionally to Europe.

Explain how the event could meet the criteria listed below. Please substantiate your answer for each of the criteria. As regards “City and Citizens”, how does the city intend to ensure that the programme for the event:

We would create a more competitive and innovative Veliko Tarnovo by implementing an attractive arts and culture programme. Designed for different target groups, based on dialogue, participation and exchange, it will combine historical cultural heritage with new forms and practices in the field of contemporary art. With clear communication and especially through the well-developed tourist sector, we would have the chance to reach a wider international audience, to attract new and diverse European markets: tourists of different ages and countries, but also young people, families, cultural experts and interested persons. With international partnerships and networks, Veliko Tarnovo will become more visible at the European and worldwide level.

...attracts the interest Creating Happiness should become a slogan for all Europe, an invitaof the population at tion to come and discover not only the city, but to be part of and witness European level to the process of change we have started.

Big Festivals, like the Roma Brass Orchestra, the Old Capital and Medieval Festival will be advertised all around Europe in order to attract more interest at a European level. All the cultural route projects, that combine history, tradition and contemporary art and culture, will be connected and consequently attract a wider European audience to Veliko Tarnovo.

1... encourages the participation of artists, stakeholders in the socio-cultural scene and the inhabitants of the city, its surroundings and the area involved in the programme

The ECoC process will open new international possibilities for local artists. Within the framework of VT2019, we will increase the number and quality of open calls, shared projects, international co-operations and exchange programs. Artists will become more active and competitive on a local, national and international level. With Cultura Ex-Machina (fifth theme, programme structure) we will, starting from 2015, work hard on a new assessment of training, educational and exchange programs for artists and socio-cultural managers and operators. Our aim is to increase the number of cultural experts in the city and the region and to support the growth of creative industries. VT2019 intends to be an initiative in which the people are actively involved in the development of the program and not seen simply as spectators. We will present a diverse, accessible program connected with the territory and identified with its inhabitants. VT2019 aims to reach a wide audience and to stimulate the active participation of different communities and sectors.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

1 ... is sustainable and an

VT2019 is only the beginning. The process of transforming the city

integral part of the long- will take much longer. Therefore, the activities will not end in 2019 term cultural and social and the structures and strategies have to be achieved in a long-term perdevelopment of the city spective. We expect the preparation and implementation of the program

to have a significant impact on different levels and result in concrete improvements and especially to ensure:

• development of high quality cultural offers, projects and international co-operations; • active participation and involvement of civil society; • renovation and development of relevant infrastructure; • accessibility to cultural events for everybody; • decentralization of culture; • networks; • diversity and solidarity; • education and life-long learning; • managers capacity – municipality, cultural institutions and NGOs. Through these impacts our programme will not only build future capacity, but will give us the chance of a more sustainable legacy in support of the long term social and cultural development of the city. The application of Veliko Tarnovo is not just local, it involves the whole Veliko Tarnovo region. Together, Veliko Tarnovo and the region are at the crossroads of European and global cultural exchange. Along with the cities in the region we have developed a general, long-term collaboration. The focus of the project is placed on a cultural policy which interacts with the social, economic, educational and environmental fields. We also want Veliko Tarnovo’s application to be a national cause, to support the process of the decentralization of culture. Our plan is that artists shall develop increased competencies, potential for work and opportunities for participation. We will attract cultural specialists from across the country to participate in cultural events at a high international level, and to develop and implement policies at a national and European level. The fourth theme Happy – Nes(t)s project is precisely one of the best examples of how we will encourage participation, involve the region and to make it actively part of the ECoC’s experience. Its realisation includes wider approaches and development of all the points mentioned above. The Cultura Ex-Machina process and the Volvox concept will provide to build the human capacity and understanding, as well as to support the development of a flourishing international network.

Chapter I • Basic Principles

How does the city plan to get involved in or create synergies with the cultural activities supported by the European Institutions?

VT2019 will be an opportunity for the city and region to increase their already existing synergies, and to establish new ones with cultural activities supported by the European Institutions. For the implementation of our programme, we are planning to apply for different funding programmes from the EU, for example: • Erasmus + programme, which will facilitate exchanges in both the educational as well as professional sector. This is a perfect opportunity for VT2019 Cultura Ex-machina, which aims to create a new, open-minded pool of young professionals and cultural experts. • Creative Europe programme, which, with its new formats, is very much in line with the objectives of VT2019 and provides opportunities for cross-border cooperation and co-productions, platforms and networking in the fields of culture and audio-vision. • Horizon 2020, which will support projects in the field of research and innovation, for economic growth and more job opportunities. • EU Danube Strategy. Veliko Tarnovo region has good connections with both Svishtov and Ruse, both cities om the Danube. Veliko Tarnovo as a city and a region is linked to the Danube by the Yantra River and we will also increase co-operation with the Danube Region. In support of our candidacy, Veliko Tarnovo has begun the process of garnering support and co-operation with our many twin cities all over Europe and the world, and we shall keep working on already existing European projects such as: CultTour – Cultural (Garden) Heritage as Focal Points for Sustainable Tourism, implemented with the financial support of the Program of Transnational Cooperation in South East Europe 2007 – 2013, with partners from Austria, Germany, Romania, Italy and Greece. For the renovation of the urban and tourist infrastructure, the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo has successfully implemented a number of projects, funded by ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) and the Republic of Bulgaria, such as: • Improvement of the Tourist Attractions and Related Infrastructure in the Territory of the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo • Town of Veliko Tarnovo – Green and Accessible Balkan Capital of Cultural Tourism (2013 – 2015) For the programming period 2014 – 2020 there are more than 20 projects developed in relation to the urban and tourist infrastructure, which will be seeking funding from the EU. These projects are numerous and listed in both Chapter 3 Organisation and Finance which sets out 59 797 000 euro of capital expenditure, the majority of which will come via EU funded programmes. Further EU funded infrastructure improvements are described in Chapter 4 ‘Infrastructure’. Projects already underway include:

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

• the project Establishing and Promoting Innovative Cultural Events – Summer Opera Festival, the Stage of the Ages, for the application of modern innovative practices in the management of public events. • The project “White, Purple, Blue, Green, Traces of Eternity. Confirming the Image of the Region as a Unique Tourist Destination on the National and International Market” (2012 – 2014) will promote Veliko Tarnovo in Europe. • The project “Cultural heritage of Veliko Tarnovo as a focal point of European cultural diversity” will be implemented during the period 2014–2016 for the renovation of the Shishman’s Turkish Baths Complex, the integration of the Roma community and the promotion of contemporary culture (funded by the Government of Norway and EEA Grants).

Are some parts of the programme designed for particular target groups (young people, minorities, etc.)? Specify the relevant parts of the programme planned for the event.

The aim of our program is to reach as wide an audience as possible, offering everybody the opportunity to take part in and access our events and projects. The candidacy aims to generate social inclusion and more respect and tolerance between the different fragmented communities living in the region. This is very important for us, because today certain groups in Bulgaria (such as people with special needs, orphans, ethnic minorities) can be marginalised from participating in public life and events. Young people Young people are the main target group of the project. They represent approximately 30% of the residents of the city. In addition, the city is an important university town and educational centre. The local secondary schools and universities have been identified as the best in the country, and thus many young people enrol in local institutions to get a good education. Young people are also a key priority in the municipal policy,

Chapter I • Basic Principles

which is aimed at improving the living conditions of young people and the quality of education. Veliko Tarnovo is a centre for the implementation of many international youth projects. For example, in 2014, over 500 young architects from all over Europe will attend the European Assembly of Students of Architecture to be held in Veliko Tarnovo. This assembly will host more than 30 workshops, and various innovative activities in the course of the 14-day event. New projects such as Mad Cap and Erasmus Generation have been developed specifically to involve this target. On the other hand, many young people are leaving Veliko Tarnovo and Bulgaria in search of better professional opportunities. VT2019 focuses on young people and their needs and aims. At the same time, it is our intention to stimulate new career possibilities, to create new professional profiles, skills and tasks, to encourage creative industry and to develop the city in such a way as to provide a reason for the young people to stay and work – and perhaps for those who have left to return. Training, workshops and exchange programmes for students and young cultural operators will be part of the VT2019 programme. A new degree course in the field of culture management will be introduced at the University of Veliko Tarnovo. Specific groups Different ethnic groups (Turks, English and Roma) are based and well-integrated in the city of Veliko Tarnovo and the life of the region. People with special needs and challenges also represent a significant part of the population. Our program, according to the priority of the municipality, aims to support and stimulate educational integration and participation in culture for all the different groups. VT2019 wants to be a democratic initiative and create the conditions for everybody to access and be part of cultural life. Some examples of projects, specifically aimed at these groups are Mad Cap II and Strength for life. Periphery – Citizens from non-central areas in Veliko Tarnovo and smaller cities in the region Non central areas of the city, as well as neighbouring cities and villages, will also be an important target for the programme of VT 2019. Under the theme of Happy – Nes(t)s, with the Chitalista project, the programme will be able to involve a wider audience away from the city centre. The Chitaliste are cultural centers located almost everywhere, but which are unfortunately not as active nowadays as they once were. The aim of the project is to reactivate and transform them into local micro-cultural realities. The same aim will be addressed and strengthened with the Festival of quarters, bringing art and culture closer to everybody. Tourists Tourists, of all ages, are one of the main target groups of the city and our programme. Most of the tourists who currently come to Veliko Tarnovo only spend– a short time in the city. With a new, attractive programme, combining cultural heritage and contemporary approaches to art and culture,we aim to involve tourists more in our activities and to promote longer stay tourism and a new image of the city.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

What contacts has the city or the body responsible for preparing the event established, or what contacts does it intend to establish, with:

VT2019 Candidacy has been developed with the full support and engagement of local cultural operators, from the institutional as well as from the NGOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sector. Since the very beginning focus groups meetings and discussions have been organised in order to provide a diverse and innovative programme specific for the city and region.

Some examples of our local contacts are: the University St. Cyril and St. Methodius, including the Faculty of Fine Arts, the National Military University Vasil Levski, the Regional Historical Museum, Konstan...cultural operators in tine Kisimov Drama Theatre; Rafael Mihailov exhibition halls, Boris the city? Denev Art Gallery, P. R. Slaveykov Regional Library, Youth Center; Name some operators as well as such local cultural organisations like Art Summer; Dupini with whom cooperation is Association; Zonta International Club Veliko Tarnovo; Lyons Clubs envisaged and specify the type of exchanges in question. from the city and region, Old Bastards Moto Club; Rotaract Club Veliko Tarnovo; Anna Folkart Association; Ideaction Association; Silver Yantra Association; Photo Pleinair Bodygraphy-Bulgaria Association; Dixie-Jazz Fest Foundation; International Festival of Military Orchestras Foundation; Mindya Rock Fest Foundation; Amalipe Center for Interethnic Dialog; UN BESO; Veliko Tarnovo International Folklore Festival; Emilian Stanev Association, NGO Teodsi Tarnovski.

...cultural operators All our partners as well the Municipality itself are successfully workbased outside the city? ing since years with national cultural operators which will be partners

of VT2019 projects, such as for example EASA Bulgaria The Factory Regional Centre for Culture, Gabrovo, the 13 Centuries Bulgaria National Donation Fund, the Association Transformatori, Sofia, the International Elias Canetti Society, Ruse, 360 magazine, Studio for non-commercial European productions, Aylyak Hammock, The Global Library and Culture Centers Network, and the Create and Play Bulgaria Association. We are confident that if selected, many more domestic partners will be ready to work with us.

...cultural operators For the realisation of an European programme, we have activated our based outside the existing contacts all over the world and we will focus, especially in the country? field of capacity building, on improving more and more our links with

other European and non European partners. Some examples of already established cooperations are for the Old Capital Festival with theatres from Ravenna, Istanbul, Avignon, Saint Petersburg, Bonn. For projects connected to art in public spaces, we have already identified partners as Association ARTerija, Macedonia, Balkan Independent artists, Universitate de arte din Bucuresti, Akademija Likovnih Umjetnosti Hrvatska Continuo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Czech Festival.

We are in contact with Ravasio Foundation from the Italian city of Bergamo and its managers Sergio Ravasio and Silvia Ladzari. For the puppet theater project we have established contacts with director and actor Maurizio Corniani from the Italian city of Mantua, together with a Bulgarian and Italian actress and cultural mediator Tanya Karbova.

Chapter I • Basic Principles

Another project partner is the Tolosa International Puppet Center, Spain. The Bread Route has established pertnership with organisations in Novi Sad, Dubrovnik, Albania, Thessaloniki, Brindisi, Bari, Lecce, Altamura, Matera. We expect to keep working together with embassies and cultural centers based in Sofia, such as the Austrian Embassy, Goethe Institut, Czech, Polish, Hungarian and other cultural centers, in order to improve and support further our links with other European partners. We are in discussions with the European Culture Foundation (ECF, Amsterdam) and with Mit-Ost Association, Berlin, for the developement of a new Tandem Project, exchange for cultural operators between ECoC Cities.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

In what way is the VT2019 is innovative because: proposed project innovative? ...we believe in sustainability and a new mindset: A new way to achieve change is applied through the project, related to the construction of a new system of values. This will be the result of an exchange of experiences and information between states and organizations (experts and citizens of Italy, Austria, UK, Lithuania, Iceland, etc.) who are concerned with and have been conducting studies on the relationship between culture, creativity and a sense of happiness and well-being. We will develop a methodology and indicators for measuring change in the feeling of happiness through culture. A Happy Index will be developed within the project to report the degree of happiness of the citizens. We feel confident that VT2019 will be able to achieve – and measure – a positive change across a range of indicators up to and including 2019. ...we implement Volvox Volvox is a programme designed to encourage the interaction between individual and collective cultural projects and artists working in the field of contemporary art. Based on examples from nature, a strategy was developed for a functioning organism from single cells – artwork, creative action, and the interaction of artists and art groups. The main objective of Volvox is for culture to become a “new” nature and way of life for the community, both artists and audience. … we use a trans-generational model On the basis of the craftsman’s principle master, journeyman, apprentice our programme supports the exchange of information, knowledge and skills between generations. Established artists, debuting young artists, students and children will interact through lectures, discussions, master classes and creative workshops, in order to add new value to the old traditional approaches and to bring a contemporary retouch. ...we want to involve the citizens as participants in the creative process, and not only as audience members The program is citizen-oriented. The intention is to create and develop participation rather than just an audience, and to form an artistic taste, knowledge and a need for citizens to communicate with art and culture. All events will be open to the public, thus ensuring their cultural rights to various forms of art and culture, and free participation in the cultural life of the society. ...we want to propose a model to decentralize culture in Bulgaria We actively plan and include in our program suburban areas, villages and smaller regional towns and cities.

Chapter I • Basic Principles

If the city in question is awarded the title of European Capital of Culture, what would be the medium– and long-term effects of the event from a social, cultural and urban point of view?

If Veliko Tarnovo is awarded the title, we expect important medium-term effects: • richer cultural offerings, focused on a more European and contemporary dimension and less on traditional perceptions; • increased competitiveness; • development of the tourist sector (especially with regard to long-stay visits); • more job opportunities and capacity building for young people; • more career possibilities for young professionals; • improvement of the city and regional infrastructure; • development of increased international co-operation and partnerships in the sphere of contemporary art and culture, as well as in all of the other sectors connected to our happiness and Well-being agenda; • development and application of the Happy Index for the measurement of changes in people’s lives in Bulgaria. These effects will lead to a positive social, cultural and economic impact on the city and the region of Veliko Tarnovo. Long-term effects In the long term, we expect the preparation, implementation and sustainability of the program for the candidacy of Veliko Tarnovo for the 2019 European capital of Culture to impact on a personal, social behavioural level and on the physical environment. It will improve society, cultural planning and the living environment, will change attitudes toward health and nature, and will foster a feeling of regional and European identity and affiliation, with the consequent development of a better quality of life.

1 Do the municipal

authorities intend to make a public declaration of intent concerning the period following the year of the event?

All the impacts – short, medium and long term will be fully explored and be the subject of a major study across 5 years – the VT2019 Impact Study (which will in effect be a series of related studies), and will seek to assess and measure the effects, both positive and negative, of a major event such as VT2019. We aim to present with our Happy Index and Impact Study, a model that could be adapted and implemented in other countries in Europe and all over the world. The Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo and the representatives of the local authorities will state their intentions for future support of culture for the period following the end of 2019, after the final nomination is announced. This commitment will be elaborated in the Strategy for Cultural Development 2025 of the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo. It is important to keep in mind that nearly 65% of the GDP of the city is generated from activities related to tourism, culture and education. The

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

city has already demonstrated its commitment to culture, by allocating 10% of its annual budget to the sector of culture and tourism over the last 5 years. Regardless of whether Veliko Tarnovo is selected for the European Capital of Culture or not, this level of funding will continue into the future.

How was this The preparation for Veliko Tarnovo’s application began in June 2011, application designed when the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo stated officially, in a letter and prepared? to the Minister of Culture, its desire to start preparing its candidacy for European Capital of Culture. For this purpose, a working group was established comprising representatives of cultural operators, the administration, non-governmental organizations, eminent artists and culturally-involved persons. The preparation was made in the following manner: In 2011 our application... • Formed a Working Group with experts from the field of culture, municipal staff and stakeholders to develop the bid; • Began reviews and working meetings with cities which were previous European Capitals of Culture, as well as meetings and consultations with cultural experts; • Undertook a research and scoping exercise of academic and professional reports and publication regarding planning the European Capital of Culture. In 2012, we began … • developing contacts within the local media; • developing contacts within the business sector for the support of VT2019; • engaging groups of volunteers; • production of the visual identity of the project; • production of the project’s web and social media platforms; • social network discussions and an open call for ideas for VT2019. In 2013... • formation of the Art Board and of the Creative Lab; • open call for projects; • Supported research through a Master’s thesis “Key Considerations for Planning for ECoC: the Case of Veliko Tarnovo”, Hannah Payer, IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems, Austria; • the local business sector started supporting events for VT2019; • successfully passed the first selection;

Chapter I • Basic Principles

• presentation of VT2019 at different events: festivals, local and international cultural events and conferences. In 2014... • opening the project office VT2019 • recruiting and assembling an international project team for the final phase of the application process including experts in cultural management, urban regeneration, management, community engagement, arts practitioners and media and PR consultants. • opening the Pavilion of Happiness – for information, workshops, events, seminars • special training for volunteers • intensification of people’s participation The bid has been a challenging ongoing process, with a steep learning curve and several summits to climb. We have faced many problems, and dealt with these in a co-operative manner with the public and community institutions, and with support from many sectors and sources. There is an energy, enthusiasm and a momentum which we feel confident could be mobilised for a very successful and outstanding, innovative ECoC 2019. We have made efforts to create a common language and common goals for the city, which has brought us to the shortlist. We are delighted to have reached this stage and we hope this will be the basis for new development and a vision for the city and its citizens.

Chapter II Structure of the programme

What structure does the city intend to give to the year’s programme if it is designated “European Capital of Culture” (guidelines, general theme of the event)? How long does the programme last?

VT 2019 programme has been divided into the following five themes: • Cultural Fortresses • Cultural Open Gates • Cultural Routes • Happy – Nes (t) s • Cultura Ex-Machina The presented structure includes the opening and closing event. In 2019, we intend to implement the projects falling under four of the themes, designed for this exceptional year. The projects under the fifth theme will be implemented from 2015 to 2020 and they are connected to: building the capacity of the team, conducting research, collecting data and networking; delivering the product through cultural operators and artists; working in tandem with the municipality as a strategic partner. The projects under the first four themes reflect our vision for the future, which includes placing an emphasis on creative culture, as well as on the city’s traditional focus on historical culture, in keeping with a new forward-looking and contemporary position. This is motivated by the accelerated dynamics of our time, which demand a rethink of our concepts of the role of arts and culture in human life, as well as a reassessment of our approaches to these concepts. This change in vision can been defined as an awakening, which will ensure a better quality of perceptions, actions, and human relations, which is necessary for grasping and achieving the well-being of our present and future. It is the condition facilitated and maintained by the creative culture, in a symbiosis with the existent historical culture, which will also make the process that we call Creating Happiness possible. The projects falling within the fifth theme constitute the basis of the whole concept. They will start in 2015, with the purpose of making sure that the necessary strategic resources are in place to sustain our efforts beyond 2019. The timetable of the programme is in line with our concept of placing emphasis on the new creative culture in a productive symbiosis with the historical culture. In a symbolic fashion, the programme will take the form of a linear route from the historic fortress, through its gates, onto

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

roads beyond, planting new seeds and transforming the scenery of the traditional into the perspective of the new. The projects under theme one, Cultural Fortresses, will be largely implemented at the start of the year; the projects under the other themes following on later. Happiness is multi-dimensional and every dimension presupposes a choice. The choice presupposes a diversity of opportunities, including forms of expression. In reality, this diversity in forms of expression allows creative individuals to express themselves more opportunely. The programme offers many opportunities for citizens and visitors to develop their creative potential through participative learning. In this sense, it is aimed at everyone who is motivated by engagement and authentic experience with the arts, heritage, and culture, so they can contribute to building connections with those who create living culture. Our programme offers participants and audiences everything from ambitious cultural celebrations to intimate events accessible to everybody. There will be big outdoor events and small scale indoor shows and exhibitions. The programme covers theatre, dance, music, visual arts, street art, films, art in nature, residential programmes, digital media, art therapy, urban studies, art research, cultural studies, philosophy, humanities, social sciences and much more. There will also be rock climbing, artistic activities by the river, cycling and cultural tours, as well as activities in community centers, gardens, art galleries, cinemas, and public spaces. In the previous Bid Book, the programme was structured in twelve months, around twelve words that we mostly associate with happiness: solidarity, health, freedom, nature, change, love, joy, heritage, beauty, charity, knowledge and faith. This idea derived from the etymology of the word happiness in the Old Bulgarian language, where съч#стьнъ evolved to take on the meaning of involved. We have kept the idea of presenting twelve projects inspired by the twelve words, but this time they will be submitted to an open call at European level. We fully understand and appreciate the Panel’s concern about the capacity of the city to manage the ambitious project and sustain the legacies of the event (expressed in the pre-selection report). We are aware of the problems and in response, we have developed the Cultura Ex-Machina theme.

What main events will mark the year? For each one, please supply the following information: description of the event / date and place / project partners / financing. Theme / Project Opening event Cultural Fortress Festival of Old Capitals Stage of the Ages Medieval Festival Strenght for Life Mad Cap II Crafts and Design Fair The Wheel of Life Arbanasi Summer Music Interwoven The Bitter Laughter of the Happy Man Senses

On the following pages, in presenting some key events, we illustrate how the themes are going to be developed in the coming years.

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Chapter II • Structure of the programme

Panorama of World Intangible Cultural Heritage DiPP2019 World Congress CulturAL Open Gates Mad cap I Volvox The International Biennial of Painting and Art of Paper Shine a Light Street Rejoices. Children Have Fun Veliko Tarnovo Resident Art Center Graffiti in the Air Open Space Festival of Musical Notes and Paints The Garden of Stained Glass and Mosaic Art Panorama Festival of Contemporary Art Positive Reflections Happines train International Simposium Art – Nature Week of the Stairs Intermedia Art Festival TurnOF Jazz Festival Just for Kids International Festival of Military Orchestras I Can – Cinema Air Nature FantastikTarnovo Ballet Summer Academy One-Way Ticket to Mars Tsarevgrad Documentary CULTURAL ROUTES Alphabet Route The Bread Route Via Vini – Wine Route Gardens Route Gold's Route Architects Route Beautiful Elena Route Migration route Romas Route Well Being Route Roadmap to Future HAPPY – NES(T)S First World Summit of Community Arts Centers and Networks Residences for Future Erasmus Generation Festival of Quarters Bread House Matera Happiness Censura CULTURA EX-MACHINA Closing event

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Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

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Strenght for Life Mad Cap II

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Crafts and Design Fair

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The Wheel of Life

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Arbanasi Summer Music Interwoven

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Medieval Festival

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Stage of the Ages

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The Bitter Laughter of the Happy Man Senses

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Panorama of World Intangible Cultural Heritage DiPP2019 World Congress

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Cultural Open Gates Mad cap I

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Volvox

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The International Biennial of Painting and Art of Paper Shine a Light Street Rejoices. Children Have Fun Veliko Tarnovo Resident Art Center Graffiti in the Air

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Open Space Festival of Musical Notes and Paints The Garden of Stained Glass and Mosaic Art Panorama Festival of Contemporary Art Positive Reflections

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Happines train International Simposium Art – Nature Week of the Stairs Intermedia Art Festival

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TurnOF Jazz Festival Just for Kids International Festival of Military Orchestras I Can – Cinema Air Nature FantastikTarnovo Ballet Summer Academy

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One-Way Ticket to Mars Tsarevgrad Documentary

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Chapter II • Structure of the programme

Cultural ROUTES Alphabet Route

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Via Vini – Wine Route

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Beautiful Elena Route Migration route

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Roadmap to Future

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HAPPY – NES(T)S Second World Summit of Community Arts Centers and Networks Residences for Future

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Erasmus Generation

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Festival of Quarters

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Bread House Matera

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Happiness Censura

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How does the city plan to choose the projects / events which will constitute the programme for the year?

The process for choosing the projects / events started with an open call in 2012, organized by the Working Group (which was appointed by the municipality). In 2013, the Arts Board was formed. The Arts Board was made up of representatives from the arts and cultural community including, writers, artists, actors, cultural operators and senior representative from cultural institutions. They have been responsible for communicating with the wider arts and cultural community and offering advice on the selection of projects to be included in our VT2019 programme. They were also involved in defining the selection criteria for projects / events and advising on the appropriate attributes for the Artistic Director. The selection criteria are outlined below. The projects should: • include European dimensions as an integral part of the event; • fit the city / be region specific; • bring originality, innovative ideas and / or quality; • provide high level of professional artistic engagement; • ensure sustainable partnerships; • bring community members together; • focus on young people;

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

• create environment for learning and social innovation; • provide access for physically challenged people; • use communication and information technologies. For us the process of developing our programme is an ongoing process. Although the programme has already been fixed, we are aware that some changes will probably be required. In this case, we will apply the same criteria listed above.

2019 Opening event In 2018, a contest at European level will be announced for the creation of an ECoC flag. It is proposed that this flag will be passed on from one host city to the next at the closing ceremonies of the European Capitals of Culture, as a symbol of continuity. Thus Leeuwarden and Valletta will pass on the flag to the chosen Bulgarian and Italian cities during their closing event in 2018. In turn, at their own closing ceremonies, the Bulgarian and Italian host cities will pass on the flag to the Serbian and the Irish cities selected to be capitals of culture in 2020. Between God and People The sound and light show in Veliko Tarnovo, which takes place at Tsarevets fortress is an emblematic attraction for the city and the country. Through an open call in 2017, young composers, musicians, lighting designers, artists and scientists from all over Europe will be selected and in 2018 invited to Veliko Tarnovo for our artists-in-residence programme. The artists will be encouraged to co-produce a sound and light performance to take the audience on a journey through some important moments in the history of the European capital of culture. The performance will take place on 31st December 2018 at Tsarevets fortress. At its close, either the Mayor of Valletta or the Mayor of Leeuwarden will pass on the ECoC flag to the Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo and after the ceremony, an orchestra of European musicians will perform in the sound and light show. A special attraction of the opening event will be the sound composition created by arranging the sounds of digitalized bells. The composition will include the sounds of unique bells located in churches and monasteries in the Veliko Tarnovo region and bells located on the Eastern Trans-Balkan road and in other European cities. It will be suggested that 2019 is declared the European Year of Culture and Well-being. All European cities will be invited to dedicate one event to the idea in 2019. The best projects, to be selected by an international jury, will be invited for the closing ECoC event in VelikoTarnovo.

Closing event EuroCapital Using special 360‑degree audio-visual reality technology, the EuroCapital exhibition will allow visitors to look at the contemporary culture of Europe from the inside. The exhibition will be an opportunity to take an unusual journey and see the most interesting and successful events held in ECoC cities. The exhibition will illustrate different periods of the creative life of the ECoC, reflecting the emotions and atmosphere of each city and event. Veliko Tarnovo, capital of culture in the making, will be one of the exhibition modules. The ECoC flag will be passed on to the next two capitals of culture. After 2019, the exhibition can tour throughout Europe.

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

THEME 1.

CULTURAL FORTRESSES The projects under the theme Cultural Fortresses are concerned with the European context of the city’s cultural heritage as an accumulation of past artistic achievements and a generator of significant economic benefits to the local people. By providing professional and enjoyable experiences, the projects under this theme will help build and maintain creative links with other European cities with a rich cultural heritage, as they face similar challenges and share common goals. At a local level, the projects would affirm and reinforce this asset as a solid basis for further cultural, social, and economic learning and innovation. There is a great need to adapt and update the largely traditional ways of preserving and presenting the local cultural heritage, to take into account approaches that more closely correspond to the new tendencies of cultural consumption and production in the 21st century. The way we regard our cultural heritage can actually be seen from another viewpoint as well. In this reading, our portrayal of our heritage is not only as a local asset but that it could also be a liability. The fortress may also carry the connotations of setting limits, bearing a burden, putting up obstacles enshrining prejudice or perpetuating stereotypes. The concept of a fortress includes the idea of a physical boundary that establishes divisions in the same way as the former Berlin wall. We have been through periods with different demarcation lines – between us and them, east and west, communist and capitalist, rich and poor, old and new, etc. We have also witnessed that, despite decades of post war progress with rising levels of equality, tensions experienced by different marginalized groups and anti-immigrant sentiment have persisted. Being different can be the most disturbing thing for people who are isolated due to their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, age, disability or social background as long as discrimination is still present in our society. The projects under this theme are designed to highlight the issues of tolerance and to increase our awareness and appreciation of people from marginalized groups and those with special needs. Our purpose is to create an environment that gives these people the opportunity to participate in the cultural process under the same conditions as everybody else. Contemporary writers from participating cities will be invited to submit their works. These will Place: Tsarevets fortresses, Drama theatre, have public readings and some selected ones will Asenevtsi park, Palace of culture and sport be made into books. Copies will be provided to The Festival explores the rich cultural heritage public libraries and educational institutions. of old European capital cities and the complex The festival will start in January with a conferchallenges they face with globalization and the ence entitled Sustainable Development in the digital age. These cities have long been centers Context of the Old Capitals of Europe. It will of education and culture and have played a ma- bring artists, researchers, representatives of lojor role in their country’s past and are a prime cal authorities and citizens together to talk, share source of its cultural heritage. Today most of issues, and discuss best practices from the field them are stuck with the label of ex-capital city. of culture and development. A network of the Performances of theatre, dance, music and oth- cities – old capitals – is due to be established by ers will showcase not only the rich cultural past the end of 2014. of these cities but also a large proportion of new The long term objective of the Festival and the creations. History always encourages us to pick network is to become an open year-round instiup old causes and turn them into new ideas. tution, dealing with contemporary trends in the The Festival of Old Capitals

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

cultural development of old capital cities and The festival is going to be developed in partnercities with a rich cultural heritage. ship with the Italian town of Bevagna in 2015. Bevagna is a small medieval town in Umbria, Leading partner: Tsarevgrad Tarnov agency near Assisi, and its festival Mercato delle gaite, Partners: St. Cyril and St. Methodius Universi- takes place there every June, during which the ty of Veliko Tarnovo, Old capitals Association town recreates its medieval past. (Bulgaria), organizations from old capital cities – Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria), Ravenna (Italy), In 2019, the festival will involve participants Istanbul (Turkey), Avignon (France), Petersburg from other medieval European towns with which (Russia), Bonn (Germany), Turku (Finland), Tarnovo has maintained close cultural and comEdinburgh (Scotland), Mdina (Malta) and other mercial relations – Zadar, Dubrovnik, Genoa, Venice and others. European cities. Stage of the Ages

Leading partner: Tsaregrad Tarnov agency.

Partners: Municipality of VelikoTarnovo, MuPlace: Tsarevets fortress, Museum of archeol- nicipality of Bevagna (Italy), Perugia 2019, ogy, Druzhba, Marno pole and Kolyo Ficheto St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko parks Tarnovo, Vasil Levski National Military UniverThe summer festival Stage of the Ages is a mu- sity (Veliko Tarnovo), Regional History Musesical performance for opera and ballet, which um, Veliko Tarnovo cultural institutions, Veliko takes place outdoors on Tsarevets Hill in Veliko Tarnovo high schools. Tarnovo. This is one of the emblematic cultural events in the city and a prestigious national Strength for Life event. The idea is that by 2019, it will develop its potential and international image by inviting Place: Summer theatre, Musical and Drama theand attracting prominent opera and ballet groups atre, city parks. from Europe. In the Capital of Culture year, the The musical festival for people with physical festival is envisaged to become a stage for young disabilities has been organized in Veliko Tarnoartists. Competitions for European emerging tal- vo as an annual national event since 2012. The ents in the fields of costume design, scenogra- project is firmly focused on the idea of art that phy, lighting and special effects and film making inspires and involves disabled people. will be announced. Until 2019, the festival will evolve by bringing Emerging opera directors and opera singers will together European musicians, contemporary be the focus of the festival, providing them with dancers and visual artists with and without disathe opportunity to present their works in cooperbilities. The festival is a chance for the disabled ation with leading artists in the field. community to build cohesion and self-esteem Leading partner: Stage of the Ages Association and demonstrate a record of achievements and Partners: Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, National equal participation. The importance of culture as Opera and Ballet, Arena di Verona, other opera an instrument for providing equal rights and opportunities for this group will be highlighted by theatres from Europe. an international conference. Medieval Festival Different events organized for and with the

participation of people with disabilities will Place: Tsarevets fortress, medieval churches in take place from May to December, with a gala Asenov quarter, Frank Hisar, Medieval churches evening on 3rd December – the international day in Arbanasi of disabled people. The medieval festival will recreate the 13th–14th Leading partner: Strength for Life Association. century traditions, focusing on the period of the city as a glorious medieval capital. Scientific re- Partners: London Arts in Health Forum (UK), search is being conducted into the culture, crafts, Na Laga’at Center (Israel), International Council of Cultural Centers. cuisine and traditions of the period.

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

Asenova Mahala and Frank Hisar are famous quarters in Veliko Tarnovo where foreign tradArt Keeps you Young ers, mainly from Dubrovnik and Zadar (CroaPlace: Residence center, Samovodska charshiya, tia), Genoa (Italy) and Albania lived in medieval University, Sveta Gora, Exhibition halls, park times. areas. The craft and design fair will happen here to In our aging society, there is a group of people bring the trade spirit back, providing new perto whom words like aging or old are not appli- spectives for local people and limiting the concable – artists. Despite age discrimination, most textual division between the central part of the of them have no intention of slowing down and city and the outlying quarters. art encourages and motivates them to continue The fair will showcase innovative design and working. By expressing themselves creative- crafts by both established and emerging artists ly, these people keep nurturing their overall and designers. Diverse workshops will help prowell-being. fessionals and amateurs to develop and enhance Mad Cap festival puts a spotlight on arts and their skills. Presentations of successful personal aging. The event, incorporating artistic projects, stories and different aspects of design, such as workshops, knowledge and the exchange of ide- creativity, environmental and social developas, will celebrate imaginative, creative and pos- ment and cultural entrepreneurship will be made itive interaction between artists of different gen- through a conference that will be organized within the framework of the fair. erations and diverse artistic backgrounds. Mad Cap II

This event will bring a greater understanding of The project will introduce local people to innothe lifestyles of older and provide the next gen- vation design, know-how, professional networkeration with useful lessons for life. ing and information exchange. It will promote entrepreneurship among this specific group and Leading partner: Regional library. new business modes. Partners: Local and regional cultural centers, Perugia 2019, Matera 2019, International Coun- An International Children’s School of Sgraffito cil of Cultural Centers, London Arts in Health Ceramics will be organized during the fair. Children will make pottery following the traditions Forum. of the Tarnovo sgraffito pottery or the so-called Regal art. Participants will take part in different Craft and Design fair interactive activities, exhibitions and competiPlace: Asenova Mahala, Frank Hisar, Samo- tions. vodska charshiya, Fair Center, Congress center Leading partner: Youth House (VelikoTarnovo). Veliko Tarnovo has preserved many of its traPartners: Havas Digital Sofia (Bulgaria), Tryavditions and crafts which can be seen on one of na school of Applied arts, Association of Enthe most attractive streets of the city – Samotrepreneurs of the Coastal Alentejo (Portugal); vodska charshiya – an old commercial street. AGP group Pamplona (Spain); Zadar (Croatia), Many craftsmen here work in small workshops keeping alive the traditions of pottery making, The white crown (Poland), International Associiconography, wood-carving, forging, weaving ation of Universities of Art, Design and Media. and so on, and creating a wonderful atmosphere The Wheel of Life on the street. Many European countries are also proud of their craft traditions. Young designers Place: Arbanasi architecture reserve. can transform these traditions into new products Arbanasi is the name of a village in Veliko Taror services in a very innovative way. novo municipality, known for its rich history and The fair will approach innovation through the culture, beautiful churches and architecture. Aceyes of designers and, in particular, will focus cording to one account, the village was named on the correlation between traditional crafts and after Albanian settlers in the 13th century. contemporary design.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

The Arbanasi are a population in Croatia of Albanian origin. The name is a toponym of the first Arbanasi settlement in the region, which today is a suburb of Zadar.

itri Mestdag from the Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra.

Partners: Regional Historical Museum, Youth House (Veliko Tarnovo), chamber orchestras The name of the project, Wheel of Life comes from Europe. from a mural on a wall of the oldest church in Arbanasi, The Nativity church, which depicts Interwoven life cycles from childhood to old age. Place: Summer theatre, Asenevtsi park, Music Veliko Tarnovo and Zadar share common values, and Drama theatre. history and culture. The project is about bringing together artists and citizens from both cities for The project will start in 2018, and the idea is that informal meetings and artistic co-operations and artists in the field of traditional and contemporary dance and music from Bulgaria, Spain and exchanges. Ireland will work in Veliko Tarnovo to co-proVeliko Tarnovo and Zadar are twin cities and duce an interdisciplinary performance. This will have already implemented several official cul- mix flamenco, Irish and Bulgarian folk rhythms tural exchanges. The current project suggests a with composers’ music, chants, contemporary more informal and bottom up way of interaction. choreography and multimedia. This interactive Partners: Veliko Tarnovo municipality, Zadar sound synthesis of disparate rhythmic structures, municipality (Croatia), artists and cultural oper- melodies and motifs will address issues of identity, migration and communication. The name ators from both cities. Interwoven represents the idea of a convergence Arbanasi Summer Music – Classical Chamber of cultures as a source of inspiration and a catalyst for new ideas. Music Festival Leading partner: Cía. Danza Vinculados (Spain) Place: Medieval churches in Arbanasi and VePartners: Mandinga Arts (UK), World Irish liko Tarnovo. Dance Association (W. I. D. A.), The Fabric AsThe Arbanasi Summer Music festival offers vissociation (Bulgaria). itors and music lovers fine pieces of classical chamber music performed by international musi- The bitter laughter of the Happy Man cians in the unique acoustics of Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel medieval church-museum. Place: Residence centre, Samovodska charshiya In 2019, concerts will be performed in different The topic of simplified national character steremedieval churches in Arbanasi and Veliko Tar- otypes, which are social constructions, probably novo, bringing together performers from all over based on the socio-economic conditions, histoEurope. Each participant will perform one Bul- ry, customs, myths, and values of a culture has a garian musical work and one from his / her own high correlation with the issues involved in Culcountry. tural Fortresses. Two competitions will be launched as part of the Aleko Konstantinov was a 19th century Bulgarian Festival programme and prior to the event: writer, born in Svishtov, Veliko Tarnovo region. • Competition for classical music works, cre- In one of his short stories, he called himself The ated by contemporary composers from Europe Happy Man and he then adopted this nickname and other non-European countries. The selected for himself. Konstantinov is best known for his book Bay Ganyo, in which he created one of the works will be performed during the event; most popular characters in Bulgarian fiction. • International competition for Young Performers of Classical Music. The winning performers Bay Ganyo is now considered an exemplary image of an anti-hero: uneducated, ignorant, egowill be part of the concert program. tistical. Sometimes perceived as a stereotype of Leading partner: Julita Fasseva (bass) and Dim- the uneducated, profit-driven Bulgarian and in-

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

deed the average Balkan person, he is often seen merely as a social stereotype, a member of the Principality of Bulgaria’s newly formed lower middle class. Many national characters (Ze Povinho – the Portuguese every man; The good Czech soldier Svejk, Deutscher Michel etc.) will be a matter of discussion and interpretation in the course of the project. Similarly, the adventures of Tintin, (Belgium), one of the most popular European comics of the 20th century, will be debated at this event. As part of the project concept, a ten-day resident programme will provide an opportunity for ten writers and ten comic artists to work in pairs and create ten comic books depicting traditional characters from the contemporary viewpoint. Posters, advertising materials and postcards using the images from the comic books will be produced and postcards with messages on them will be sent to random people from all over Europe.

access that the visually impaired face with regard to culture and creative involvement. The project includes a wide range of activities, such as discussions, creative workshops held for the public and field trips with artists (both visually impaired and non-visually impaired). It will also include the creation of Tactile Gallery (a multi-sensory mobile workspace / lab for investigating blindness and creating visual-tactile art), object poetry and research and data collected on tactile art, blindness, and the mutual creative process. The Sensory tourism programme aims to remove the visual contact with the city and allow other senses to draw a picture and image of the place. This is contrary to the usual practices of mass tourism and it is related to a more intimate experience of communication between individuals and between people and the city. This slow tourismconcept is about taking time to get to know what makes the place unique, away from the guidebooks and rush to see cultural objects.

Along with creating the comic books, writers and comic artists will deliver workshops in different schools in VT and the region and a number of Senseplay is a multi-sensory board game which fringe events will be held with the intention of involves all the senses in a fun and educational way. Players may participate regardless of their involving more citizens in the Festival. visual impairment. Partners: Boris Denev Art Gallery, Comic Art The dynamic of the game is to conduct various Festivals in Europe, Svishtov municipality. tests, by which the players reach the final square of the board. The game excludes visual contact, Senses so the players have to take part in the game by identifying items using the other senses. Place: Exhibition halls, park areas. The natural and cultural environment we live in is mainly centered on the sense of sight, on a visual perception of reality. Current dominant cultural values and aesthetic patterns are closely linked to that sense. More than 700 people from Veliko Tarnovo municipality suffer from serious problems with their sight.

Art, as well as research, will be presented to the wider public in a dialogue with art and cultural institutes to influence general and specific attitudes towards visually impaired artists and the visually impaired public. A café box will be designed and put in different cities in the region and blindfolded people will be invited in for a coffee. The idea is to change basic attitudes towards visual disability and raise awareness about the problems visually impaired people face, as well as to ensure that the arts become ever more sensitive to people with impaired sight.

The Sense project aims at questioning the reliance on the sense of sight in the world of art, which may almost be said to amount to indirect discrimination towards the visually impaired. The project will enable the blind and visually impaired, along with sighted people, to participate in a sensory, affective, artistic experience, A website specially designed to be accessible to which examines the relationship between art and people with visual impairment will be developed. the senses. Leading partner: Creative Lab, Strength for life Few sub-projects respond to the disparities in Foundation.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Partners: Prociendo Lab, (Spain) Sabadell Higher School of design (Spain), Fighting blindness (Ireland); Lecce2019 and POIESIS (Italy). Panorama of World Intangible Cultural Heritage programme of the National Section of CIOFF®Bulgaria and the International Folklore Festival, Veliko Tarnovo. Place: Summer theatre, park areas. In 2019, the programme will provides a fifteen day stage-presentation of items on the list of UNESCO from five continents: Turkey – dervishes; Indonesia – SAMA Dance; Korea – Namsadak song Arirang; Argentina –Tango; Bulgaria dancers, Bistritza grandmothers Accompanying events: International conference on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH); Evening of traditional cuisine with the presentation of items on the list of UNESCO; International Film festival of Documentary Screen_Ich2019 presenting the elements included in the UNESCO list. DiPP2019 World Congress Digital Presentation and Preservation of Cultural and Scientific Heritage Place: Regional Library, Regional Museum of History, University The World Congress DiPP2019 aims to present innovative research projects and applications in the field of digitalization, documentation, archiving, representation and the preservation of global and national tangible and intangible cultural and scientific heritage. The main focus is on providing open access to digitalized cultural heritage and to set up sustainable policies for its continuous digital preservation and conservation. The priority area is the digital presentation and preservation of cultural and historical objects that are at risk. The forum will demonstrate innovative technologies and prototypes, including digital repositories, digital archives, virtual museums and digital libraries, which result from established practices and achievements in the field. Representatives of public and specialized libraries, museums, galleries and archives, cultural centers, along with delegates from both national and foreign research institutions and universities are invited to participate and exchange experiences, ideas, knowledge and best practices. Leading experts in the field of digital presentation and preservation of cultural and historical heritage will give talks at the conference. Experts are expected from the United States, Switzerland, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, USA, UK, Italy, Greece, Serbia, Russia, Romania and Ukraine amongst others. In the frame of the DiPP2019 an autumn training school Development and Promotion of Open Access to Scientific Information and Research will be organized. Leading partner: Institute of Mathematics and Informatics – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Partners: Institute of Mathematics and Informatics (VelikoTarnovo), St. Cyril and St. Methodius, University of Veliko Tarnovo, Regional Museum of History, Regional Public Library (Veliko Tarnovo), Veliko Tarnovo Municipality.

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

THEME 2.

CULTURAL OPEN GATES We would like to send a positive message which would inspire and provide a direction for our creative energy towards a productive change. We need to overcome old ways of thinking and open our minds to the new, while keeping our passion and courage for positive change. We need to experiment and learn, in order to fulfil our potential for innovation and take our cultural, social and economic development to the next level. The projects under the Cultural Open Gates theme embody this idea. We have embraced the spirit of innovation and we want to spread its dynamics deeper into cultural, social, and economic life in order to reduce the loss of human capital (especially of young and educated people). With its historic aura, architectural landscape, and cultural atmosphere, Veliko Tarnovohas been not only an attraction but also an open space for artists eager to explore, create, innovate, and develop in challenging ways. Through opening its gates for the modern arts to flourish inside its strongholds, Veliko Tarnovo can also help the artists themselves, and indeed all citizens to reach their full potential. We believe that this approach will attract cultural operators from Bulgaria, Europe, and the world to find new inspirations and work together with local artists. This will result in innovative approaches in terms of the following: new visions of the traditional; productive interventions in the urban space; arts synthesis; inter-disciplinary art; development of new audiences, new participative approaches; partnerships between professional and amateur artists; development and use of new media and a new sense of artistry. An important aspect of many of the projects under this theme will be curation. Today, curators are taking on a more prominent and important role not only in maintaining museum collections but in producing exhibitions in a creative and conceptual manner. Mad Cap I Place: Samovodene village, Kilifarevo village.

Architecture Students Assembly), Vienna School of Art, MAD-faculty (Genk), Academy of Fine Arts (Zagreb).

In 1996, four Bulgarian art schools founded an association called Mad Cap. Among the initiators Volvox – A series of different scale projects were artists from VelikoTarnovo. In 2019, young people (aged 18 – 26) from Bul- Place: University, open spaces, Sveta gora park, garian and European art schools will gather in the city suburbs. village of Samovodene for a two-week summer Volvox is a programme designed by an internaIdea Camp. The theme of the Camp will be No- tional group of artists living and working in Veah’s Ark. The participants will analyze and dis- liko Tarnovo (Atanas Totlyakov, Joanna Tielie, cuss what the most important cultural achieve- Iskra Ivanova, an Ideaction Association). It is ments of European culture are, and choose which aimed at encouraging interaction between indishould be collected and stored for future gener- vidual and collective cultural projects and artists ations. After making their selections, they will working in the field of contemporary art. Based have to find the right form in which to present on examples from nature, Volvox is a strategy them and to put them in a time capsule. developed for creating a functioning organism from single cells – artwork, creative action, and Students will be selected through an open call. the interaction of artists and art groups. The main Leading partner: Mad Cap Association. objective of Volvox is for culture to become the Project partners: St. Cyril and St. Methodius new nature and way of life for the community, University of Veliko Tarnovo, EASA (European both artists and audience.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Volvox graphical

Volvox new cells

The team of the Laboratory for Creative Practices systematizes the stages of implementation of each project and prepares a graphical scheme. The graphics reflect each artist, each concrete action, and each result received. The graphically displayed algorithm is suitable for interactive publication. This builds a digital environment in which visual, audio, and textual works can be presented simultaneously. Each viewer gets an idea of the sequence of events and the stages in the implementation of an artwork. In the process of continuous information saturation, the relationships between projects are visualized. By receiving a continuous stream of information, the viewer is able to visualize the relationships between diverse projects. Thus, a digital Volvox is achieved in which multiple creative solutions to similar problems can be monitored simultaneously. Digital media, as a tool for creating art, enables the storage of images and art installations and actions that are temporary in the real, physical world. These works require minimal financial resources and available equipment. Within the Laboratory for Creative Practices, projects can be developed that exist only as an author’s intention, i. e. without taking place in reality or substantively existing for a minor interval. An example of this is the concept of the Wilderness Project.

A project involving young artists and students from Veliko Tarnovo. The interior of students’ personal living space becomes art space. These are spaces for discussions, co-productions of small artistic ideas and projects. The process is constantly documented, published and analyzed. In 2019, the spaces will be open to visitors.

Volvox Wilderness Wilderness is a project for conceptual interventions in empty or deserted areas. The project is the antithesis of media impressions of a consumer society, whereby there is a glut of unnecessary material objects, and a dehumanization in relationships. The project aims to transform unused, inactive, and depopulated urban environments. The artistic interventions will take place over a very short period of time (a few hours). The project treats the problem of the short material existence of various forms of art, which nonetheless achieve results over time through the ideas themselves and the development of meaningful relationships. All short creative interventions are documented and presented on the site of Volvox Culture 2019 as well as at specialized multimedia spaces in the urban environment.

Partners: Urban shortcut Association (Bulgaria), St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Ideaction, Creative Lab Novi Sad (Serbia), Intercultura Consulting (Bulgaria), Perugia 2019. International Biennial of Painting and Art of Paper Place: non-traditional exhibition spaces, like schools, libraries, and hospitals, exhibition halls. The Biennial of Drawing in Veliko Tarnovo exists as a national cultural event. The intervening editions in 2015 and 2017 will be events related to master classes and workshops for young talents, presentations and the organization of exhibitions. It is envisaged for the Biennal to become an event for drawing and paper art with international participation. The emphasis will be placed on working with children. Leading organization: Union of Bulgarian Artists in Veliko Tarnovo. Shine a Light Sound and light festival. Place: Tsarevets fortress, Trapezitsa fortress, Boris Denev Art gallery, Sveta Gora park, A sound and light show has been organized in Veliko Tarnovo since 1985. It was designed and planned by a Bulgarian and Czechoslovak team. The Shine a Light festival will be organized in 2019 as an event presenting modern lighting technologies and their artistic application. The first festival will be devoted to architecture and nature. Veliko Tarnovo attracts visitors with its unique architecture, which fits in harmoniously with the natural surroundings. The works in the field of lighting and sound technologies will be selected through an open call by an international jury.

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

The spectators will be offered a magical multi- contemporary art scene. The Resident Art Cenmedia experience in the beautiful synthesis of tre seeks to build sustainable relations between architecture and nature. artists from the town and visiting artists and to In 2019, the Cultural Tourism Fair, which tradi- promote Veliko Tarnovo as an art destination. tionally takes place in Veliko Tarnovo, will be Leading partner: St. Cyril and Methodius Unifocused on the relation between technologies, versity of Veliko Tarnovo, Institute of Matheart and the development of tourism. It will also matics and Informatics, Veliko Tarnovo. host an international audio-visual fair.

Graffiti in the Air Leading partner: Tsarevgrad Tarnov Tourist Place: Quarter Cholakovtci, Buzludja, SamoAgency. Partners: Havas Digital Sofia, Moscow Interna- vodska Charshiya, Gurko street. tional festival Сircle of light. In the period until 2018, there will be a renovation of the housing units in the Cholakovtsi Street Festivals. Children Have Fun district, Veliko Tarnovo. In order to improve the appearance of this cold and boring quarter Art family weekends of the urban landscape of Veliko Tarnovo, new Place: Different city suburbs. spaces for art have been provided: painting on A series of family weekends will happen the side walls of the blocks of flats. The prothroughout the year in different quarters of the ject will not only focus on the aesthetics of the city. They will involve exciting street entertain- murals, but also on their political, sociological ment, carnivals, animation, live theatrical and and economic aspects. An international compemusical performances, and art workshops for tition will be held for the preliminary selection of graffiti and prominent artists will be invited children of all ages and families. A special weekend will be devoted to European who will draw for a period of one month. During the period of the project, guest artists will indoor and outdoor games for children. give lectures, lead workshops, communicate Leading partner: Youth House (Veliko Tarnovo). and discuss current problems and tendencies Partners: Silver Yantra Association, the Associ- in contemporary art and art in general. The ation of Free Bulgarian Actors, Simoni Theatre site will become a permanent outdoor gallery Company, Ferrara (Italy), Leeuwarden 18, The of one of the most modern genres in visual art. Happy museum, London. The consultant on the In 2019, there will be a one week festival of project will be the theatre specialist, Professor street art, which is expected to include artists Remo Meloni, a lecturer at the University of Mi- from more than six countries. They will have the opportunity to exchange experiences, establish lan. contacts with each other and draw parallels beVeliko Tarnovo Resident Art Center tween cultural differences and similarities. There will be a carnival weekend in the city, which will Place: Samovodska charshiya. attract audiences from all over Europe. A special This will involve the implementation of a year- site specific street art project will be realized by round international resident programme for the experimental theater group Continuo from visual artists, composers, writers, literary trans- the Czech Republic. In the years up to 2019, lators, filmmakers, contemporary dancers and this group will perform in VelikoTarnovo and dance choreographers and cultural managers. will implement various small experimental art The main purpose of the resident programme projects that will be part of the process of the is the creation of an actively functioning art project. centre that provides an environment for young Leading partner: IdeactionAssociation. and established creative people to work. Such participants will feel inspired by the spirit, ar- Partners: Lecce 2019, Continuo theatre (Czech chitecture, and history of the ancient capital, in- Republic). cluding it in the processes of global art and the

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Open Space – residence programme for Festival of Musical Notes and Paints Balkan contemporary artists Place: Music and Drama theatre, Summer theaPlace: Old parts of the city, city center, suburbs, tre, Exhibition halls. numerous spaces in the city. Each participating country will select ten of their This is a residentprogrammefor artists from the country’s most emblematic songs (a total of fifty Balkans and Eastern Europe who work in the songs). Young artists will sing and „draw” these field of contemporary art. It will take place in songs. The festival will have a rich accompanythe city of Veliko Tarnovo for two months. Dur- ing programme: a conference for arts and music, ing this period, artists will have the opportunity seminars, exhibitions, workshops, master classto transform abandoned buildings into artistic es, concerts, vernissages and fun games with the spaces, create site specific installations in open audience. A series of events will be hosted by urban spaces or transform urban objects. Dur- different villages in the region of Veliko Tarnoing the program, there will be a series of pres- vo. entations and visits to local cultural places. In The festival will be on a competitive basis, with doing this, the priority will be to familiarize the prizes for the best singers and artists. They will be audience with current trends in the field of con- given awards at the Gala concert, which will be actemporary art and with the art of neighboring companied by many attractions and pyrotechnics. countries. The main goal of Open Space is the promotion of contemporary art as well as that of Leading partner: Silver Yantra Association. modern Balkan creativity. Such an initiative will help in building a network of contacts between Partners: Un Microfono per San Remo (Italy), Balkan cities in order to exchange information, Golden Microphone (Slovenia), Carpathia Fest (Poland), and Ciata Lui Pitigoi (Romania), reartists and the activities of cultural centers. spectively through their music schools and stuPart of theprogrammewill be the creation of the dios: Rumi Studio (Veliko Tarnovo), Rocky May Balkan Fusion orchestra. Music Arts and Show Roxyl Music (Italy), OsBalkan music is rich and vibrant, a testimony to minka Studio (Slovenia), Centrum Sztuki Wothe mutual influences of different ethnic groups, calniej (Poland) and Central Cultural Dunarea characterized by complex rhythms. The idea is de Jos (Romania). The events of the festival and to invite fifty professional Balkan musicians and the gala evening will be broadcast by Pop MTV composers working in the field of pop, classical – Official Web TV Channel of Silver Yantra and music, jazz and blues, to work together in Veliko others. Tarnovo for the period of one month. Together they will produce a musical repertoire that will The Garden of Stained Glass and Mosaics be introduced to different European countries. Place: Sveta Gora park, Asenevtsi park, Boris Leading partners: Ideaction Assocaition, ABV Denev Art gallery. art project. This will involve the creation of a mural art

Partners: existing and those that will be invited for this project: Ideaction Association, Lecce 2019, Association ARTerija, Macedonia, Balkan Independent Artists Association Transformers, Create and Play Bulgaria, Universitate de arte din Bucuresti, Akademija Likovnih Umjetnosti Hrvatska, Kuku Društvo za kreativno udeležbo, Band adriatica Ico Tito Schipa, scuola popolare Orchestra ExLarge, Brindisi, Liceo Musicale, Parabita (Italy).

park. Students and teachers from the faculty of Fine arts of the University of Veliko Tarnovo, in addition to foreign artists, will take part in the design of the park on a competitive basis. The first two projects to take place will be dedicated to the idea of combining mosaic and stained glass and a figure composition. A mosaic that absorbs light and stained glass that glows make the correspondence and the symbiosis between them an extremely difficult task. The viewer will be able to walk through the work.

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

Figure composition – The good old days. The composition takes us back to the time when children would play hide and seek around the streets. The figures will start from the park and mark a tourist route that can be easily followed. The material for the figures will be polyester resin.

aesthetic, and moral platforms. It is assumed that by 2020 the processes that began in the previous decade will crystallize. New symbolism will be formed by dynamic ongoing social processes. This will be a fascinating period for research by art historians that must be documented in an enLeading partner: St. Cyril and St. Methodius Uni- cyclopedia. versity of Veliko Tarnovo (Faculty of fine art). Happiness Train Partners: Partner Universities from Europe Location: Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryahovitca Art Panorama Festival of Contemporary Art and the Bulgarian train network. Place: Boris Denev Art Gallery, University, Exhibition halls, Congress center, alternative areas of the city. The history of Bulgarian art after 1989, though interesting, remains too ill-defined. The festival sets the objective of bringing together and introducing all the bands and, artists that worked during the 1990s and from then on. The project aims to organize an educational programme to promote contemporary art in the secondary schools of Veliko Tarnovo in order to prepare a well-informed audience for the upcoming events. The implementation of the project will include exhibitions of Bulgarian contemporary art and accompanying conferences. To ensure a lasting record, a film is expected to be created and an encyclopedia of Bulgarian contemporary art to be issued. Leading partner: St. Cyril and St. Methodius University (Faculty of fine arts). Partners: Instrument, Veliko Tarnovo; Dupini Art group, Veliko Tarnovo; Vartna, Varna; Zavoy, Shumen; RAB Group, Plovdiv; Disco 95, The City, Sofia; ART Burgas; Institute of Contemporary Art, Sofia; The Paper, Dobrich. Positive Reflections Positive Reflections addresses the distancing autonomy of the 90s, where the work of reproduction began of the new visual images in our modern art. As there has been a fall in the dynamics of the developing processes as well as a formation of new principles of development, it is considered that this period will be very different. The idea relies on John Cage’s theory that there are cycles in art, and that certain time periods are required for the emergence of new ethical,

The second largest railway station in Bulgaria is located in the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa. It provides connections with almost all the cities in Bulgaria as well as with international trains. The idea of the project is to bring together artists from Bulgaria and abroad in a ten-day residential programme in Veliko Tarnovo. They will have the task of co-creating a programme that will tour for one month by train to different cities in Bulgaria. The group will stop for a day or two in each city, make performances at the train stations and organize workshops for local people. Art-Nature – International Symposium Place: In and around Veliko Tarnovo, Ksilifor area, Sveta Gora park. For two weeks artists of international renown in the field of land art, together with students will work in nature as a context and with nature as a material. The art in nature works will remain in the place of their creation. The places will become open-air museums, which year after year will be enriched until the artworks sink back into the nature from where they came. A seminar on the topic of art in nature will be held in the city of Veliko Tarnovo. Those leading the seminar will also present their own large-scale curatorial projects. as well as discussing theoretical developments. An exhibition of photographic and video documentation of the entire creative process will be shown in the form of a travelling exhibition, which will be shown in Bulgaria and abroad. A catalogue will be issued. Leading partner: Dupini Art group Partners: Art groups from Italy, Germany, Belgium, Turkey, Hungary, Israel, USA, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Ravenna 2019.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Week of the stairs

TurnOFF Jazz Festival

Place: Stairs around Veliko Tarnovo.

Place: Asenevtsi park, Sveta Gora park, Kolyo The stairs are one of the most significant fea- Ficheto park, Music and Drama theatre. tures of Veliko Tarnovo; a challenge and temp- The aim is to create a new environment for jazz tation for artists. The attractive stairs will be the and improvisational music, focusing attention focus for artists during a two-week residence. on the performing arts and the improvisation The participants will be chosen through an open of street musicians in an urban environment. call from different artistic fields (architecture, Along with concerts of well known artists, masliterature, visual art, installations, performing ter classes and performances will be organized, arts, new media). with musicians playing live during the showing Leading partner: University of Architecture and of silent films outdoors. The festival is aimed not only at the more numerous Bulgarian audience, design. Partners: European Architecture Students As- but will also be focused on specialized foreign sembly (EASA), St. Cyril and St. Methodius audiences, including those attracted by tour operators and specialized European organizations University. for concert tourism. The festival will take place with the participation of world famous jazz muIntermedia Art Festival sicians. Place: different locations in the city of Veliko- Partners: Art summer, TurnOff Jazz AssociaTarnovo. tion, Dixie Jazz Fest Foundation. This is a project for a major event in 2019, covering different locations of the city of Veliko Tarnovo, including the following modules: Mail Art, Conceptual Art, Happenings, Performance Art, Science Art, Actions Music, Visual Novels, Dance Theater, Concrete Poetry.

Just for Kids Place: open spaces, Music and Drama theatre, Summer theatre, Fairground.

Three festivals will be organized in the period The concept of the festival was inspired by of two month: the original diagram of Higgins (Intermedia Chart 1995) which presented the elements list- The Little Prince – International Festival of ed above in the term intermedia. The viewer of Children’s and Youth Theatre the diagram is strongly impressed by the spaces The festival is in the format of a theater competimarked with a question mark, without a specif- tion for amateur students from three age groups. ic name. From this perspective, Intermedia Art In three days, the participants will show off their Festival searches for the names of the empty talents and perform on stage in front of the pubspaces. lic, competing in different sections. There is a Accompanying programmes: research on the section for children, another for teenagers, and development of the concept of Intermedia; a third dealing with the theatrical creativity of drawing in the context of Intermedia art; media, children and adolescents. Intermedia – International Youth Symposium for Digital Art. The preparation phase will start Grammar of Fantasy in 2015 with the implementation of the Interme- The project title is named after the popular childia International Scientific Conference. dren’s creative teaching book, written by the faLeading partner: St. Cyril and St. Methodius mous Italian writer and humanist Gianni Rodari. University of Veliko Tarnovo (Department of The creation of a children’s multidisciplinary show in the musical genre will be a co-proDrawing). duction of European artists and young people. Partners: Intermedia Art, Master of Arts (MA) Young people and children will be given the opin Intermedia (Poland), Edinburgh College of portunity to learn while participating in the colArt.

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

laborative process. The libreto will be based on tales, written by Emilian Stanev, Angel Karaliychev (Bulgarian writers of children books, both of whom were born, raised and domiciled in Veliko Tarnovo region) and Gianni Rodari. The performance will be presented in Bulgarian and Italian. Along with the show, there will be talks and meetings with children.

bands undoubtedly possess. The programme for 2019 will also include performances of classical and contemporary music. There will be parades through the streets of the city during the days of the festival in the late afternoon, preceding stage performances. A gala show will be scheduled for the closing night.

There will also be other performances, which bring together representatives of all groups in The Merry Puppeteers society. An impressive fireworks display will Puppet art is one of the oldest and most popular mark the end of the festival. in Europe. Children from the city of Veliko Tarnovo and the region will encounter the art of the Leading partner: Vasil Levski National Military different puppet art schools, creating a lasting University. and unforgettable experience. The performanc- Partners: Foundation of the International Festies will be prepared on the principle of improv- val of Military Orchestras, Representative Orisation and will include audience participation. chestra of the Armed Forces of the Republic of In this way, the audience will become involved Greece, Navy of the Republic of Romania Edinin creativity sharing, which many believe to be burgh Military Tattoo (Scotland). one of the shortest and surest ways of achieving happiness. Workshops will be conducted with I CAN – Cinema Air Nature children and adults. Spectators’ cultural knowledge will be enriched with reference to differ- Place: Acacia district, Petropavlovski monasent cultures, through being shown the history of tery area. the development of puppet characters and styles Project I CAN will show examples of non-comfrom different countries. mercial European film in different categories, Partners: Vessel Theatre (Veliko Tarnovo); which will be broadcast in key locations of Chitalishte Izvor – 1873 (Samovodene), Kon- the city once a week, every month during the stantin Kisimov Music and Drama Theatre (Ve- summer of 2019. These attractive locations are liko Tarnovo), Imaginate (Scotland), Puppet easily accessible. They have a well-developed theatre Zadar (Croatia), the puppet director and tourist infrastructure, and facilities for recreaactor Maurizio Corniani from the Italian city of tion, the locations are very well-known to the Mantua; the Bulgarian-Italian actress and cul- citizens of the region and its tourists.

tural mediator Tanya Karbova; Ravasio Foun- Combining eco-tourism (night eco tours) and dation (Bergamo, Italy), the Buratini Museum Film Arts is an innovative approach that. from the city of Tolosa (Spain). provides new possibilities for the perception of cinema and hiking – two different experiencInternational Festival of Military Orchestras es that could naturally complement each other. There will be various eco, artistic and cinema Place: Stadium, street parade, park areas. workshops and small after event parties under On September 20, 21 and 22 (the latter being the stars. Showing movies in the countryside Bulgaria’s National Independence Day) the will add a cultural aspect to these alternative city of Veliko Tarnovo will become the meet- places for leisure and eco-tourism. The expeing place for military brass bands from differ- rience I CAN will trigger strong emotions and ent countries. For 2019, the aim is to expand the will be a real and unforgettable adventure. duration of the event, and to increase the number of international participants and supporting Leading Partner: Ideaction Association, Film events. The festival programme will be execut- Studio Vreme. ed with the precision and discipline inherent in Possible partners: Tourist Association Trathe military, but also with the artistry that the pezitza, 360 magazine, Aylyak Hammock. professional musicians who are members of the

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Fantastik Tarnovo

One-way Ticket to Mars

Period: November 2019.

Mars One aims to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars. In 2018, the first unmanned mission will be launched. From 2024, crews of four will depart every two years. Mars is a mythical arena and a perfect playground for investigation and experiment for young European artists. Through an open call they will submit works in painting, sculpture, art installations, photography, video-art, computer graphics, architecture, performing art, music, design, fashion design and illustration. The best projects will be selected and presented in Veliko Tarnovo and awarded with a symbolic one way ticket to Mars. The programme will invite speakers from the fields of ecology, science, and economics to share their ideas along with the artistic works.

Place: Park Areas, Summer theatre, Tsarevets fortress, University. The festival will run for one week in November and showcase the best in international genre films, including science fiction, fantasy, thriller, horror and action / adventure. Genre film is an important part of the cannon of work produced each year by independent and studio filmmakers. Fantasy genre films are often wonderful pieces of entertainment, but can also educate – it is art doing what art is supposed to do.

With award-winning films from the archives of other European festivals and new works for the festival year, the shorts programme will be a key Leading partner: The FabriC regional cultural center, Prociendo Lab (Spain), LamatDance part of the festival programme. (UK). To create continued interest about the festival during the build up period, several side events Tsarevgrad Documentary will run: an exhibition, with commissioned works that fit within the fantasy idea; space Place: Palace of culture and sport, Music and and interstellar travel; designing new habitats, Drama theatre, Emilian Stanev school. ecologies and cities. The International Film Festival Tsarevgrad The festival app (with a game engine) will have Documentary will present short documentary a full schedule of events, details of all locations and popular science movies. There will be a with links to GPS and maps, voucher codes and competition part, in which there will be a youth other relevant details. section for emerging documentary film makers. Leading partner: Fantastic Tarnovo Foundation. The festival will include master classes in directing, cinematography, editing, scriptwriting and production. There will also be seminars Ballet Summer Academy that will present up-to-date information from Place: Maryan, Summer Theatre Veliko Tarnovo the fields of humanities and social and natural Ballet Academy Maryan has been initiated by sciences through audiovisual works. Dilyana Nikiforova, a dancer at the Bulgarian National Opera and Ballet. The Academy will be held in the local chitalishte of Maryan village. It is designed to provide an expert training programme for ballet students (ages 9 – 14). Young ballet dancers from Europe, along with professional dancers, will meet in Maryan and work together to create a joint performance, which will be presented in Veliko Tarnovo.

A side program will include a five-day writers’ workshop for independent screenwriters with the support of established writers. This will include script readings and producers meetings.

Partners: In the Palace international short film festival (Bulgaria), Roma Independent Film Festival (Italy), BuSho Film Festival (Hungary), Open St. Petersburg Film Festival, Festroia Film Festival (Portugal) Altern-Native International Partners: Elena municipality, National Opera Short Film Festival (Romania), Turkish and Ballet (Bulgaria), Cranco Ballet (Stuttgart), Foundation of Cinema and Audio-visual Culture Norway National Ballet, Balleto del Sud, Lecce. (Turkey).

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

THEME 3.

ROUTES Through our third theme, Routes we would like to take our citizens and visitors on a spiritual journey and exploration of how people live, work and create together in Europe. Different aspects of human life are anthropologically part of culture (clothing, cooking, communication etc.). Our Routes refer to networks of people, places, themes, stories and legends that connect Europe. It will not be a physical movement along these places, but a transmission and exchange of knowledge, customs and traditions. It will be a way of sharing ideas and promoting friendship. The projects under this theme will involve a great number of European partners and participants in a wide range of activities (e. g., field studies, expeditions, symposia, publications, artistic events, workshops etc.) to enhance our understanding of dynamic cultural interactions. More and more, tourists are looking for true experiences, hoping to meet and get to know other people and cultures. Routes aims to develop new opportunities for creative tourism. Some Routes present a year-round program while others consist of several sub-projects. ALPHABET ROUTE Tarnovo literary school (14th – 15th century) was the major medieval Bulgarian cultural academy. It has been defined as the beginning of a long stage of evolution that lasted for several centuries. It was central not only to the development of the Bulgarian literary language, but also to the literary languages of Russians, Serbs and Romanians. Different projects will be undertaken connecting the tradition of language and literature with space, architecture, history and other disciplines. A Place: region, park areas, city quarters.

Glagolitsa Place: University, Exhibition halls, Sveta Gora park, Medieval churches in Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi. The Glagolitic alphabet played a unique cultural, historical and social role among Slavonic communities. It is the oldest known Slavic alphabet. Veliko Tarnovo was at that time the main center for the orthographic and linguistic reform of the Bulgarian language. More than just an alphabet, Glagolitsa implies a unique sacred and secular culture, consisting of distinctive customs, literature, art, music and spirituality. Under Glagolitsa, a series of artistic activities will take place, like the Glagolitic dictatorship, which will involve contemporary artists and relate the old alphabets to current themes like dialogue and tolerance. A series of Glagolitic liturgical concerts, one of the most interesting aspects of the Glagolitic heritage among the Croats, will be organized in Croatia and Veliko Tarnovo.

The letter A is a common denominator in all of the official European languages. Young artists and architects will work together and produce different A sculptures. These will be displayed in Veliko Tarnovo city and region, but also in former European Capitals of Culture and twin cities. Different A letters will face each other in different parts of Europe, representing our common values, but also the diverse richness of Leading partner: Urban Shortcut Association. European culture. Leading partner: University of Architecture, Partners: Artists from Veliko Tarnovo, Zadar (Crotia), Novi Sad (Serbia), St. Cyril and St. Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia. Methodius, Veliko Tarnovo, University of Zadar Partners: European Assembly of Architecture (Croatia), Mama Papa group (Czech Republic). Students, University of Svishtov, Svishtov municipality, Veliko Tarnovo municipality.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

The Words of Europe – words of stone Place: region, open space, Residence center. The project involves poets and sculptors from all EU countries (including Balkan countries). The aim of the project is to popularize the culture of Europe through the oldest media for artistic artifacts – words and stone. The project will be implemented in two parts: from January to May, brief quotations from famous poets from each of the European countries will be selected. Then sculptors from European countries will be resident in Veliko Tarnovo and create a sculpture with the quotation from his / her homeland. The stone works will be gifted to different cities in the region. The sculptors’ work will start on 9 May, Europe Day and will be broadcast online.

is experiencing a deep transformation with innovations and changes in language policies, education, migration patterns etc. These developments challenge and modify the roles and functions of languages within and between states, ethnic groups and nations. The project proposes a programme which highlights language diversity. Cultural experts and artists from different European countries will come together to share their works, knowledge and traditions. Leading partner: Regional Library of Veliko Tarnovo.

Partners: St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of VelikoTarnovo, the Russian Academic Library to RAS, the University Library of the Thracian University of Edirne, the National Library in Ljubljana, partners from Finland, Ireland, Leading partner: Foundation for Bulgarian Global Libraries, Finnish, Austrian, Portuguese, Literature. Brazilian Embassies. Partners: St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, University of Pisa. THE BREAD ROUTE International Biennial of Literature

Place: Bread house, chitalista in Veliko Tarnovo city and region.

Place: Regional library, urban open spaces, The European Bread Route will connect Samovodska charshiya, Residence area, park Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Albania, Greece and areas, Exhibition halls, Congress center. Italy. It will start in Veliko Tarnovo and finish Veliko Tarnovo International Biennial of in Matera. Each city on the Bread Route will Literature aims to become a large celebration of organize a series of events combining local books and literature. Well-known, international bread traditions and bread-related crafts and authors will be invited to present their works in celebrations with more modern arts, crafts and the city. The event will create a bridge between cultural activities, from music and theater to cultures and languages, traditions and modernity. poetry and architectural events. Lyrics and music, word and dance, books and illustrations – all forms and formats will be Between 2014 and 2019, each city part of the presented as inseparable from each other and Bread Route will be developing and organizing mutually inspired. The programme will have a its local cultural activities and at the same time strong emphasis on working with children and developing its cooperation with the other cities young people, by cooperating with schools, that make up the Route. In August 2019, during the traditional time of harvesting, this long-term museums, orphanages and businesses. cooperation will culminate in a big joint event, A special session will be dedicated to the famous a European Bread Route Festival in the city Bulgarian poet, Pencho Slaveykov. of Veliko Tarnovo. Here in August 2019, the participating cities will come together and bring The Babylon Tower local groups of traditional bakers and young Part of the International Biennial of Literature. artists to present their cultural projects, mixing bread traditions and various art forms. Language presents different facets of the social and cultural identities of our contemporary In August 2019, this long-term cooperation will societies. The European linguistic landscape culminate in a big joint event, a European Bread

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

Route Festival in the city of Veliko Tarnovo. Here all the participating cities will come together and bring local groups of traditional bakers and young artists to present their innovative cultural projects, mixing bread traditions and art forms.

Gardeners from Lyaskovets were among the first to export the skills of growing vegetables to the countries of Europe. It is the only museum of its kind in our country. The Bulgarian contribution to the European treasury of garden and park art was recognized in 2014, when a monument to Bulgarian gardeners and a Bulgarian fountain were built in Budapest on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Association of Bulgarians in Hungary.

These innovative cultural performances will also be related to long-term community, cultural and social projects in each of the cities on the Bread Route, so as to ensure that the local communities are fully and regularly engaged in cultural cocreative activities centred on this innovative mixture of traditional bread-making and modern Taking all this as a starting point, there will be a series of events and studies related to gardening, arts. flowers and vegetables, parks and the design of Leading partner: Bread House cultural center public green areas in 2019. Veliko Tarnovo. Young landscape architects will participate in a Partners: Bread Houses in Zlatariza, Gabrovo, Plovdiv; Novi Sad, Dubrovnik, Thessaloniki, competition with their proposals for upgrading Altamura, Na Laga’at Center (Israel), Perugia, parks in Veliko Tarnovo and its region as free zones for culture, art and happiness. Young Matera, Lecce. growers of flowers and decorative plants from Pavlikeni will organize and conduct a VIA VINI – WINE ROUTE Flower Fair and the residents of Zlataritsa and Place: Veliko Tarnovo Region, Fair Center. Lyaskovets will organize the traditional meeting Take a Sip of Wine with Kindness is a quote by of gardeners – a 150 year-old tradition. Omar Khayyam. Under this motto, winemakers, A special edition of pictures, documents, and hotel and restaurant owners from the Veliko selected archives will be published. Tarnovo region have matured the idea of working together and developing, with the support of Leading partner: The Museum of Immigrant many local amateur artists, a wine route and Gardeners, Lyaskovets. a series of cultural events. These events will Partners: the National Association of Small connect wine production and traditions with and Medium Business (Bulgaria); Flora Burgas related ethnographic customs, songs and dances. National Exhibition; Bulgarian community Winemaking traditions and unique crafts from in Budapest (Hungary); Colourful Spring different countries of Europe will be presented. and Colourful Autumn exhibitions (Plovdiv); Many events are planned in cooperation with the Pavlikeni Municipality. Italian candidate cities. The events aim to reach a wide audience and to involve as many visitors International Festival of Gardens and Parks as possible. Place: Park areas, suburbs, region. Leading partner: Svishtov Municipality. The aim of the festival is to improve urban Partners: Suhindol Municipality, Atelieto Art space and create new areas for outdoor culture Gallery, Siena 2019. and art. This feast of flowers and gardens will last ten days, offering visitors and residents GARDENS ROUTE plenty of cultural, traditional and modern events. These will include workshops open to The Bulgarian gardeners in Europe children and young people, lessons in gardening Place: Lyaskovets, Fair center. for individuals of all ages and a fair of flower The Museum of Immigrants Gardeners was growers, gardeners and garden accessories. established in the town of Lyaskovets in 1976. A competition between various city suburbs will

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

be organized on the re-designing of green spaces. Leading Partners: Municipality of Svishtov and The idea of the festival was developed after in- Veliko Tarnovo Municipality. ternational projects, which were based on the socializing of park areas and on cultural (garden) heritage as focal points for sustainable tourism, as with the Cult-Tour project.

Partners: Regional historical museum of Veliko Tarnovo, University of Veliko Tarnovo, University of Nottingham (UK), Technical University of Varna.

Partners: Cult-Tour partners (Bulgaria, Austria, ARCHITECTS ROUTE Germany, Italy, Romania, Greece), Garden FesPlace: Schools, Universities, Urban open spaces. tival, (Croatia). Exquisite architecture is one of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landGOLD ROUTE marks, making Veliko Tarnovo unique among architecture Place: Museum of archeology, Svishtov muse- Bulgarian cities. The city contains th from every period from the 12 century BC to um, Pavlikeni, Congress center. the present day. All of these layers exist in the The project will present a magical journey into same geographical area and thereby present a the word of gold. It will involve the ancient perfect ground for investigation and education. town of Nicopolis ad Istrum, the Roman colony of Nove near Svishtov and an area of the River Festival Kolyo Ficheto Rosica, where gold has been mined since anOne of the most beautiful buildings had been tiquity. The project aims to restore technology made by the famous architect Kolyo Ficheto, linked to gold extraction and process the gold so who lived in Veliko Tarnovo. The festival will as to make jewellery and coins. Through inter- be developed with the main focus on creativity, disciplinary research, a map with the locations creation and volunteering. The project aims to of metal mining will be made to show the his- emphasize participation and a community feeltorical development of gold production in the ing, to encourage people to use creativity and be region. Antique practices, traditions and habits inspired to design their own environment and connected to gold manufacture, will become an at the same time, to promote new architecture attraction for visitors and connect us with the trends and provide platform for young archiDanube region and other European countries. tects. It will include a competition for temporary Other events will present spelt, the so-called mobile architecture, a series of workshops and Thracian gold and the oldest grain in the world. events about traditions, as well as art and crafts Spelt was grown here and transported to Europe and their connections to architecture. An international forum for young people sharing knoalong the river. whow on volunteering and projects implemenA part of this concept is to re-enact gladiator tation will be organized. fights. These will take place among the ruins Leading partner: Moga Dryanovo Association. of the ancient town Nove, a former first-century border fortress, within the First Italic Le- Partners: EASA (European Architect Student Assembly), Veliko Tarnovo University, The gion. The organization which will deal with the Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria, The Chamabove-described re-enactments will begin its ber of Engineers in the Investment Design. work in 2014, and by 2019, a large-scale programme will have been developed for the whole BEAUTIFUL ELENA ROUTE summer period. Elena is Zeus daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name, but Elena is An interactive exhibition developed under the also a beautiful town nearby Veliko Tarnovo. As auspices of the project will tour in Europe, start- much as gender is a social construct, women in ing from Nottingham. Europe have common experiences and this so-

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

cial construct of gender is the result of recurring women’s organizations; Association of Entrepreneurs of the Coastal Alentejo (Portugal); experiences. AGP group Pamplona (Spain). The Beautiful Elena route includes several projects: Womad Beautiful Elena

Place: Exhibition halls, park areas, Residence center, Samovodska charshiya.

Place: Elena, VelikoTarnovo University, Marno pole park, Fair Center, Samovodska charshiya. The Womad project aims to describe the condition of women in the field of contemporary art. The project will present women’s lifestyle, culture, dress and food habits and their place in a Nowadays, it is not easy to find a good balance small town, in this case, Elena. With the imple- between being a woman and at the same time mentation of the project, the existing cultural an artist. Womad wants to invite women artists heritage will be preserved. This heritage is re- from different countries, to share their experiencflected in the music and literature of the region. es and career histories and to analyze the topic There are numerous songs about women as well from a gender perspective. A touring exhibition as about the customs and legends associated with will visit different European cities, where artists the region and the region’s main occupations. and art historians will be invited to discuss the under-representation of women and various raThe project will showcase local crafts, as well as cial and ethnic groups in art galleries and major presenting authentic clothing and showing how exhibitions. the clothes are made. It will examine the local way of life, and will focus on the impact of wom- Leading partner: YMCA (Bulgaria). en on the social life ofa small and closed society. Partners: Flying broom (Turkey), Boris Denev There will be reconstructions of textile production – for example, installations with looms to show how to weave and make the belts, rugs, and carpets that are traditional for the town of Elena. The town of Elena was also known for the manufacture of high-quality silk. There will be demonstrations describing the different stages of the process of silk manufacture from the silkworm to the final production of beautiful silk fabrics and textiles. The project will also show embroidery and the knitting of lace, which rivals point-lace for elegance and intricate ornamentation. There will be a presentation of the foods of the region given by women and young girls. At this event, there will also be conferences related to how women around the world are able to express their views and defend their opinions on various issues. Within the project, research will be conducted so as to publish a book aimed at depicting the life and culture of women from Elena in an attractive way.

Art Gallery.

Project Partners: Napredak – 1863 – Elena, National Cultural Centre, Elena Municipality; Ilarion Makariopolski Museum of Revival, Elena; municipal children’s complex; international

The international Roma Children Festival „Open heart” began its development in 2004 and is already well-established, with more than 1,500 national participants per year. Since 2013, the

ROMA ROUTE Support of tolerance and integration is the main aim of the Roma Route, which includes a complete cycle of events based on Roma culture in a new contemporary dimension. This will combine not only the richness of Roma folklore and its interweaving with the wealth of the Bulgarian and Turkish cultures, but also highlight the contribution of the Roma culture to the formation of contemporary European culture. Within the theme, the creation of the first Ethnographic Museum of Roma Culture in Bulgaria is envisaged, to be established in Veliko Tarnovo. Open Heart Place: Park areas, city suburbs, Exhibition halls, University, Summer theatre, Music and Dance theatre, Veliko Tarnovo Region.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

festival has involved international participants from Romania, Macedonia, Greece and Spain. In 2019, the festival also aims to include participants from outside Europe and to show Roma culture in the context of the world culture.

In 1990, a process of mass migration of artists began, as artists started to seek opportunities for fulfilling their potential outside of Bulgaria. Since then most of them have become well integrated in their respective countries. The development Within the Festival exhibitions of traditions, life, of each artist has been marked by the specifics and the history and culture of the Roma commu- of the geographical place where he / she lives nities in the region and abroad will be presented. and works, but their creative life started, back in time, from where they come from. Leading partner: Amalipe Centre of Interethnic The idea of the East – West Project is to invite Dialogue and Tolerance. all the artists living abroad who originate from Partners: Roma organizations from Macedonia, Veliko Tarnovo to present their works in their Romania, Hungary, Greece and Spain. home town. The visual results will be systematized and included in the second volume of the International Festival of Roma Brass encyclopedia of Bulgarian Artists Abroad after Orchestras 1990. Place: Zlatrits municipality, Strazhitsa munici- Partners: Boris Denev” Art Gallery, Perugia pality, Summer theatre Veliko Tarnovo, Palace 2019. of culture and sport. The Roma brass orchestra Balkanska Kitka is a Promised Land famous orchestra from Zlataritsa Municipality. Different communities – Bulgarians, Roma, Wallachs and Turks – live in Zlataritsa, but any celebration of these communities takes place with the remarkable rhythms of the Roma orchestra. It is nationally and internationally acclaimed for its virtuous technique and lively interpretations. The popularity of Balkanska Kitka gave birth to the idea of organizing a Roma festival of brass music that will bring together orchestras from all over Europe in April 2019. One of the interesting elements of the project is the programme which will include improvisations on classical music. Leading partner: Orchestra.

Balkanska

Kitka

Brass

Partners: Zlataritsa Municipality, Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, Amalipe Center for multiethnic dialogue and tolerance, Roma orchestras for Europe (Budapest), Dragacevo Brass Bands Festival (Serbia).

During the last few decades, the flow of migration to and from Europe and other continents has changed. New professionals are nowadays in demand and new situations have developed. One example that especially affects women from Eastern countries, moving to Western countries, is the so-called gledachki, a kind of babysitter, but also a carer for old people. Many women, because of economic crisis situations and poor job opportunities, have decided to leave their husbands and children at home and to move to Austria, Italy, etc, searching for a better life. Promised Land wants to find real stories, to document real people’s experiences, the positive as well as the negative sides. What is the role of these women? Under what kind of conditions do they find their jobs and under what kind of conditions do they live? What happens with their families in their home country? And how do they integrate into a new life and family?

The project will involve artists, film makers and experts, and offer not only a portrait of MIGRANTS ROUTE these women, but will expand to paint a bigger picture of all the people involved. The project East – West will be undertaken and presented in both Veliko Place: Boris Denev Art Gallery, University, Tarnovo and Lecce. Exhibition halls, Congress center, urban open Partners: International Elias Canetti Society, Ruse, University of Veliko Tarnovo, Lecce 2019. spaces.

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

WELL-BEING ROUTE Well-being Wall

how. This will include debates and discussions, performances and exhibitions, tours and practical sessions related to arts, creativity and well-being.

The week is expected to become an integral feaPlace: University, Exhibition hall, Boris Denev ture in Veliko Tarnovo’s cultural calendar. Art gallery, Fair center, Congress center. In 2019, thirty years after the fall of the Berlin wall, the project will discuss the role of culture indevelopment and well-being (for individuals and the community) from both sides of the Wall, before and after 1989. The one week event will include an interdisciplinary conference which will bring together academics, cultural managers, policy makers and artists to discuss and explore the links between arts, culture and well-being. A range of artistic events will present literature, documentary, visual art and films from former socialist countries.

A Portrait of the Politician as an Artist Place: Congress Asenevtsi park.

center,

Exhibition

halls,

Historically, there has always been a strong relationship between art and politics, but both have remained autonomous spheres. Around Europe, there are many politicians who professionally, or as a hobby, are involved in the arts. There are musicians (like the mayor of Pavlikeni), comedians and visual artists.

In 2019, culture and politics will come together in Veliko Tarnovo in an informal and creative meeting. Politicians will have the opportunity to present their artistic competences and works and participate in wide-ranging public discussions Leading partner: St. Cyril and St. Methodius on culture in the political agenda of European University (VelikoTarnovo). cities and Europe as a whole. Partners: Museum of Socialist Art (Bulgaria), Nukus Museum of Art (Uzbekistan), Media- All art is political, everyone is an artist wave Another Connection International Film And Music Festival (Gyor, Hungary), Arttrend (Crotia). Place: University of Veliko Tarnovo, exhibition halls. Creativity and Wellbeing week It is difficult to define political art. In the sense Place: Urban open space, schools, hospitals, that it engages society in some way and offers a perspective on social relations, all art can be chitalishta, cultural institutions defined as political. Yet there are works that are Creativity and Wellbeing Week is an initiative directly aimed at a political cause, to endorse or developed by London Arts in Health Forum and explicitly oppose the status quo. They address the National Alliance for Arts Health and Wellbepublic concerns and aim to strike a chord with ing. In 2013, it hosted more than 80 events with the viewer. nearly 10,000 participants. The initiative gives plenty of examples and evidence that art makes In the framework of the route, artists from Euus feel alive, nourishes our curiosity and helps rope who get involved in political issues will us learn. Art changes the places in which we are be invited for a week to create and present their treated, making them become better places. It works in Veliko Tarnovo. can improve the relationship between clinicians Partners: University of Veliko Tarnovo, Uniand patients, and it can give us courage. versity of Zadar (Croatia), University of Turku VelikoTarnovo 2019, in partnership with London (Finland), Siena 2019, London Arts and Health Arts in Health Forum and Siena 2019, will or- forum. A special focus will be dedicated to the survival of art under oppressive régimes. The project will host a panorama of forbidden socialist art – a remarkable cultural treasure.

ganize a week of exchange of artists and know-

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

MAP TO FUTURE Augmented Realities

tion in a 2019 conference devoted to this issue. Participants will debate and explore the subject of digital media and its applications in the contemporary art world. The conference will be accompanied by an exhibition presenting a great variety of digital methods, such as mapping and augmented reality, and will be attended by a selection of digital artists from Europe.

In the past few years, augmented reality has had a far-reaching impact on culture and on cultural heritage applications. This new technology is pushing boundaries between what is real and what is computer generated, posing new challenges and providing new, exciting and innova- The forum is envisaged to become a biennial event in Veliko Tarnovo for art, digital media tive opportunities. and technologies. Augmented reality will be created for each of the cultural routes and will be presented at the Digital audience final conference in December 2019. In the 21st century, we are witnessing a new By using augmented realityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s combination of global phenomenon â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the global audience. data from the real world with computer-genToday we can listen to music or read books erated data, a clearer perception of the content through our Smartphones, we can enjoy differdeveloped under the theme of Cultural Routes ent art events through Facebook, and we can see will be experienced. The real achievements of the best of British theatre as the National Theatre the Routes projects will come sharply into focus, Live project broadcasts it live from the London providing a new and exciting experience. Ele- stage to cinemas across the UK and around the ments of reality experienced along the Routes world. will be enhanced by computer-generated senso- The project will start from 2015, with research ry perception: sound, video, graphics and GPS and a comparative study of how people engage data. Artificial information about the environ- with arts and culture online, and their attitudes ment and its features will be overlaid on to the towards using online technology to engage with real world, so as to make connections and en- the arts. hance knowledge. An international conference will present the reFor children, a special Routes Prototype play sults from the research and will provide a forum set will be created to encourage imagination and for different topics regarding a digital audience, encouraging international exchange and inspirlearning through augmented reality. ing new ideas. Technological boundaries Partners: Havas Digital (International), The Business Institute Foundation (Bulgaria), InstiAre there any technological boundaries in art? tute of Mathematics (VelikoTarnovo), Terakom A review of the relationship between art, digital (International), RealityBox (Bulgaria), British media and technologies will answer the ques- Council.

THEME 4

HAPPY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NES (T) S The projects within the Happy-Nes(t)s theme are about planting the seed of creativity and transferring its power into different settings of cultural significance, including cultural centres, educational institutions, residential areas, social clubs and societies, city surroundings, villages, nature, business, etc. Artists, scientists, researchers and other professionals will be invited to interact with local communities and to share and debate ideas bringing new perspectives.

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

Bulgaria is the home of one of the oldest and largest networks of community cultural centers in the world, called chitalishte (literally reading house). These cultural centers came into existence as a result of a civil society initiative in the 1850’s, as part of a movement to promote national identity through art and culture. VelikoTarnovo has the greatest concentration of them in Bulgaria. Once thriving cultural centres, many of them are now underused, in poor condition and in some cases, abandoned. These centres, frequently situated in villages, can be resurrected by a variety of cultural ventures that bring the creative power of the artistic communities into a shared work and partnership with the local communities. Chiatlishta artistic revitalisation will aim at shaping the cultural life of the city and its region, and to advance creativity and community engagement as a key for sustainable community development. Projects under this theme will set the model for grounding and housing the concept of Creating Happiness into the community cultural centers by: • extending the aspect of audience / cultural consumption of the arts in the direction of sustainable participation / cultural co-creation that engages the communities; • encouraging and training local and regional artists and creative professionals to work in chitalishte context and engage with local communities; • delivering collaborative creative interventions by artists and cultural figures from Europe and non-European countries; • networking for sharing competences, skills, and good practices. The chitalishte project will contribute to the creative spillover into other sectors, such as healthcare, education, social work and business. Second World Summit of Community Arts The model of these community cultural centers, that we call points of happiness, aims to energise Centers and Networks and activate the citizens’ participation and creaIn 2019, in five years period after the first Sum- tivity and nurture their happiness. It can be apmit held in Veliko Tarnovo, the second meeting plied also to hospitals, schools, businesses and of the Community Arts Centers and Networks is nature improving people’s overall well-being by planned to discussed the concrete results of the filling their daily lives with the joy of co-creation for all ages and abilities. cooperation and its benefits for the local communities. It will demonstrate the contribution Residences for future of Veliko Tarnovo and the various chitalishte projects to the wider European community arts Place: Samovodene. networks. At the same time it will highlight the Inspired by the straw bale house built by an Engcontribution of Europe and its community arts lish couple living in Hotnitsa village, a group of networks to global efforts to develop such net- artists proposed to build traditional houses from works and cultural projects. different countries: adobe for Bulgaria, straw for The Second World Summit will build on all the England and wood for Russia. From 2015 to 2019 artists and experts will gather in an area around networks and projects realised since 2014 and Veliko Tarnovo to build houses for the correinvite around 100 participants from more than sponding materials. The houses will be designed 50 countries from 5 continents. as a residential base for artists and realised with Veliko Tarnovo network of community cultural the support of students from the local technical centers will provide various cultural activities to school as well as students in architecture. people of all ages and abilities, will focus on de- The environmental concept is in tune with the veloping people’s own cultural production and idea of hosting conferences and artistic resicreativity through workshops and classes, and dencies from 2019 and beyond. In 2019 Veliko most important, will be in each neighborhood Tarnovo will invite young and creative people from Europe to a „future search” conference to and village.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

discuss current achievements and find solutions to different problems in the field of culture, education, employment, technology and sustainability. An open call will be launched to select the participants. Leading partner: Business Institute (Bulgaria).

ty, stimulate new approaches and ideas. For six months each neighbourhood will create, supported by artists-in-residence, its own cultural programme, which will be presented during the festival. The best ideas and projects will be selected and shared. The main objective of the festival is to encourage participants to deliver a diverse and rich offer of cultural events for the benefit of everyone and at the same time to share good practices and models for discussions from other European countries.

Partners: KaosPilots (Switzerland), Business School for creative leaders, social entrepreneurs and change makers (Switzerland), English business community of Veliko Tarnovo region, Euro- Leading partner: Youth House (VelikoTarnovo). pean Architect Student Assembly, Perugia 2019. Partners: Local chitalishta, Intercultura Consult (Bulgaria), Perugia 2019, European Network of Erasmus generation Independent Cultural Centres. Place: University of Veliko Tarnovo, Congress Bread House Matera center. Erasmus exchange program is one of the greatest culture and character building programs that young Europeans can experience. The friends and memories it creates for young people last a lifetime. Throughout the years Veliko Tarnovo has been a destination for hundreds of students. Young people from Veliko Tarnovo have also improved their professional experience through the programme. The University of Veliko Tarnovo has hundreds of links with partner organizations across all Erasmus countries. In 2019 Veliko Tarnovo will be happy to bring together all Erasmus adventurers that are feeling connected with the city for a big Erasmus generation party. Emotions, personal stories sharing and new friendships will shape the event. Leading partner: University of Veliko Tarnovo

The project aims to establish a Bread House in Matera, based on the model of Veliko Tarnovo. In Matera the Bread House will be realised in the Sassi district (the old cave part), following the map of all the former bakeries before they were abandoned in the 1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. The project will include main traditions which evolved in both cities like community bread-making workshops mixed with local arts, traditional and modern bread stamps, Bread and Arts Festival. Project Partners: Bread House (Bulgaria), Matera 2019, International Council of Cultural Centers. Happiness â&#x20AC;&#x201C; International Academic Conference

Partners: Vasil Levski National Military University, Erasmus students network, Erasmus Uni- Place: University of Veliko Tarnovo. versity. The conference is planned as a major European and world academic forum on the theme of Festival of quarters our contemporary understanding of happiness, Local neighbourhoods, each with their own taken in relation with its perception and curcharacter, can be special places within cities that rent discourse in European and world cultural can be linked with the city creativity, and areas traditions. The conference will explore the link of innovation and non-mainstream art and cul- of cultural life with the notion of happiness in ture. Currently, Veliko Tarnovoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural life is multiple perspectives. The cultural significance of such a conference is justified with the fact that mainly concentrated in the center. while the issue of happiness has been historicalFestival of quarters will invite international and ly and culturally open-ended, it remains pressing local artists to work in different areas and neigh- for us today as ever before. So much so that it is bourhoods of the city. It will explore the interest now in the focus of, inter alia, international instiof local people and the potential of these places tutions like United Nations and the Organisation for a more active cultural life. The participants will identify alternative spaces for their works of Economic Co-operation and Development. and, in collaboration with the local communi- Leading partner: University of Veliko Tarnovo.

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

Partners: European Center (VelikoTarnovo), Ur- discussion in both countries and in Europe and ban Shortcut, other institutional entities, includ- to activate the citizens, make them more aware ing European and world academic associations. and conscious about the media world and flow of informations that surround us. Censura A series of workshops and lecture, debates will

The project is about freedom of expression and be in organised both in Lecce and Veliko Tarnovo with local and international experts. Short media’s monopoly in Italy and Bulgaria. journalist exchange programmes will be organWorkshops, debates and exchanges are included ised between the two cities, in order to support in the program. Regarding the freedom of ex- a new generation of conscious professionals, enpression Bulgaria ranks the lowest amongst the courage exchange and support between different new EU members and Italy also ranks the lowest countries, and new approaches. amongst the original members, according to the Freedom of Press Index of the organisation Re- Leading partner: International Elias Canetti Soporters without Borders. A key reason for this is ciety, Lecce 2019. the strong monopolistic control over the media. Possible Partners: Osservatorio Balcani e CauCensura wants to compare the situation in Italy caso, University of VelikoTarnovo, University and Bulgaria, to point out questions, to provoke of Ruse, Foundation Media Democracy, Sofia.

THEME 5

CULTURA EX-MACHINA The name of the theme is a modification of the Latin Deus Ex Machina meaning ‘God from the machine’, which originally referred to a plot device used in ancient dramas to resolve happily situations of seeming impasse via surprising (frequently supernatural) interventions. Introducing Cultura in place of Deus is indicative of the crucial role that we seek for culture as the fourth pillar of our 21st century development agenda. The idea behind this thematic group derives from the need to build up the capacity and reinforce the transformation of the local administrative, creative and cultural sector for new approaches, skills, competences and development models. The activities will be implemented between 2015 and 2019 and aim to ensure the sustainability of cultural development beyond 2019. Under this theme studies, analysis and better data collection will be implemented to help the local ECoC structure, improve the program and its implementation, and to improve the evidence-base for local policy-making. The activities under this theme are designed to pave the way to creativity-based ideas and businesses; to new urban facilities and initiatives for incubating creative talents; to creativity-based local policies, strategies, and governance; and to building an environment of appreciation and awareness of the importance of arts and creativity for the human and community development. The following four groups of strategic activities are envisaged: Networking We realise the great potential and benefit of sustainable networking. This is why in our program we depend very much on established partnerships, as well as complementing these by building up new ones. With our program we would like to highlight and further develop our strong

connections with artists and other cultural professionals throughout the Balkan and Danube regions. We would also very much like to benefit and develop our contacts and partnership with the countries from the Baltic states: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and the Scandinavian countries because we both know little about each other and the year of European Capital of Culture will be a

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

perfect opportunity for cultural cooperation, ex- dressing important issues like strategic culture changes, and getting to know each other better. management, entrepreneurship and innovation At local level networking of different commu- in arts and creative industries, and audiences in nity and professional groups will be encouraged a global market etc. to facilitate participation in society, social con- In 2015 a Postgraduate Programme in Cultural nectedness, a sense of a common cause and to Management will be developed at the Faculty of ensure a healthy, balanced environment for the Economics of Veliko Tarnovo University. This local community to grow and thrive. new and exciting addition, will provide the opVolvox is a programme designed to encourage portunity for those who are already working to the interaction between individual and collective improve their knowledge and skills in the field cultural projects and artists working in the field of cultural management, and encourage the proof contemporary art. Based on examples from na- fession in Bulgaria generally. ture, a strategy was developed for a functioning Organizer: Intecultura Consult, the Business Inorganism from single cells – artwork, creative stitute Foundation, University of Veliko Tarnovo. action, and interaction of artists and art groups. The main objective of Volvox is the culture to Establishment of Veliko Tarnovo CreativeLab become new nature of connectivity in culture. Art is the only way to run away without leaving Mapping, research, case studies, home documentation The CreativeLab is the name of a group of young artists and cultural operators from VelikoTarnovo. The group believes that collaboration and innovation are at the heart of the success and development of the cultural sector. The aim of the group is to work with leading thinkers, artists, curators, technologists, audiences and business communities to develop and prototype ideas that improve and inspire new working methods, audience development, urban and community The activities will include: mapping of the cul- interventions, networking. The CreativeLab is tural and creative resources of the city and the designed to attract and keep creative talents in region – creative occupation groups, infrastruc- VelikoTarnovo. ture, creative industries; the effects of arts and culture on health and well-being; case stud- The CreativeLab will, focus on, and encourage ies and reviews on European capital of culture innovation in the field of contemporary art, stimachievements and failures; research and devel- ulate ideas exchange and dialogue, develop and opment of local cultural index, measuring the identify alternative media and spaces for the creation of specific projects, and aims to improve cultural vitality of the community. cross-curricular links with representatives outside the art field. The results of their efforts will Education and training activities be documentated and regularly published. Activities such as language courses, trainings in Each activity will be a basis for developing a arts management and cultural entrepreneurship, long-term project with multiple variations of vocational arts schools and volunteering semithemes and ideas. nars will be organised. A special emphasis in the program is put on the development of a research infrastructure at local level. Different European research organisations will be identified to work in partnership with Veliko Tarnovo University and our Creative Lab Hub. The rigorous and multidisciplinary basic researches of these institutions will be an excellent foundation for the envisaged researches.

From 2015 onwards, an annual International Cultura ex-Machina’s main projects Summer Laboratory for innovative, collaborative approaches in cultural management and net- International Council for Cultural Centers working will be organised in Veliko Tarnovo. programme The Summer Laboratory will be designed to build skills and provide knowledge to cultural Starting in Veliko Turnovo in 2015 the Internaoperators from Veliko Tarnovo and abroad ad- tional Council for Cultural Centers will invite international seminar participants from five se-

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

lected European countries and their networks of community arts centres, to work together with five local chitalishta on particular project about community engagement and social inclusion through the arts. During the years, the seminar will be further implemented and the number of participants and countries will grow. In 2017 a conference and Summer School on Arts for Social Transformation will be additionally organised with the aim to evaluate the results achieved from 2015. In 2018 a further International Conference and Summer School on Arts for Social Transformation, will be held and will form an important stage for the preparation of the Second World Summit of Cultural Centres in 2019 which will also be held in Veliko Turnovo.

of selected bells copies will be realised by sculptors students from Veliko Tarnovo. A magnificent symphony of sounds of European bells will be created by local and international musicians. A Virtual Museum of Bells will be created as part of the project. It will present the route of the research with an interactive map and digital information. From this spring the potential for making a real tourist route following the bells on the Eastern Trans-Balkan Corridor, or different key parts of the road (e.g. from the Danube to Shipka).

Partners: Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Regional Museum of History; Regional Public Library; St. Cyril and St. Methodius University; Technical School of Construction (Veliko Tarnovo); Technical UniOpen spaces for arts versity of Gabrovo; photography clubs – Orwo Veliko Tarnovo literary, painting and archi- and others. tecture schools during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom determined the progress of Bulgarian VT100 Digital Home – Mission possible culture at that time and was highly influential The project aims to 100 % digitalisation of culthroughout Europe and Russian, especially in tural, historical and scientific heritage of Veliko Serbian, Wallachian and Moldavian medieval Tarnovo and region. It will be developed in the culture. This inspired the idea to create informal following phases: literary, painting and architecture open spaces in different neighbourhoods where creative talks, • Establishment of Sever+ Regional Centre to training, fresh approaches, games, projections, document the cultural and historical heritage; entertainment aimed at children and young peoDocumentation, digitalization, passportisaple, could help to create an atmostphere of learn- • tion and other actions for preserving the culing, enjoyment of art and increasing a curiosity, tural and historical heritage; motivation and sense of direction. Project Partners: Youth House (Veliko Tarnovo), • Field work using modern technologies; Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, University of Ve- • Virtual mapping of the cultural and historical liko Tarnovo. heritage in the town by means of modern techThe Way of Bell’s Sound

nologies;

• Cyberspace (website, portal, museum) with The Way of Bell’s Sound is a project which aims 2D and 3D expositions of the cultural, historto collect the sound of bells from the Eastern ical, and scientific heritage; Trans-Balkan Road Cultural Corridor (from the Aegean Sea through the cultural crossroads of • Cooperation and collaboration with European partners – which has already begun with HunVeliko Tarnovo to the Baltic Sea). gary, Switzerland, Turkey, and Belarus; During the period 2014 – 18 the project will deal with the passportisation of the bells along the • Dissemination of results in Bulgaria, Europe cultural corridor between the two seas, as well and around the world: events, exhibitions, foas with expositions of digital objects. A Museum rums, printed materials.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Chapter II • Structure of the programme

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Chapter III Organisation and financing

of the event

1.1.

What kind of * structure is envisaged for the organisation responsible for implementing the project? What type of relationship will it have with the city authorities?

*â&#x20AC;&#x201A;The structure mentioned above refers to the organisation liaising with the Commission, in particular during the monitoring phase, should the city be awarded the title.

1.Â Organisational structure Until now our bid has been led by the municipality in conjunction with and supported by stakeholders, such as the artistic community, volunteers, businesses, academics and interested groups and individuals within the community. This path developed because the initial funding and initiative for developing the bid came from the municipality. The Department of Culture and Tourism was initially given responsibility to drive the process forward. At the start in 2011 a Working Group was formed to develop the project consisting of experts in the field of culture, municipal staff, NGOs and stakeholders. Having successfully passed the first stage for selection in 2013 we set up a Project Office with full-time staff responsible for taking the application through to its successful conclusion, ensuring the finalisation of our program and continuing and strengthening our engagement with the public and stakeholders. The Project Office consists of staff from the municipality plus external consultants from the UK, Italy and Bulgaria, some of whom have an international background. The work of the Project Office (and previously the Working Group) has been supported by a number of satellite bodies. The Arts Board was made up of representatives from the arts and cultural community including, writers, artists, actors, cultural operators and senior representative from the cultural institutions. They have been responsible for communicating with the wider arts and cultural community and to offer advice, initially to the Working Group and subsequently to the Project Office, on the selection of projects to be included in our VT2019 Program. In addition a number of Focused Working Groups were established concentrating on certain key areas of interest in developing our bid. They were comprised of municipal and external experts, representatives of branch organizations (Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria, Chamber of Engineers in the Investment Design, Bulgarian Academy of Science, Cultural Centers

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

and the Union of Bulgarian Artists) and worked • Finance, infrastructure and logistics expert, rein the following areas: communication, infrasponsible for administration, finance, human structure, monitoring and evaluation. resources, infrastructure and logistics At this stage we have explored how to establish a Foundation, and examined various models to find one which would suit our circumstances best. It is our intention now to establish this body immediately, should we be awarded the title. To facilitate the swift establishment of the body we have already identified the appropriate legal and operative framework, and identify initial Secretariat support. The Foundation will be responsible for the organisation, management, performance and promotion of the VT2019, and will be represented by a Board of Directors (Supervisory Board). The Board members will include persons from the artistic/cultural community, civil society, local and regional government, academia and the business community. Appropriate and willing persons have already been identified, and at least two members will be through open call, nominated by the community. The Board will be responsible for identifying the strategic priorities, implementation mechanisms and for controlling the resource distribution and financial parameters for the event. In addition if Veliko Tarnovo is nominated ECoC the existing Project Office will become the executing body of the Foundation. It will be headed by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who will have responsibility for the whole operations of the office and will also attend as a non-voting observer on the Board of Directors. The Project Office will be required to execute the project under the guidance and direction of the Board through the CEO, assisted by two key director level positions. These are the Managing Director (MD) who will be responsible for operational matters in the area of PR and marketing, administration, finance and control, community engagement and fundraising; the Artistic Director (AD) who will be responsible for production, deliver and artistic content of the program. All directors will be recruited through an open advertisement. The Directors will be supported by experts for the subject matters under their remit. The Directors will be supported by 4 experts:

• IT and Networks expert, responsible for online social and media platform, communication and marketing • Programme expert, responsible for the development of the programme • Production expert, responsible for capacity, event’s management and hospitality The Managing Director and Artistis Director will all be responsible to the CEO. If we win the award the office will start with 10 staff (1 CEO, 2 Directors, 4 Experts plus 3 technical assistants as admin support). The team will increase through the years and all staff will be recruited through open and transparent procedures, to recruit the best and most talented team we can. A budget will be provided for both internal and external consultants, as and when required. The Arts Board and the Focused Working Groups will continue to provide support and advice to our project. For financial control a Control Committee of the Foundation should be established. In addition since most of the funds originate from municipal budget and according to the regulation all expenditures are subjected to the financial control by the municipal Department for Internal Audit. This will provide the project with an additional layer of scrutiny and control to ensure that the funds are spent in the most cost effective and transparent way. The Monitoring and Evaluation Team will be also form an essential input into the development of our VT2019 project. We recognize that the management and delivery of a successful ECoC project is a complex and large-scale endeavor. Veliko Tarnovo as the municipality and the independent local NGOs have demonstrated through events, projects and programs already implemented over the years that they have the start up capacity to take the project forward but we will still need to increase management capacity within the city. Our fifth

Chapter III • Organisation and financing of the event

theme Cultura Ex-Machina has been developed in recognition of this need. It is targeted at deliver capacity building programmes.

VT FOUNDATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CONTROL & SUPERVISORY BODIES

CEO

ADVISORY BODIES

ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR FINANCE, INFRASTRUCTURE & LOGISTICS EXPERT

IT & NETWORKS EXPERT

TECHNICAL ASSISTANT

1.2.

If an area around the city is involved in the event, how will the coordination between the authorities of the relevant local and regional authorities be organised?

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

PROGRAMME EXPERT

COMMUNICATION

PRODUCTION EXPERT

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/ACCOUNTANT

Our VT2019 candidacy is supported by the 9 municipalities (and the municipality of Veliko Tarnovo in addition), which forms the Veliko Tarnovo region. Not only are they supporting our candidacy but they will be involved with some programmes being implemented within their own territory. The regions will be able to make direct representations to the Board of the Foundation and will actively coordinate the cooperation between the city and the region. All activities under VT2019 will be co-ordinated through the executive arm, i.e. the Project Office headed by the CEO. A Regional Coordinator has already been appointed by the municipality from the start of the bid process. His function has been to mediate and connect different cities and especially cultural organizations and institutions within the region to our bid and cause. Each Municipality has appointed a representative, which takes part in the working groups and support the implementation of the programme in their areas.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

1.3.

According to which criteria and under which arrangements has or will the artistic director of the event been chosen? What is or will be his/her profile? When will he/she take up the appointment? What will be his/her field of action?

Currently the artistic content of our program has been developed through meetings and open calls to the art and culture community. This process has been managed by the Project Office (previously the Working Group) and the Arts Board with the final approval of our program by the municipality. When the Foundation is established they will take final responsibility in implementing the content of the programme and any alternations to it. The position of Artistic Director will be subject to an open-call once Veliko Tarnovo is awarded the title of ECoC. We believe this to be the best approach since the most suitable candidates will come forward only when there is a confirmed position on offer. The Artistic Director will be responsible for the contacts between the Art Board and the Foundation through the Board of Directors on matters of artistic content; working on the elaboration, organization and implementation of the cultural program, monitors the process of transparency and inclusion; guaranteeing the realization of the program according to the set criteria for artistic quality, civil participation and the European Dimension and attending Board meetings of the Foundation (without voting rights). The required competence, skills and experience include: Higher education in the area of the humanities, arts and/or cultural management; well informed about the European Capital of Culture initiative and the structure of the European Union; believes in our concept, the ideas, the program and the approach set in the candidacy of Veliko Tarnovo for European Capital of Culture; with at least 10 years proven experience in participation in international projects and initiatives in the field of culture, the cultural policy and/or the cultural entrepreneurship; work experience in different fields of the culture and cultural policy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; creation of cultural product, dissemination, development of publications, researches, training etc.; participation in networks of artists and organizations working or supporting activities in the field of culture and relevant disciplines at national and European level; knowledge about the cultural processes and tendencies in Bulgaria, Europe and at international level and experience in contemporary artistic practices and movements; experience in managing national and international art projects and teams; experience in creating contacts and cooperation with public and business organizations; experience in working with public institutions at local, national or international level;experience in working on national and European projects and programs; experience in using and applying different financial mechanisms; excellent command of English and Bulgarian preferable. At the national level the position will be advertised through our website and social media, our newsletter, press releases announced in the local and national media. We will also target national specific art and culture publications and networks and web portals in Bulgaria. The Ministry of Culture and the municipalities will also be utilized. For the international level we will spread the open call through the foreign cultural institutes and embassies based in Sofia as well as the Bulgarian embassies abroad, art and cultural networks, institutions, NGOs and relevant web portals in Europe.

Chapter III • Organisation and financing of the event

2. Financing of the event 2.1.

What has been the usual annual budget for culture in the city over the last 5 years (excluding expenditure for the present ECoC application)?

The budget for expenditures related to culture over the last 5 years averages around 10% which is significantly higher than other cities in Bulgaria and demonstrates our commitment to the sector and its importance to the city. Despite the economic crisis, the annual budget for culture has proportionally increased each year excluding the current year (2014) which for the city (and indeed the rest of Bulgaria) was a difficult year due to the economic crisis and the end of 2007–2013 programme period – the next being 2014–2020. The cultural budget includes costs related to cultural programmes run by the municipality and funding for external operators, support for cultural institutions, the museums, the network of community cultural centres but excludes all expenditure for cultural infrastructure.

Year

Usual annual budget for culture in the city (in euros)

Usual annual budget for culture in the city (in % of the total annual budget for the city)

2010

2 055 219

2011

2 229 500

2012

2 596 748

2013

3 560 356

2014

2 624 105

2.2.

Please explain the overall budget for the European Capital of Culture project (i.e. funds that are specifically set aside for the project).

The Total Budget for Expenditure for VT2019 is е 59 797 000 euros of which 20 000 000 euros is the Operating Expenditure and 39 797 000 евро euros is the Capital Expenditure. All Operational Expenditures will be managed and executed through the Veliko Tarnovo Foundation. All Capital Expenditures will be managed and executed through the relevant executing authority. The public sector contribution is 16 000 000 euros (80%) and private sector contribution is 4 000 000 euros (20 %). A detail of the split between public sector contributors is given below. The national government has confirmed that they would contribute between 7–10% of the ECoC budget to the winning city. Our insertion of 3 000 000 euros from the national government is therefore consistent with this commitment.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Only that funding which has been committed todate is included. Other incomes from Europe (e.g. European Regional Development Fund, Creative Europe) will be applied for but have not been included in our budget. If and when these funds are secured they will form an added input into our ECoC project. We commit not to lower the public sector contributions as outlined if these European funds are secured. The private sector contributions are made up of sponsorship, donations, in-kind contributions and merchandising. In addition there will be some revenues from ticket sales but it is our intention to make much of our program free to broaden the audience. The 8 000 000 euros contribution from Veliko Tarnovo municipality and the 1 000 000 euros from local municipalities will be sources separately from their existing cultural budget. We do not intend to reduce funding for any cultural institution or program to generate funds for the ECoC projects over the next six years. The Veliko Tarnovo municipality has the unanimous support of the existing municipal council that funding will be made available to execute the project irrespective of the political representation. The 1 000 000 euros from local municipalities will only be confirmed once the title is awarded.

Total expenditure (in euros) in the budget

Operating expenditure (in euros)

Operating expenditure (in %)

Capital expenditures (in euros)

Capital expenditures (in %)

59 797 000

20 000 000

33.45

39 797 000

66.55

Total income in the budget (in euros)

From the public sector (in euros)

From the public sector (in %)

From the private sector (in euros)

From the private sector (in %)

20 000 000

16 000 000

4 000 000

in euros

in %

Please specify: amount planned, secured

National government

5 000 000

planned

City

8 000 000

planned

Region

1 000 000

planned

2 000 000

planned

Other

4 000 000

n/a

Income From the public sector

Chapter III • Organisation and financing of the event

2.3.

Please explain the In preparing the split between operating expenditures and the sequencoperating budget for ing of spending we have taken into account two factors: the ECoC project. • the experience of other ECoC; • the particulars of our application in terms of programmes and resources required to deliver the program. Overall operating expenditure Operating expenditure (in euros)

Programme expenditure (in euros)

Programme expenditure (in %)

Promotion and marketing (in euros)

Promotion and marketing (in %)

Wages, overheads, administration (in euros)

Wages, overheads, administration (in %)

Other (please specify)

20 000 000

14 522 000

72,61

3 988 000

19,94

1 490 000

7,45

Planned timetable for spending operating expenditure Timetable for spending

Programme expenditure (in euros)

Programme expenditure (in %)

Marketing and promotion expenditure (in euros)

Marketing and promotion expenditure (in %)

Wages, overheads, administration (in euros)

Wages, overheads, administration (in %)

Other (please specify)

2014

119 640

29 800

149 440

2015

290 440

159 520

74 500

524 460

2016

290 440

199 400

74 500

564 340

2017

726 100

398 800

298 000

1 422 900

2018

3 630 500

1 435 680

417 200

5 483 380

2019

7 987 100

1 196 400

521 500

9 705 000

2020

1 597 420

478 560

74 500

2 150 480

Total

14 522 000

100

3 988 000

100

1 490 000

100

20 000 000

The bulk of the expenditure across all categories is envisaged in 2018/2019. A substantial budget has been set aside in 2020 to conduct programming activities, including cultural events to keep the momentum of the ECoC year and to carry out and finalise the impact analysis research.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

2.4.

Overall capital expenditure:

Capital expenditures (in euros)

Funding of new cultural infrastructure or upgrading existing facilities (including museums, galleries, theatres, concert halls, arts centres etc.) (in euros)

Urban revitalisation (renovation of squares, gardens, streets, public space development etc) (in euros)

Infrastructures (investment in the underground, rail stations, dockyards, roads etc.) (in euros)

39 797 000

13 841 000

17 048 000

8 908 000

2.5.

Have the public finance authorities (city, region, State) already voted on or made financial commitments? If not, when will they do so?

The municipal council has declared an intention to agree the budget as outlined above and we believe we have set a realistic and justifiable amount (see Community Council Decision No 676 / 25.04.2013), Chapter One of this book).

2.6.

We have taken up this cause because we want to enhance our long term What is the plan for prosperity. It is therefore imperative that we seek to involve businessinvolving sponsors in es/sponsors in our cause. The Bulgarian business community does not the event? have a strong tradition for supporting art and culture initiatives. This is a situation we need to change. We have already sparked an interest in the programme and we intend to amplify this through our strategy to engage with the business community once we have been awarded the title of ECoC. The following actions and approaches have been used to attract sponsors: • Identification of potential companies that may be sponsors. Sponsors have only been identified at the regional level at this stage and this list will be extended after the final nomination; • A marketing study for corporate values and company objectives, what types of events they have sponsored in recent years, do they have any interest in Veliko Tarnovo region? This information will ensure a high level of preparedness of the team responsible for working with sponsors; • Preparation and presentation of a clear strategy for the way in which the event will be planned, organized and implemented. This will give the sponsors freedom to select the event they would like to support; • Building a good relationship with potential sponsors, to enable us to involve them in our cause for Veliko Tarnovo. A key factor to success is to attract not only sponsors, but partners, both from the cultural and socioeconomic sector and the local population. Using the selected mechanism for the funding of the events, we believe that synergy will be achieved.

Chapter III • Organisation and financing of the event

2.7.

According to what timetable should the income be received by the city and / or the body responsible for preparing and implementing the ECoC project if the city receives the title of European Capital of Culture?

We have reflected upon the flows of money required to execute our activities and have considered the sum of the contributions expected from the private and public sectors. At this stage, as the lead authority for the bid, the municipality (alongside our partner municipalities) has taken on board the responsibility for funding in the early stages. It is also our intention to secure part funding from the private sector. The Melina Mercouri Prize if awarded is programmed for 2018 and 2020 and the national government contribution in 2019. Income to be used to cover operating expenses

Source of income

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total

2 000 000

National government

5 000 000

City

149 400

400 000

1 000 000

1 800 000

3 205 000

1 045 560

8 000 000

Region

24 460

63 340

42 900

269 300

500 000

100 000

1 000 000

Sponsors/ Private/ Others

100 000

380 000

1 414 080

1 000 000

1 005 920

4 000 000

Income to be used to cover capital expenditure Source of income

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total

2 557 800

6 394 500

8 952 300

1 278 900

25 578 000

National government

588 500

1 471 250

2 059 750

294 250

5 885 000

City

818 400

2 046 000

2 864 400

409 200

8 184 000

Region

Sponsors

150 000

Total

3 964 700

10 061 750

9 911 750

13 876 450

1 982 350

39 797 000

2.8.

Which amount of the usual overall annual budget does the city intend to spend for culture after the ECoC year (in euros and in % of the overall annual budget)?

Our target budget for culture for post-2019 will be 3,000,000 euros. This is in line with our commitment to funding culture at the level of 10% of the overall municipal budget. It should be noted that in addition to this projected cultural budget we have set aside 400 000 euros as funding in 2020 from the ECoC program to ensure the momentum and actions through to 2019 are carried forward post event. It is expected 500 000 euros to be contributed by sponsorships, as well as the Melina Mercouri Prize, if awarded, is programmed for 2018 and 2020.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Chapter IV Infrastructure

What are the city’s assets in terms of accessibility (regional, national and international)?

Our infrastructure vision is a revitalised city with a modern, environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive transportation system as a legacy for VT2019. All journeys begin and end with a local journey. Upgrading the local transport and related urban infrastructure will benefit all residents and visitors, and provide a lasting legacy for a European Capital of Culture in Veliko Tarnovo 2019. Veliko Tarnovo’s location in the geographical heart of Bulgaria has long been a key determinant in its role and its history over the centuries. The city and its region are accessible by all forms of transport including road, rail, air and river, as well as by cycling and walking. VT2019 will energise our plans to revitalise and upgrade the city’s urban and tourist infrastructure within the framework of a Green Travel Plan. One highly visible legacy of VT2019 will be our environmentally sustainable urban mobility system showcasing leading European transport practice and technology. As a very much people powered bid, VT2019 seeks a transport legacy which is as much about people as infrastructure. Our VT2019 Green Travel Plan will assess the environmental impact of all our programmes on operators, performers and participants, and all our policies and plans will be subject to environmental assessment and auditing. Our attention to the environment will reduce wastage, cut costs and be entirely complementary to our happiness and well-being objectives. Environmentally sustainable, and socially inclusive, our local urban transport improvements will provide maximum benefits to all participants and all generations, and contribute toward the implementation of our principles and objectives – a truly green city with a high quality of life, befitting our happiness and well-being: a dynamic, multicultural, European city. The Green Travel Plan aims specifically to reduce car dependence, and encourage more environmentally friendly and healthy forms of travel such as walking, cycling and public transport. Transportation systems

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

will be re-designed to be user friendly to all visitors regardless of language and knowledge of the town. Hand in hand with VT2019 we shall revitalise our town centre and our living and working spaces. In addition, we will upgrade our leisure and sports facilities, restore our urban spaces, continue to renovate our museums and cultural institutes, and provide better access to the region’s vast rural hinterland, benefiting visitors and residents alike. Whilst there are additional major national infrastructure improvements in the pipeline between now and 2019, we shall not rely on these alone. Local urban mobility will be the key to a successful VT2019. In reaching this goal, we are learning from the existing EU funded BUMP (Boosting Urban Mobility Plans) network of local authorities from across Europe, which includes local authorities from Bulgaria, Italy and the UK. We have also been aided by organisations such as International Union Transport Publics (UITP Brussels), which represents public transport operators worldwide and is a leading advocate of local sustainable transport. Veliko Tarnovo is well-served by national road, rail, long distance bus networks and four international airports. It is also well-connected with long distance footpaths, cycling routes and rivers. The city’s central location within Bulgaria ensures relative ease of access from all parts of Bulgaria. The city’s vision is to provide a Green Urban Mobility Plan as one of the central objectives of VT2019. This will include improvements, revitalisation and enhancements of both the urban and tourist infrastructure and will be a key legacy for VT2019. Recognising that the vast majority of participants, partners and visitors will originate locally, and regionally, our aim is to focus our efforts on improved urban mobility with a Green Travel Plan which assesses the environmental impact of all our programmes for operators, performers and participants.

In addition, the city is connected to Europe via the EU’s international transport corridors, forming part of both the core and comprehensive Trans European Transport Networks (TEN-T) in respect of road and rail links*. Internationally, Veliko Tarnovo enjoys road and rail links directly to Turkey, and into the European mainland via Romania to the north (two river crossings), via Serbia to the west (and onward to Croatia, Austria etc.) and Greece to the south, with onward ferry links to Italy, France etc.). This myriad of connections reflects Bulgaria’s historic role as a crossroads in Europe between east and west. Rail The local railway stations of Veliko Tarnovo and Gorna Oryahovitsa provide access to the Bulgarian National Rail network and thereby direct rail services to all parts of the country, including direct international services to Istanbul, Bucharest and Athens with onward direct connections throughout the continent, including, inter alia, Vienna, Budapest, and Kiev. The city will enter into discussions with the relevant train operators and Inter-rail ticketing systems to take promotional measures to raise aware* In January 2014, the European Union has a new transport infrastructure policy that connects the continent between East and West, North and South. Veliko Tarnovo features in this policy as an important link in respect of both existing and proposed upgrades on road, rail and potential air corridors.

Chapter IV • Infrastructure

ness of VT2019 and encourage train travelling, particularly amongst young visitors, through providing information, maps, and where possible, fare discounts. We propose a re-branding of railway rolling stock through a programme of street art on trains for the duration. The city will follow such plans in cooperation with Bulgarian National Railways and the Union International Transport Publics (UITP) Brussels, which represents all major rail operators in Europe. Our aim is that the trains themselves will become travelling art installations for the duration of 2019, promoting VT2019 the length and breadth of Bulgaria, and throughout Europe. Road The national road network links Veliko Tarnovo to all major cities in the country including Varna, Sofia, Plovdiv, Ruse and Burgas. The city region is served by two national highways designated as part of the Trans European Road Network (TERNS), as well as a network of secondary local roads linking all towns and villages throughout the region. The international road connections exist to Greece in the South (two crossings), Turkey in the east (direct to Istanbul), and from the rest of European through three main routes: via Serbia by motorway linking directly to Austria, Hungary and Italy; – via Romania from the new Danube Bridge at Vidin-Calafat (opened in 2013); or via the nearest international bridge to Romania at Ruse-Giurgiu. We propose to enter into discussions with major fuel companies such as OMV, Shell and Lukoil to provide promotional material linked to fuel purchases and discount entry into VT2019 museums and events.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Air International air travel to Veliko Tarnovo is via four international airports located at Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Bucharest. Each of these airports is around three hours’ drive time away, which is comparable to many door to door trips in larger cities and regions across Europe. These airports provide adequate access for both weekend trips and longer stays. Veliko Tarnovo has acquired one of the largest resident populations of foreigners (British particularly) in Bulgaria over the past ten years, attracted by its beauty and lifestyle. The accessibility of airports has not, in any way, limited the international attractiveness of the city and its region. On the contrary, the complete absence of noise pollution from air traffic simply adds to the character and atmosphere of the City. The nearby airport of Gorna Oryahovitsa is currently under consideration for upgrade to provide air access for both international and domestic flights. Whilst this would considerably reduce air travel times door to door, it would not be essential to a successful Capital of Culture, though it would, of course, provide added journey options for some visitors. The airport expansion and infrastructure upgrade has been included in the Bulgarian Operational Programme on Transport 2014–2020 Plan and will be eligible for Government and EU funding. We will enter into discussions with the national carrier, Bulgaria Air, and other European operators, for joint promotional efforts (in-flight magazines/aircraft tail branding) to promote VT2019 and at the same time promote travels options and events. We would encourage the many regular business users to and from Sofia to include an add-on weekend to participate in VT2019. (In this regard we are cognisant of the EU Presidency, which will be held by the Bulgarian Government for the second half of 2018 and the chance to promote VT2019 during this period, including events during the lead-in years.) Cycling As part of our Green Travel Plan we would encourage cycling both within and around the city, through the development of a ‘Boris Bike’ scheme (self-service bicycle sharing **), as well as encouraging longer distance cycling and leisure trips. In 2009, the Danube Cycle Path initiative was completed, providing a cycle designated route (EV6) from the Atlantic to the Black Sea passing along the entire length of the Danube in Bulgaria/Romania***. The Danube Cycle Path passes through the north of Veliko Tarnovo region in the Svishtov region. We shall encourage the use of the cycle path through tour operators and cycling federations to promote the opportunity to visit VT2019 along the Danube Cycle Path, and then via a safe cycle route (supported by local tourist operators for ride and drive combinations etc.), through the countryside and villages south to the city itself (one-two days cycle ride). All villages en route have suitable accommodation with village guest houses and ‘home’ bed and breakfasts which are widespread throughout the region. Walking There is an existing network of long distance footpaths throughout Bulgaria including through and around the Veliko Tarnovo region, which in turn are linked to European long distance footpaths (e.g. the Stara Planina Trail from Sofia to the Black Sea passes through Veliko Tarnovo, as well as a Danube walking route parallel to the abovementioned cycling route). These have been restored ** In 2014 the City of Burgas became the first city in Bulgaria to launch a self-service municipal bicycle sharing scheme as part of an urban-wide integrated sustainable transport strategy. *** The European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) supported by the EU is coordinating the development of a network of high-quality cycling routes that connect the whole continent. The routes can be used by long-distance cycle tourists, as well as by local people making daily journeys. EuroVelo currently comprises of 14 routes and it is envisaged that the network will be substantially complete by 2020. The Danube Cycle Path is on route EV6.

Chapter IV • Infrastructure

in recent years with new signage, new and improved maps, and accommodation for hikers. Many of these improvements were supported through locally implemented EU funded initiatives. One proposal under discussion with our Italian partners is the creation of an ECOC19 long distance footpath from Veliko Tarnovo to the relevant winning Italian city, This would not only encourage one of the happiest ways to travel, but would also allow us to spread our city’s message of welcome to the adjacent populations in Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia, whose communities often form important minorities within Italian cities, and, to a lesser extent, in Bulgarian cities. Veliko Tarnovo is a city of long, winding ancient steps built on several hills. Our ‘Steps to Happiness’ route will develop pedestrian routes through the city connecting events and communities. River Veliko Tarnovo is situated on the banks of the Yantra River which flows directly into the Danube, which itself passes through ten European nations from its source to the Black Sea. The Veliko Tarnovo region extends to Europe’s greatest River and hence to Europe’s network of inland waterways and canals, which are part of the EU’s TEN-T. In keeping with the Transdanube Project (supported by the EU) we aim to contribute to the development of sustainable mobility along the entire Danube river basin promoting travel by train, bus, bike and ship or boat.

What is the City’s Veliko Tarnovo is a primary tourist destination hosting an estimated one Absorption in million visits a year. terms of tourist accommodation? The city has developed into one of Bulgaria’s leading destinations for both domestic and international visitors, particularly in the cultural and historical sectors. It is listed as one of Eastern Europe’s top ten destinations by the independent travelers bible Lonely Planet Guide. The city’s rich cultural and historical heritage is a base for tourism. The proximity to the Stara Planina Mountains and the rural areas around also make the city a base for rural tourism, hiking, cycling etc and a large number of derelict old farmhouses and other redundant farm buildings have been bought and renovated in recent years, often by foreigners. These add to the accommodation options for visitors. One of our VT2019 objectives is to increase and diversify our tourism base. We believe VT2019 will enhance the interaction and personal experience of every tourist’s visit. Tourist flows In general, despite the recent economic difficulties, tourism trends continue upward. Estimates indicate that regional and national visitors on short stays are the largest group by night stays. The number of visitors to local museums indicates a split of origin of 70:30 Bulgarians: Foreigners. There are many short and day visits which go unregistered, but which demonstrate both the attractiveness and accessibility of Veliko Tarnovo. For example, throughout the summer, the Danube Cruise ships stopping at Ruse provide day trips to Veliko Tarnovo for their guests. In terms of numbers, these would be partly registered through museum receipts but not hotel registrations.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Accommodation facilities Given the estimates of increased tourist numbers for an ECoC, we do not envisage any deficiencies in our tourist infrastructure. There are 161 officially registered accommodation facilities for 2013 providing 3,851 bed spaces. However, there are many more unregistered guest rooms and private houses throughout the entire region. There are eight hotels of a 4 and 5 star category in the Veliko Tarnovo region, seventeen 3-star hotels, and ninety registered for 2 and 1 star. Veliko Tarnovo currently accommodates half a million tourists a year, with numbers peaking throughout the summer months between May and September. With 2 or 3 major hotels in the pipeline and a very reactive local guest house and property letting sector, we would not envisage any problems in easily accommodating 20% more tourists, which would be a very high estimate for any ECOC to achieve. Furthermore, the spread of visitors would be throughout the year and less peaked than at present.

What projects are to be carried out between now and the year for which the city is applying for the title of European Capital of Culture in terms of urban and tourism infrastructure, including renovation? What is the planned timetable for this work?

The beginnings of the city’s architectural renaissance in the post-socialist period can be dated back to 1998 when Veliko Tarnovo was selected as one of five city centres for the EU’s Beautiful Bulgaria Project, which focused on renovating cultural monuments and historic buildings. This spirit of renovation and renewal continues and a series of major public projects are planned between now and 2020. These projects are set out in the city’s recently approved Integrated Plan For Urban Regeneration and Development 2014-2020. This contains a number of measures aimed at revitalizing and modernising the urban environment, residential areas, museums, transport systems, passenger infrastructure (bus stops and interchanges, information points such as ‘real-time’ arrival information systems), pedestrian areas and expansion of cycle lanes, cycle parking, municipal bicycle rentals, a car pooling centre linked to new parking areas, and a revitalized land use development plan which reduces car dependency through planning decisions, reduces the need to travel, and encourages and enables the use of public transport, walking and cycling. Special attention is being paid to the mobility integration of special needs and disabled users, ensuring fully accessible streets, buildings and transport system. This benefits residents and all VT2019 visitors, and is a legacy both in terms of the physical infrastructure and for Bulgarian cities – a change in attitude towards special needs citizens and mobility. The awarding of VT2019 will give both impetus and energy to the implementation of this ambitious but realistic sets of projects, and be a legacy of the EU’s Cultural Capital award.

Chapter IV • Infrastructure

Integrated plan for urban regeneration and development 2014–2020 This plan sets out a range of improvements to both urban and tourist public infrastructure throughout the city between 2014 and 2020. It does not include private investment plans or major national infrastructure projects which will be in addition to those set out below. • R enovation of parks, construction of pedestrian footpaths and city park equipment in the public spaces • Modern means for traffic orientation and information • R evitalization and modernization of the city environment in the living quarters through renovation and energy efficiency. • R ehabilitation and renovation of the educational infrastructure for the following schools: three kindergartens – Alen Mak, Voivoda and Prolet; primary school Hristo Botev; secondary schools Vela Blagoeva, and G.Sava Rakovski (Sports school); high school St.St.Cyril and Methodius. • Renovation of Chitalishtes Suznanie – 1936, Nadejda 1869 and P.R.Slaveikov. • R ehabilitation, renovation and energy efficiency of the Old People’s Home Veneta Boteva, (Ilarion Dragostinov Street). • T hree specialised transport municipal public transport vehicles (8+1 seats) suitable for special needs users. All fully accessible for wheelchairs, with other mobility aids to improve access to VT2019 • A new and modern out-reach facility for people with special needs

Increased mobility and accessibility

• Improvement of the city environment in Cholakovtzi quarter • R econstruction and rehabilitation of streets andpedestrian areas, including new street lighting, landscaping and a fully accessible street environment. • Reconstruction of the pedestrian areas between Cholakovtzi quarter and Buzludzha quarter • Building of parking places and underground garages with car pooling scheme • Purchase of a new fleet of ten energy-efficient electric transport vehicles • C onstruction of designated, modern bicycle paths and bicycle parking places in Cholakovtsi quarter • R enovation and adaptation of public buildings to ensure full accessibility including the Town Hall, Central Military Archive, Administrative Court, Regional administration, Regional Social Insurance Office and State Archive. • R enovation and repairs of residential buildings on the main city streets of the old town, including Nezavisimost, St.Stambolov, Opulchenska, Ivan Vazov, and Chitalishtna, Tzar Assen Square, Pikolo and Gurko Street. • M ajor refurbishment of University for VT2019 including the Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Arts.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

• Renovation of the Yunak sports centre including new tennis courts • R enovation and modernisation of the following museums: Leon Filipov, New History, Renaissance and Constituent Assembly, Archeological Museum, Public library P.R.Slaveikov • Renovation of Art Gallery ”Ivan Hristov” • F urther renovations to the cultural heritage including architectural-museum reserve Tzarevetz • R estorations of Church St. Constantine and St. Elena and bell tower, Church St. Spas, Shishman’s Turkish Baths Complex and the Monument of the Hanged Warriors. • B uilding of a new military museum, new library, youth art centre, tourist centre, museum of photography and exhibition centre in the old military school area. • D esign and expanding the multimedia centre at N.Pikolo Str., administrative building of the Regional History Museum. • R enovation and creation of improved urban spaces in Suedinenie Square, Velchova Zavera Square, Pobornicheski Square, Renaissance Square and Samovodska charshiya. Installation of a new fountain, lighting and improved landscaping around the monument of Emilian Stanev. Reconstruction and rehabilitation of the viewing platforms at Stefan Stambolov Str. • I nformation sign-boards for cultural and tourist sites and for the street network, including city maps, walking routes, signage and ‘pavement’ plaques and the development of pedestrian walking routes throughout the city using Gurko Street as a central east-west route.

Chapter IV • Infrastructure

Modernisation of public spaces and recreation zones • M odernization and building of new children’s’ playgrounds • N ew traffic management systems to reduce speeds, and parking restrictions in pedestrian zones Accessible, safe and inclusive physical environment • R enovation of the public lavatories in the public spaces and adapting them according to the needs of people with disabilities • C onstruction of cycle paths and bicycle parking places at Kraibrejna Street • M odern systems for orientation and information • U pdating and digitalization of the scientific fund and purchase of software for blind people in cultural and educational institutions • I mproved park layout and planting of greenery in the spaces between factories, offices, workplaces. National Transport Infrastructure There are a number of projects which would be relevant to accessibility for VT2019 earmarked for funding in the Bulgarian Operational Programme for Transport (2014–2020). This allocates EU funds for major national transport projects such as road building, and the upgrade of rail infrastructure, ports and airports. These include: • h ighway improvements south of Vidin providing faster and safer travel from Veliko Tarnovo to the new 2nd Danube Crossing at Calafat/Vidin and into Romania; • Completion of the Struma Highway from Bulgaria to Greece; • C ontinuation of the Hemus Highway from Sofia to the Black Sea. This route passes through Veliko Tarnovo region, close to the city itself; • C ompletion of the Sofia – Belgrade Motorway link improving travel times between Bulgaria and Serbia and beyond into central and western Europe; • D esign and Concession Planning for Gorna Oryahovitsa (International) Airport in Veliko Tarnovo; • R efurbishment and upgrade of Gorna Oryahovitsa Railway Interchange and related improvements to track signaling and train communications to reduce travel times. The effective connectivity and improvements to the rail and road network and the elimination of ‘bottlenecks’ will contribute to the integrated development of the transport network as part of the Trans European Transport Network (TEN-T’s). Completing these measures will provide a better integration of the national network, and enhances Veliko Tarnovo’s links with neighbouring countries. Some of these projects are included within the Capital Expenditure budget for VT2019 as set out in Chapter 3 Organisation and Finance.

Chapter V Communication Strategy

What is the city’s intended communication strategy for the European Capital of Culture event?

Becoming ECoC will also be an exciting challenge for Veliko Tarnovo in the field of communication and marketing strategies. We not only want to inform people about ECoC and VT2019, but also to motivate and to involve them in our common aim Creating Happiness. From the very beginning, the bid of Veliko Tarnovo has been developed with the engagement of people from different sectors and walks of life. This includes cultural operators, artists, academics, politicians, students, volunteers, ordinary citizens of all ethnic backgrounds and the many foreign residents in the city and region. From the beginning, we have been working together, facing problems and difficulties and building solutions and gathering ideas for the candidacy, in order to create and to communicate how to build a better, happier, Veliko Tarnovo. Personal and direct contacts – despite being very culturally important in this region – are nowadays, increasingly being replaced in a more digital world, which contributes to the fragmentation of the community – particularly amongst the young. With VT2019, we would like to use the popularity of social networks as a medium to bring people back together and to spread our message. We propose therefore to develop an openly accessible VT2019 platform, where people can actively participate on different levels, telling their own stories, sharing their own experiences and involving and informing more and more different communities. Communication about VT2019 will work at a local as well as an international level, from residents’ morning face-to-face communication with their neighbours, to intercultural and international online platforms. Parallel to individual and community involvement, our communications strategy covers a spectrum of communication tools, from traditional print, radio and TV media to new and emerging online technologies, which we will utilize to the full. Furthermore, we would make full use of Veliko Tarnovo’s strong and well-established European and Global networks within the tourism sector, to reach people, decision makers, and potential participants and partners, across the world. VT2019 will be a beacon to spread a new image of the city: an innovative and contemporary European Capital of Culture. During the bid process, we have faced a lot of challenges and we have learned a lot. It was not easy, for example, to express a visual image of

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

VT2019 through our logo, which went through several versions before a consensus was reached. The design has been changed, readapted and corrected many times, but now we know what we want and why: a clear, linear image for open communication and identification with the citizens of the city. Objectives Our strategy is closely related to achieving our key objectives for VT2019 as a whole. It forms an integrated part of our operations from 2014 to 2019. The strategy is designed to enable effective engagement with all stakeholders, participants and audiences. It both informs and provides feedback mechanisms, demonstrating our successes along the way, and ensuring the community and partners with whom we work understand and support our mission, our structure and how to contribute and gain the most from VT2019. Our objectives can be summarised as follows: • to gain an audience that actively participates in our cultural programme. • to spread the concept of the Happiness and Well-Being Agenda • to raise awareness for the issues connected to our programme: the role of art and culture in everyday life and their contribution to the quality of life: to cultural heritage and innovation; to the decentralization of culture (for example, with the reactivation of the Chitaliste in Veliko Tarnovo region); to social inclusion and intercultural networks. • to increase the European identity and perception in the Veliko Tarnovo region and Bulgaria and to develop a contemporary image of the city. • to increase a community identity (against the reality of fragmented communities which exists nowadays). The story so far Until now, our communication strategy has mainly been focused on building an awareness and identity of VT2019 within the city, region and with our existing international partners and networks (our twins cities, other ECoC candidates, business groups, embassies, our international project office). We have primarily concentrated on engaging and involving specific groups in the preparation of our bid. We have had an encouraging degree of success in spreading our message deep and wide to gain the support of people through a number of initiatives, for example: • In March 2014, the project Martenitsa – Bulgarian symbol in Europe was realized. European cities were offered the martenitsa to display in their town squares, to keep the Bulgarian tradition of the ’martenitsa’ as a symbol of health and happiness; • The Pavillion of Happiness, which is now established as a meeting point and temporary center for creativity and art. The Pavillion opened in May 2014 and hosts an event almost every day, such as workshops, presentations and discussions; • The launch of our VT2019 Volunteer Programme strategy to assist in the work of the project and spread the message. Different training and mentoring of volunteers, moderated by international experts, started in the spring and will continue through the summer; • A MultiKulti Picnic for Europe Day was organised in the park Druzhba and was a great example of different communities coming together. Different workshops, concerts and performances took place in a diverse and easy-going atmosphere;

Chapter V • Communication Strategy

• Workshops for intercultural communication and understanding in the German and English languages were organized in different high schools; • Theatre actions and flash mobs, based on famous European texts, took place during May and June on the city’s public transport; • Training courses and seminars about the development of EU co-operation projects for local cultural operators, organisations and institutions took place in June; • Different activities aimed at awakening and engaging people, have been organised in the university, schools and cultural centers. These have taken place throughout Veliko Tarnovo, in both central areas and suburban neighbourhoods of the city itself, and in the villages and small towns in the region; • Local schools were invited to submit their own (shortened) versions of our bid book and their vision for the programme of VT2019; • Veliko Tarnovo Happy Video – along with many cities around the world, we have produced a video that builds on the video of the hugely successful Pharrell Williams song. This was produced by a local amateur film maker, organizing a series of flash mobs, in which different groups of citizens were energetically and happily involved; • The Graz Experience 2004 was presented during the Austrian Days, organised by the Austrian Embassy Sofia, with specific focus on the trade, tourism and business opportunities arising from the candidacy with representatives of the business community of the city. and the story goes on We realize that our budget will be limited and our strategy and tactics must be focused, effective and capable of delivery within the time frame. We shall identify how best to reach a dialogue between different groups, and select priority audiences. From now on, until 2019, we will keep focusing on developing a clear message and engagement with VT2019. Communication tools As main (traditional) communication tools, we identify the following: • Print and broadcasting – utilizing and expanding on existing media partners; • Promotional Campaigns – to generate both paid and earned advertising; • Logos – to spread our brand from buses to leaflets and hotels; • Social Networks – using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube; • VT2019 Website and Online Platforms (Owned Media); • the development and use of a CRM database; • Merchandise – e. g. Happiness condoms, T-shirts, etc. The creativity tool • Under the motto of Creating Happiness, creativity is a must. It will be the overall tool, which all of us have and can use, to express ourselves and to provoke and promote at the same time, in different ways, the flow of information, participation and exchange. People will be invited to share their stories, photos and opinions. Through social media they will became actively part of the campaign.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

• Guerrilla marketing and artists actions should also be implemented as a manifestation of our creativity. They show different ways to advertise and occupy the public space in an unusual way. These kind of activities have a surprise effect, use different forms and formats and talk directly to people, using the public space. As an example, in March 2014, a group of local artists painted a colourful line on the sidewalk from the old fortress of Tsarevetz to the city centre. The line symbolized the idea of VT2019 and the wish to move from the traditional past to an innovative future. While some perceived this artwork positively, others had negative perceptions, and the action provoked discussions and automatically gained more visibility for VT2019. Target groups VT2019 will offer us the opportunity to bring different communities closer together; to develop cultural exchange and promote more cooperation within the city and abroad. We aim to reach simultaneously and with a specific approach specific target groups that we identified as follows: • citizens; • volunteers; • artist and cultural scene; • schools; • university; • business; • tourists; • EU partnerships; • press and media; • political and administrative sectors of the city and country; • specific groups for specific events (for example, skaters for specific events connected to the public space, etc.). Media We have already established links to local and national media like Borba and Yantra Dnes (both local newspapers), Sever BG, Evrocom Tsaravez, Video Sat, Darik Radio, Focus Radio, BG Live, TV2, BNT and BNR. We expect if we become ECoC to increase the contacts and cooperation with the national media, all of which are based and especially focused on Sofia, and with the international media. We already have contacts with several UK national papers, Reuters, BBC radio, and UK’s Channel Four. Organisation The communications team today consists of the VT2019 project office supported by the communication department of the Veliko Tarnovo municipality and by an external PR consultant.

Chapter V • Communication Strategy

We have also been consulting PHD Media International; one of Europe’s leading media and advertising consultants. If we win the bid, the existing team will be further strengthened to include four or five more people. The team will be under the direction of the Administrative Director. The team will bring in experts with a focus on the local and national press; TV and radio, TV; social media and new technologies, including database management; sponsorship and merchandise; campaigns and also a special events coordinator. All positions will be advertised Europe-wide as well as locally. A consultancy budget will be allocated to bring in expertise and support as required. Budget Communication costs will be around 20 % of the total budget of VT2019.

How does the city plan to ensure the visibility of the European Union, which is awarding the title?

The association with the European Union is a source of pride and credibility for VT2019. In addition, it creates a bond with the ECoC family, with European institutions and with all those cities who have been awarded or have bid for the title in the past. The EU connection supports the implementation of our key objectives – such as urban renewal – which also require EU support. It is therefore our intention that the EU will feature throughout our strategy. The municipality and the region has considerable experience over many years in working in partnerships with the EU and has gained experience in ensuring that such partnerships are visible on all promotional materials in the forms of logos, acknowledgements, official communications, speeches, and press releases. We shall, at all times, draw attention to the synergy of all EU programmes which support the success of VT2019 from Erasmus to the Danube Strategy, Culture Europe, Sustainable Urban mobility network, etc. We shall fully confirm to all ECoC guidelines, and the latest EU rules regarding the use of logos and text. In partnership with our Italian colleagues and ECoC cities between now and 2019, we shall ensure that best practice is followed on any innovative ideas taken on board regarding the visibility of the awarding authority. It is also our intention during VT2019 to invite EU representatives to key events, and give a platform for the EU representatives during various stages (i. e. Opening Events, Newsletters, Film credits etc.).

Chapter VI Evaluation and monitoring

Does the city intend to set up a special monitoring and evaluation system?

. ...for the impact of

the programme and its knock-on effects? .== ... for financial management?

The monitoring and evaluation of our efforts and the effects of our project will help us to extract relevant information from ongoing activities that can be used as the basis for programmatic fine-tuning, reorientation and future planning. Without this effective monitoring and evaluation, it would be impossible to judge if our work is going in the right direction, whether progress and success can be claimed, and how future efforts might be improved. Programmes and projects with strong monitoring and evaluation components tend to stay on track. Additionally, problems are detected earlier, which reduces the likelihood of having major cost overruns or time delays later. We are planning our monitoring and evaluation over a broad time frame, which starts in 2014 with the establishment of a baseline study and the development of indicators, and includes the period beyond 2019, in order to ensure representative data for our efforts and a constructive base for the future cultural development and sustainability of the city and region. Each year the monitoring and evaluation team will give a SWOT analysis of VT2019 Project with findings, conclusions and recommendations for improvement and development. This will guarantee that we work in the right direction and adopt methods to achieve the objectives of the project. A new way of measuring happiness will be developed and Happiness Indexes will be introduced. An Impact Assessment Unit, with the support of the University of Liverpool Impacts 08 Unit* will be established at the University of Veliko Tarnovo, together with the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics (IMI) which is a branch of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), based in Veliko Tarnovo.

*â&#x20AC;&#x201A;Impacts 08 is a joint research initiative of the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, which from 2005-2010 evaluated the social, cultural, economic and environmental effects of Liverpool hosting the European Capital of Culture title in 2008.

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

Objectives The objectives of the monitoring and evaluation strategy will be: • to assess if goals and objectives of VT2019 are being achieved • to measure how sustainable the results achieved are and what new values have been added by the initiative to the city’s development • to evaluate the degree of satisfaction from the activities implemented. This is to be measured by a newly developed index for measuring cultural well-being (further details below) • to evaluate the social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits for the local community • to collect feedback from different target groups • to measure the active participation of the citizens • to monitor and evaluate the regional, national and European impact • to examine evaluation studies carried out elsewhere of both previous and ongoing EcoCs, to ensure all lessons are being learned and incorporated into VT2019 in real time • to control financial management and ensure its transparency. Methodology The assessment of a complex, multi-layer event requires a series of thematic studies with separate methodologies and indicators. Each study will be based on thorough research, using quantitative and qualitative primary and secondary data, involving a variety of different approaches, such as: • questionnaires and surveys • focus groups and workshops • analysis of media (quantitative and qualitative) • interviews • SWOT analysis • VT2019 Impact Assessment Unit • Happiness Indexes) Scoping and Themes An initial VT2019 scoping exercise, undertaken through early consultation with stakeholders, has indicated a preliminary set of themes which shall be subject to assessment and evaluation. These are: Economy and Tourism, including tourism profiles across the city and region, job creation, employment and business investment decisions, which will involve issues of social equity in the employment market. Cultural Vibrancy, the creative economy, cultural training and capacity building including sustainability issues, the impact of cultural operators and a profile of the cultural sector.

Chapter VI • Evaluation and monitoring

Access and Participation, looking at the access and levels of participation across events and communities and the demographic profile of participants, including ethnic, social and sub-group classification and their experiences and motivation; locational factors and the sustainability of creative participation. Image and Perception, including the impact of VT2019 on the image of the city within Veliko Tarnovo and its region, but also how the city is perceived in Bulgaria, Europe and the world. Governance and Delivery, including the management and implementation of VT2019 to provide lessons which can be learned immediately from 2014 and applied through to 2019. Infrastructure including the delivery of existing plans, the development of new ideas for urban improvement, implementation, finance,impact on the property market and investment decisions in both the private and public sectors. Indicators The development of indicators requires a consenus amongst stakeholders, and following our scoping exercise one of our first tasks as a successful EcoC city would be to establish a working group, with stakeholders, to develop and agree four or five indicators as a baseline for research in early 2015. The indicators would be designed to meet with the objectives of VT2019, and based around the thematic research cones outlined above. They would assess image and perception, governance and delivery, cultural access and participation, economy and tourism, and cultural vibrancy and sustainability. It is considered premature to set out indicators and data collection methods prior to a rigorous and consensual process to develop such indicators. The establishment of the VT2019 Assessment Unit will begin immediately in conjunction with L08 Impact team and the University of Veliko Tarnovo to ensure that a baseline study is developed to be conducted across all themes in 2015. VT2019 Impact Assessment Unit VT2019 will work with one of our key partners, the University of Veliko Tarnovo, together with the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics (IMI), to establish an Impact Assessment Unit for VT2019 supported by the University of Liverpool Impacts 08 Unit.* The University of Veliko Tarnovo will develop a multi-disciplinary Assessment Unit to explore the long term impacts of the ECoC in the City utilising and adapting the methodologies of the Impact 08 team, who have agreed to provide support in establishing a Unit here. This will provide VT2019 evaluation and monitoring with: • the best practice methodology to date for evaluating and assessing the impacts of a European Capital of Culture • the support of the University of Liverpool 08 Impacts Unit in training and building capacity with the University of Veliko Tarnovo for establishing and running a locally based assessment team * Impacts 08 is a joint research initiative of the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, which from 2005-2010 evaluated the social, cultural, economic and environmental effects of Liverpool hosting the European Capital of Culture title in 2008.

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Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

• a legacy within the university of a multi-disciplinary VT Impact Assessment Unit which can be a sustainable research and consultancy unit with the capacity to undertake assessment work across the region, the country and in Europe • an additional source of income and learning based resource for undergraduates and staff alike Happiness Indices As discussed above in Chapter 1, the question of how to measure happiness is part of an ongoing debate with implications beyond academic discourse but which fundamentally challenge the way citizens and society relate to each other. The development of a locally based happiness index will be part of our research theme, to add to the existing methods and discourse on this subject. As part of the evaluation process, and in line with our concept, we intend to develop a series of indicators that will relate to our belief that engagement with art and culture will increase people’s happiness and consequently their feeling of well-being. There are many indices in use around the world today, and each has a particular agenda supporting economic, ecological or social themes. Veliko Tarnovo’s innovative approach will, in our opinion, be the first to develop the link between culture and happiness in this part of Europe. Budget The budget for monitoring and evaluation activities within the time frame of our budget proposal of 2014–2020 has been estimated around 7% of the total budget of VT2019. It is our intention, however, to continue to monitor the impacts beyond 2020 through building a sustainable Impact Assessment Unit at the University of Veliko Tarnovo, with additional income through consultancy and externally funded research programmes. Financial Management Our objective is to develop a transparent and controlled approach. In accordance with the legislation on the establishment of NGOs, the annual control will be conducted by the Control Committee of the Foundation, in order to ensure the lawfulness and impartiality of our work and the effective expenditure of financial resources. Since the bulk of the funds originate from the municipal budget, according to regulation all expenditure is subject to financial control by the municipal Department for Internal Audit. This will provide the project with an additional layer of scrutiny and control to ensure that the funds are spent in the most cost-effective and transparent way. We shall also ensure full compliance with relevant external audit by the external funding bodies (EU, EU Programmes, and Partners etc.) in accordance with the requirements of individual funding streams and projects.

Chapter VI • Evaluation and monitoring

Timeline

2014

Initial scoping exercise and identifying partners

2015

Establishment of Veliko Tarnovo University Impact Assessment Unit

2016 2017

2016 – 2018

The Event

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

Establishment of the Veliko Tarnovo Impact Assessment Unit with the support of University of Liverpool Impact 08 Assessment. Publication of Indicators and commencement of first data collection methods. Establishment of evaluation stakeholders group under the auspices of the University of Veliko Tarnovo and 2019 Foundation.

2018 2019

Identification of evaluation and monitoring partners. Survey of citizens’ perspective on the project and its objectives. Development of indicators. Monitoring, research and evaluation on developing and improving the strategy plan, according to local group opinions and commission recommendations.

Post-Event Evaluation

All thematic studies have begun, and first publications of results of baseline studies. University of Liverpool continues in support role, and capacity building of teams takes place. Improvement of initial data collection and feedback.

Full data collection systems in place, and issuing of publications, providing feedback to the VT2019 operational units from previous years to ensure the year runs as smoothly as possible, negative impacts are ameliorated and removed to ensure the greatest possible, positive impact for VT2019.

101

Chapter VII Additional information

What, in your opinion, are the strong points of the city’s application and the parameters of its success as European Capital of Culture and what, on the other hand, are its weak points?

Strengths • Our Slogan

• Physical intimacy

Creating Happiness is a simple, Veliko Tarnovo is a relatively strong message that everybody can small city, but it has a global reach. The physical and social intimacy understand and share. will easily stimulate and encourage participation and engagement. The • Our Concept visibility of the event will have a A growing interest in the qual- greater impact and resonance than ity of life and the ‘happiness and in a larger city, where the message well-being’ agenda across Europe, will be more dispersed. At the indeed globally. same time, it will be a positive example for other small and medium size cities throughout Europe. • Tourism base The city already has a very well-developed tourism sector. 65% of its GDP is based on tourism. This is a strong foundation based on an extensive global network upon which we can build a successful VT2019.

• The Ancient Capital As the ancient capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo is a city of national significance and importance. If we were awarded the European Capital of Culture it would be considered an award for the whole nation.

• Sustainability and Capacity • The Wow factor Building The city is visually stunning, and Cultura Ex-Machina, our fifth all visitors experience the sense theme, addresses our need to build of arriving in a special place. Visup our capacity, to develop new itors from Le Corbusier, to Patrick skills, knowledge, cultural opera- Leigh-Fermour and General von tors and experts, as well as creating Moltke, have all marvelled at Taremployment opportunities and en- novo’s organic blend of nature and couraging new businesses. architecture.

104

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

• Widespread and Popular Support The candidacy has the unanimous political support of the City Council and all municipalities throughout the Veliko Tarnovo Region, and even adjacent cities such as Gabrovo and Ruse. VT2019 enjoys universal public support, as demonstrated by the popularity of the events held here and civic enthusiasm since the pre-selection stage. Weaknesses • The financial crisis Emerging from the financial crisis of 2008, the candidacy was competing with many demands on limited resources, and different priorities. This contributed to a somewhat late start for our city but also a leaner and more focused approach, which has generated a very much ‘people powered’ bid involving wide support and genuine citizen participation.. • Communication The dialogue between the small (but vocal) contemporary cultural community, and the municipality who had more established working relations with more traditional and established cultural operators, took time to develop so as to facilitate the good communication we now enjoy. • The location The City is situated in the centre of Bulgaria, easy to reach by car from all over the country, but at the same time relatively far away (around three hours) from international airports. However, since the vast majority of visitors are likely to be domestic in origin, this is not an obstacle to a successful ECoC. In any case, the vast number of international visitors and residents are not restricted in anyway by the location of Veliko Tarnovo. • Secondary city syndrome Many people, especially the young, are leaving the city and region (we hope VT2019 will help to halt and perhaps even reverse this trend.)

Chapter VII • Additional information

Does the city intend to develop particular cultural projects in the coming years, irrespective of the outcome of its application for the title of European Capital of Culture? Please comment.

Please add below any further comments which you deem necessary on the subject of the application.

The bid was a good opportunity for us to reflect on our situation and to clarify what the city needs for the future. Bulgaria 2019 is based on the wish to realise, over a longer time span than only a year, some of the projects planned for 2019 and to intensify the cooperation and communication with the other candidate Bulgarian cities. One city in Italy and one city in Bulgaria will be nominated as a European Capital of Culture. We intend to build on the links we have established through our candidacy and to continue developing projects and new exchanges together. Having got this far, and seen the benefits accrued, we shall continue, with or without the title, to develop projects for a re-launch of the city. The fifth theme of our programme, Cultura Ex-Machina, based on providing new managerial skills, educational projects and training, will go ahead in order to develop a new active young generation of professionals in the fields of art, culture and further related areas.

We feel that all the necessary information has been set out in the questions above, and perhaps it may be fitting to end the bid book with a quote from one of Britain’s leading travel writers, who believed more than most in life, happiness and the pursuit of beauty and art. In his epic walk as a 19 year old boy from London to Constantinople – as he insisted on calling it – during the 1930s, he witnessed the dark clouds of war and intolerance forming over Europe. Arriving in Tarnovo, and struck by its beauty and instant hospitality he stayed for 2 months.

“The town of Tirnovo... rose from a canyon like an emanation, a sharp flight of houses hovering in ascending waves along the lip of a precipice which swung airily away and then back again in three quarters of a circle. The rock face, as the town gained height, fell beneath it into a chasm of organ-fluted rock, all stressed and heavy with shadow, to the sinuous bend of the river Yantra.” Patrick Leigh-Fermour, OBE (1915 – 2011)

105

Chapter VII Annex

Financial Details

Annex • Financial Details

Planned costs

1 І. OPERATIONAL COSTS % І. Operational costs A. Programme COSTS ( 2019) І. Main events in 2019

Investment costs (in thousands euro) From public sector ( in thousands euro) Total State budget National subsi- Private City Region EU costs lеvel dy for sector ECofC 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 20 000,00 2 000,00 8 000,00 1 000,00 2 000,00 3 000,00 3 510,00 100,00

10,00

40,00

14 522,00 1 366,00 6 640,00

5,00

10,00

760,00

1 376,00

15,00

2 300,00 1 590,00

75,00

80,00 2. Closing event - EuroCapital THEME 1. CULTURAL FORTRESSES 160,00 3. The Festival of old capitals 300,00 4. Stage of the ages 120,00 5. Crafts and design fair

80,00

1. 2019 Opening event

THEME 2. CULTURE OPEN GATE 6. Volvox 7. Shine a light 8. Art Panorama Festival of Contemporary Art 9. TurnOF Jazz Festival 10. Tsarevgrad Documentary THEME 3. ROUTES 11. The Words of Europe - words of stone (Alphabet Route ) 12. The Bread Route 13. Via Vini – Wine Route 14. The Bulgarian gardeners in Europe (Gardens Route) 15. Gold's Route 16. Architects Route 17. Festival Kolyo Ficheto 18. Beautiful Elena (Beautiful Elena Route) 19. East – West (Migrants Route) 20. Promised Land (Migrants Route) 21. Roma Route 22. Open Heart 23. International Festival of Roma Brass Orchestras 24. Well being wall (Well Being Route) 25. Map to Future 26. Augmented Realities 27. Technological boundaries 28. Digital audience THEME 4. HAPPY – NES(T)S 29. Second World Summit of Community Arts Centers and Networks

25,00 150,00 19,00

30,00 150,00 23,00

19,00 20,00

23,00 80,00

78,00 50,00

40,00 40,00

4,00

6,00 30,00

30,00

100,00

12,00

16,00

72,00

30,00 50,00

3,00

100,00

12,00

16,00

100,00 150,00 20,00

20,00 20,00

20,00

100,00 120,00 225,00

50,00

85,00

490,00

5,00

75,00

5,00

5,00 20,00

10,00

72,00 20,00 50,00

40,00 70,00 20,00

10,00

15,00

60,00 40,00 50,00 40,00

50,00 10,00 6,00

70,00

9,00

11,00

50,00

100,00 50,00 12,00 15,00 15,00

12,00

16,00 20,00

67,00

20,00

3,00

4,00

13,00

20,00 8,00

2,45

78,00

22,00

35,00

12 490,00

105,00

10,00

15,00

17,55

Other sources

5,00 10,00

5,00

36,00 40,00

20,00 12,00 15,00 15,00

5,00 10,00

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

30. Happiness - International Academic Conference THEME 5. CULTURA EX-MACHINA 31. International Council for Cultural Centers programme 32. Open spaces for arts 33. The Way of Bell’s Sound 34. VT100 Digital Home – Mission possible ІІ. Follow-up events in 2019 THEME 1. CULTURAL FORTRESSES 35. Medieval Festival 36. Strength for life 37. Mad Cap II 38. The wheel of life 39. Arbanasi Summer Music - Classical Chamber Music Festival 40. Interwoven 41. The bitter laughter of the Happy Man 42. Senses 43. Panorama of World Intangible Cultural Heritage 44. DiPP2019 World Congress – Digital Presentation and Preservation of Cultural and Scientific Heritage World Congress THEME 2. CULTURE OPEN GATE 45. Mad Cap I 46. The International Biennial of Painting and Art of Paper 47. Street Festivals. Children Have Fun 48. Veliko Tarnovo Resident Art Center 49. Graffiti in the Air 50. Festival of musical notes and paints 51. The Garden of Stained Glass and Mosaic 52. Positive reflections 53. Happiness Train 54. Art-Nature – International Symposium 55. Week of the stairs 56. Open Space – residence program for Balkan contemporary artists and Balkan Fusion orchestra 57. Intermedia Art Festival 58. Just for Kids 59. Fantastik Tarnovo 60. International Festival of Military Orchestras 61. I Can – Cinema Air Nature 62. Ballet Summer Acaddemy 63. One-way Ticket to Mars

50,00

5,00

6,00

70,00

12,00

14,00

5,00

32,00

5,00

2,00

70,00 70,00 70,00

12,00 12,00 12,00

14,00 14,00 13,00

5,00 5,00 5,00

32,00 31,00 32,00

5,00 5,00 5,00

2,00 3,00 3,00

233,00 50,00 30,00 20,00 30,00

38,00 6,00 4,00

45,00 7,00 5,00 10,00 10,00

60,00 40,00 70,00 50,00

20,00

10,00 5,00 5,00

29,00

150,00 37,00 21,00 10,00 20,00 30,00 15,00 25,00 20,00

20,00

10,00

70,00 30,00

9,00 4,00

11,00 5,00

50,00 21,00

20,00 30,00 20,00 50,00 40,00

2,00

3,00

15,00

20,00 10,00 40,00 20,00 50,00

35,00 20,00 40,00 40,00 20,00 15,00 15,00

10,00

20,00 20,00

15,00

5,00

10,00

5,00

10,00

10,00 2,00 6,00 5,00

20,00

3,00 8,00 5,00

15,00 36,00 15,00 20,00 5,00 30,00

5,00

6,00

5,00 8,00

10,00 36,00

4,00

5,00

26,00

5,00

20,00 40,00 4,00

6,00

30,00

5,00 10,00 5,00

10,00 5,00 5,00

5,00 5,00

Annex • Financial Details

THEME 3. ROUTES 64. A (Alphabet Route) 65. Glagolitsa (Alphabet Route) 66. International Biennale of Literature (Alphabet Route) 67. The Babylon Tower 68. International Festival of Gardens and Parks (Gardens Route) 69. Womad (Beautiful Elena Route) 70. Promised Land (Migrants Route) 71. Creativity and Wellbeing week (Well Being Route) 72. A Portrait of the Politic as an Artist (Well Being Route) 73. All art is political, everyone is an artist (Well Being Route) THEME 4 HAPPY – NES(T)S 74. Residences for future 75. Festival of quarters 76. Bread House Matera 77. Erasmus generation 78. Censura 79. Follow-up events 80. Annual budget for 2020 B. Promotion and marketing B.1. Advertising and promoting of preparation period B.2. Promotion of cultural heritage along the Eastern Trans-Balkan Cultural Corridor - Veliko Tarnovo’s contribution to the common European heritage B.3. Development and promotion of regional cultural-tourism product with focus on Veliko Tarnovo B.4. Advertising for the period 2018 2019 B.5. Marketing surveys C. Wages, overheads, administration C.1. Overheads C.2.Wages C.3. Administration

50,00 20,00 60,00 8,00 20,00 20,00 40,00 36,00

2,00 7,00

9,00

20,00 50,00 20,00 30,00 20,00 6 308,00 3 900,00

10,00

8,00 5,00

44,00 8,00

2,00

3,00

15,00 15,00

10,00 7,00

20,00 9,00

20,00 50,00

40,00 5,00

iii

20,00 3,00

6,00

5,00 10,00

8,00

5,00

12,00

10,00

5,00

20,00 853,00 400,00

900,00 500,00

300,00

500,00

1 000,00

0,00

500,00

1 000,00

200

200,00

920 120,00 800,00

0,00 0,00

150,00 0,00

0,00 0,00

36,00

20,00 6,00

8,00

36,00

4,00

5,00

21,00

802,00

2 871,00 3 000,00

582,00

3 988,00 518,00

484,00 103,00

1 140,00 127,00

240,00 60,00

153,00

19,00

23,00

467,00

98,00

115,00

100,00

2 600,00

200,00

850,00

50,00

250,00 1490 120,00 1 350,00 20,00

64,00 150

25,00 220

30,00 0

150,00

200,00 20,00

39 797,00 5 885,00 8 184,00 ІІ. CAPITAL INVESTMENT 13 841,00 1 766,00 2 076,00 A. Funding of new cultural infrastructure or upgrading existing facilities 399,00 A.1. C onstruction and equipment of mil- 2 659,00 339,00 itary museum, new library, youth art center, tourist information center, museum of photography and exposition center on the territory of the former military school 409,00 52,00 61,00 A.2. Building of fair center for exhibitions and congresses

624,00 228,00 111,00

0,00 0,00

154,00

131,00 0

25 578,00 9 999,00 1 921,00

296,00

Veliko Tarnovo candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2019

767,00 98,00 115,00 A.3. Restoration of Bulgaria's unique museum of architecture in Veliko Tarnovo 767,00 A.4. Renovation of the cultural valuables 5 113,00 652,00 of national significance included in the priority list of OPRG 472,00 A.5. Exposure and adaptation of cultural 3 150,00 402,00 heritage 1 563,00 200,00 235,00 A.6. Renovation and energy efficiency of cultural infrastructure including the surrounding area, accessible environment and video surveillance systems 180,00 23,00 27,00 A.7. Design and enlargement of Multi Media Visitors’ Center on "Piccolo" Str., administrative building of Regional Historical Museum 17 048,00 3 238,00 3 070,00 B. Urban revitalisation (renovation of squares, gardens, streets, public space development 2 499,00 319,00 375,00 B.1. R econstruction and introduction of energy efficiency measures in "Vasil Levski"Palace of culture and sport and reconstruction and modernization of the adjacent park area in front of "Vasil Levski" Palace of culture and sport, "Kolyu Ficheto"residential area, Veliko Tarnovo 12 504,00 1 522,00 2 360,00 B.2. L andscaping, public works, construction of walkways and installing street furniture in public spaces 10,00 114,00 B.3. M odern orientation and information 179,00 systems 1 268,00 1 268,00 B.4. R econstruction and modernisation of playing field and running track at the "Ivaylo" stadium – Veliko Tarnovo – Part II 250,00 100,00 B.5. C onstruction of multi-functional sports hall at "Em. Stanev"Secondary school – Part II 38,00 5,00 6,00 B.6. R econstruction and rehabilitation of viewpoints along "Stefan Stambolov" Str. 54,00 7,00 8,00 B.7. R econstruction of old authentic elements of urban furniture 57,00 7,00 8,00 B.8. C reation of urban space highlights – open air galleries with works of art from the repositories of the cultural institutions and other 122,00 122,00 B.9. D evelopment and implementation of an entire tourist information and signage system 77,00 77,00 B.10. Establishment of a partnership network for regulation, development and implementation of projects in the field of cultural heritage

554,00

3 694,00

2 276,00 1 128,00

130,00

0,00

10 590,00

0,00

150,00

1 805,00

8 622,00

55,00

150,00

27,00

39,00 42,00

0,00

Annex • Financial Details

C. Infrastructures C.1. D evelopment of energy efficient and environmentalyl-friendly urban transport; Development of integrated urban transport; design and construction of modern bus station, general plan for traffic organization /improvement of the traffic organization /incl. throughout reconstruction/ of the city's busy intersections during rush-hour traffic C.2. T ransport scheme with alternative routes C.3. R econstruction of public parking (Kraibrezhna Street – Zoned Land IV, quarter 329А, to the building of Territorial Directorate of National Revenue Agency, to Humanitarian High School "St. St. Cyril and Methodius") C.4. R ehabilitation of streets and sidewalks, construction of parking lots, soundproof greenery, facilities for urban speed reduction, fences, energy efficient lighting and lighted trails, video surveillance systems C.5. R enovation of pedestrian spaces (Saedinenie Square, Velchova zavera Square, Pobornicheski Square, Samovodska charshiya Square C.6. C onstruction of bikeways and bike stations TOTAL BUDGET COSTS % of the total costs

8 908,00 2 625,00

881,00 335,00

3 038,00 394,00

0,00

4 989,00 1 896,00

25,00

3,00

4,00

18,00

256,00

33,00

39,00

184,00

5 255,00

415,00

2 489,00

2 351,00

82,00

10,00

12,00

60,00

665,00

85,00

100,00

480,00

0,00

59 797,00 7 885,00 16 184,00 1 000,00 27 578,00 3 000,00 3 660,00 100,00

13,19

27,06

1,67

46,12

5,02

6,12

0,00

490,00 0,82

Veliko Tarnovo’s application for European Capital of Culture 2019 English 2nd Edition – July 2014

Publisher: Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo & VT 2019 Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo Address: 2, Mayka Bulgaria square, Veliko Tarnovo 5000 tel: +359 62 619 304, fax: +359 62 627 997 email: mayorvt@vt.bia-bg.com, www.veliko-tarnovo.bg VT 2019 Address: 2, Rafael Mihailov str., Veliko Tarnovo 5000 tel,: +359 62 52 05 75; email: info@vt2019.eu; www.vt2019.eu

Team VT 2019 Stephane Lambert, Mariana Nikolaeva, Ivelina Ruseva, Elisa Calosi, Andrew Anderson, Tanya Marinova, Boryana Koleva, Svetla Pencheva, Dragomir Gaydarov, Ekaterina Milislavova, Nelina Tsarova, Vladislava Andreeva, Borislav Alexandrov Editorial Team Andrew Anderson, Borislav Alexandrov, Boryana Koleva, Dragomir Gaydarov, Ekaterina Milislavova, Elisa Calosi, Ivelina Ruseva, Mariana Nikolaeva, Nelina Tsarova, Stephane Lambert, Svetla Pencheva, Tanya Marinova, Vladislava Andreeva Translation Yordanka Antonova Proofreading Colin Williams Designed and printed by Faber® www.faber-bg.com

Board of Mayor Daniel Panov – Mayor Gancho Karabadjakov Snejana Daneva-Ivanova Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo Ivan Krustev, Mariela Tsoneva, Nelina Tsarova, Pavel Hristov, Tsvetelina Peneva, Tsvetomir Boyadziev, and all the other employees of municipality of Veliko Tarnovo Veliko Tarnovo Region Mayors and all the other employees of municipalities of Gorna Oriahovitsa, Elena, Zlataritsa, Liaskovets, Pavlikeni, Polski Trambesh, Svishtov, Strazhitsa, Suhindol. Photography DUPPINI Art Group (p.p.2, 80, 88) Ivan Krastev (p.9) Film Krajok (Cover picture, p.p.10, 29) Rostislav Grancharov (p. 26, 106) Art and Dance Center „Un Beso“ (p.33, 106) Art Summer (p.34, 106) Club “Taralej” (p.p.90, 96) VT 2019 (p. 106)

Thanks to all volunteers coordinated by Ivelina Ruseva

Thanks to all citizens of Veliko Tarnovo and all people that have supported and helped VT 2019