Our goal
The main goal of the FreeSpiritArt project is to promote intercultural cooperation for better integration of the Roma ethnic group and its rapprochement with other communities and cultures through the stage and screen arts.
About the "Free Spirit Art" project
About us
The project “Free Spirit Art aims to improve intercultural cooperation through performing and screen arts” provides an opportunity to expand intercultural cooperation through art and culture.
The project is funded by the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, Programme PA 14 “Cultural Entrepreneurship, Heritage and Cooperation” with the financial contribution of the Republic of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway and national co-financing. It is implemented in partnership between the “Spaces” Foundation, the Foundation for Art and Culture – the city of Sofia with the partner “Don’t Blink in Front of Bulgarian Cinema” Foundation – the city of Sofia.”
8
Creative workshops
7
Settlements
130
Children involved in the project
5
Stage performances
7
Cinema
screenings
Learn more about...
Our target group
The direct target group are representatives of various minorities / ethnic groups with a focus on Roma - vulnerable groups of children, students and youth, mainly from remote and hard-to-reach areas of the country, including those in disadvantaged situations, representatives of different social status.
Our workshops
Creative workshops in performing and applied arts and a cinema workshop will be held. The activities will involve professionals and amateurs in the relevant fields, as well as representatives of the Roma ethnic group. The trained staff for working with the Roma ethnic group will also bring added value.
Our location
The project activities are implemented on the territory of small settlements (mostly villages), in areas with a high concentration of the Roma ethnic group (village of Oreshene, town of Yablanitsa; village of Selanovtsi, village of Sklave, village of Hristo Danovo, town of Karlovo, town of Krichim).
Our workshops
Find out more about our film and performing arts workshops.
Workshops
Stage Workshop
The main goal is to improve social relationships, creativity, ability to focus, enriching children’s culture through the various expressive means of performing arts…
Workshops
Workshop Cinema
Youth are expected to acquire basic skills in building visual concepts and creating video materials, broadening and enriching their cultural horizon.
What comes next after the creative initiatives are completed?
Stage events and cinema tour
After the completion of the creative initiatives to create our own cultural products, free stage events and a cinema tour are planned - FreeSpiritArtFest.
Training Seminar
A Training Seminar is being organized for the exchange of cultural experience and knowledge for the members of the teams that will work on the project.
Sociological survey
A detailed sociological survey will also be conducted to measure the effectiveness of the initiatives carried out.
Our Team
Meet the people behind the FreeSpiritArt project
Manuela Sarkissian
Manuela Sarkissian was born and raised in Varna.
She graduated from the National Academy of Performing Arts and Sciences “Krustyo Sarafov” in 2008 with a degree in puppet theater acting. Almost immediately after graduation, she began her more active artistic activity in the field of independent theater and in the sphere of informal education for children and adults in the field of performing arts.
He participates in (co)authored performances created on the principle of collaborative creativity and in workshops in the country and abroad for puppet, improvisational and street theater, contemporary dance and performance.
He strongly believes in the ability of art to build bridges – between different people, topics, and worlds.
Reneta Ivanova
Reneta Ivanova is co-organizer and co-founder of "Pocket Festival"
Since 10 years. Works as a freelance actress with an interest in playback
theater, sensory labyrinth, mask theater. Co-founder of the playback group
“ZaEdno”. Leads thematic workshops for children. Author and presenter of workshops for
children and adults, which are called “I draw like …”.
Graduated with an assistant level in psychodrama in 2004 and a bachelor’s degree
“Acting” at the New Bulgarian University.
Completed training in Suggestopedia for teachers in 2021.
Svetoslav Nikolov
Svetoslav Nikolov graduated from the Theater Department of the New Bulgarian University, majoring in "Acting and Directing for Contemporary and Alternative Theater Forms".
He also works as a director. In addition to being a director and actor, Svetoslav Nikolov also enters almost all spheres of theatrical art:
– “Impulse” Bulgaria part of the project of the Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards “Tracing Roads Across” – works as a collaborator in the organizational team.
– Advertising and publicity associate of the “Naked Snail Theater” at the NBU.
production of subtitles for foreign performances for the Varna Summer International Theatre Festival (Theatre Festival).
– Lighting and sound for the participation of the Credo Theater at festivals in the country and abroad.
He is part of the board of directors of Atelier Plastelin
Vasilia Drebova
Vasilia Drebova – actress, with over 8 years of experience in the field of documentary theater at the VOX POPULI Documentary Theater Studio.
Vasilia Drebova recently made her debut as an author, director and choreographer of the documentary performance Common People. She is also actively involved in contemporary dance and performance and theater projects in border genres. Part of the team of the Summer Theater Academy for Children at Risk, Shiroka Laka village in the period 2010 – 2016.
Ina Gerginova
Ina Gerginova is a choreographer, dancer, actress, and teacher.
She is passionate about interdisciplinary and experimental formats. Ina is the founder of the Muzotanz Dance Company, which focuses on social engagement in art. The main expressive medium in her work as a choreographer is contemporary dance.
In her last two original performances (“Plast-tonia” and “Differences”), she also develops her interest in the use of dance dramaturgy, large-scale scenography, and so-called cinematic approaches in theater.
Ina also does playback theater and voice over.
In 2022, she directed her first short dance film “Inner Room”.
Ina Gerginova graduated from the National Academy of Dramatic Arts “Krustyo Sarafov”, majoring in Dance Theater, in 2013. Since then, she has worked with numerous Bulgarian and foreign choreographers, and has participated in workshops with teachers from all over the world, including: David Zambrano, Francisco Cordova, Rob Hayden, Marion Sparber, Alan Fuentes-Guerra, Fighting Monkey, etc. She also participates in prestigious forums and festivals, and in 2022 she was a scholarship holder at the largest international dance festival ImPulsTanz, in a training program for choreographers – ATLAS.
She creates and plans to develop the platforms “Muzotanz: Live” (a series of improvised dance performances with live music) and “M.U.T.E” (laboratories for experimental co-creation between artists from different fields). In 2022, Ina also creates the interactive dance format Danceperimental.
Ina has been involved in playback theater for 10 years (as an actress and conductor). She is the co-founder of the Storycatchers Association.
Her master’s degree in “Artistic Psycho-Social Practices and Psychodrama” enriches her creative vision, her knowledge of group dynamics and process management, and encourages her to develop in another direction, namely psychosocial work in art, in connection with which she creates and leads various seminars – both for artists, as well as for amateurs and people with an interest in the field of theater and dance.
Ina is inspired and motivated by the belief that art is for people, it should be accessible and “speak” about those things that are usually kept silent about.
Alexander Evtimov-The Shaman
Alexander Evtimov-Shamancheto is a musician, composer, actor, playback practitioner and therapist.
She is studying in the master’s program “Artistic Psychosocial Practices and Psychodrama” at NBU, Bulgaria. She has 20 years of experience as an art therapist and 10 years of training in psychodrama.
Alexander consults and leads numerous teams and projects. He works with teachers and supervises the team of the First Democratic School in Sofia.
Shamancheto is part of the groups Popara, Triple A and Strawberry Finns, and is one of the driving forces of the independent scene in Sofia. He is the author of the music for 11 contemporary dance and theater performances. He is the founder of BigBanda – an independent music community and Soundscapers – a music and sound design company, and co-founder of Muzotanz Dance Company and Storycatchers Association. He has 14 years of experience in Playback theater and has been part of four playback theater companies.
Alexander believes that art is a powerful tool for social change.
Elena Kamenarova
Elena Kamenarova - 44 years old, artist, musician, designer, traditional dance instructor, manager of the "BREAD AND WINE" Foundation with a mission for the restoration of traditional arts from the Middle Postrumie region.
A graduate of the National Academy of Arts, she continues her creative path as a freelance artist (mixed graphic technique, painting in acrylic and watercolor techniques), hand-painted design for silk, and a teacher of classical drawing at the “School of Arts and Aesthetic Education” (Sandanski), which she founded in 2013 together with her husband Yane Kamenarov, as well as at the Center for Support for Personal Development-Sandanski.
She plays the tarambuka in traditional technique, vocals (two-part singing) and makes traditional costumes for the Formation “Bread and Wine”, officially founded in 2005, but with the musical beginning of the duo in the distant 2000. The disappearing music from the Melnik region attracts the attention of Elena and Yane Kamenarova, and for nearly 25 years they have managed to search for good examples, study the intangible cultural heritage and demonstrate practically at specialized forums, seminars and conferences. Traditional dances are an integral part of Elena Kamenarova’s creative path, and in 2008 the Club “Bread and Wine” was created, presenting completely authentic dances only from the region of the Struma River and the city of Melnik in their original form.
The visual searches are based on classical aesthetics, often a reason for articles and media appearances. The artist’s field of vision includes local cultural anthropological processes, their expression in art, the development of variable dimensions in taste and expressiveness.
Organizer of events of a conceptual nature, dealing with the issues of festive culture and relationships, visual and sound heritage.
Yane Kamenarov
Yane Kamenarov - 45 years old, plays an authentic tambourine, kemene, dvoyanka, kaval, old bagpipes, svorche, electric guitar, iconographer and artist, makes and restores old musical instruments.
The world we live in is a world in which we humans see and hear, a world of our perceptions. For me, a world of music and the visual.
I have been fascinated by these two phenomena since early childhood, and as a student I embarked on amateur activities with both. Music attracted me simultaneously in two directions – traditional music by tradition, and modern hard music as influencing youth for freethinking and rebellious, awake self-expression. The first brings together songs and stories from the past, the history of the region and ancestors, traditional values. The second involves writing original texts and melodies, creating metal bands and an environment for creativity in the genre. Traditional instruments are the attitude towards the roots, village life and a connection with older people. Over time, these interests of mine were reflected more deeply and professionally in the Formation “Bread and Wine”, which was created together with my wife Elena Kamenarova. My professional development there includes making instruments, participation in the country and international forums, seminars, master classes, awards and recognitions. My activities with traditional Eastern Church music help me explore harmonies and scales.
Drawing is the parallel world of my reality, fresh, strong and significant as music. After attending private schools of classical drawing and fine arts, I apply knowledge and skills to reach exhibitions, as well as professional activities in icon painting, making pictorial decoration of iconostases, in-depth research of ancient techniques and technologies of gilding and modeling of form.
I also teach my practical skills as an assistant in schools, clubs, kindergartens, school extracurricular and alternative activities – “Bread and Wine” Club (dances and traditional culture), “School of Arts and Aesthetic Education”.
All of this, conceptually and collectively, is an important element of the ennoblement of our society. I believe in the sense that through education, skill, and practice of the above-mentioned classical and original arts, the social environment is improved towards a good society and life in the future.
Zdravka Kantareva
Zdravka Kantareva is a set designer and leader of workshops for children in applied arts, puppetry and architecture.
Over the years, he has been professionally realized in numerous independent artistic projects and has developed his own, individual, creative approach in the creation of puppets, costumes, spatial and stage environments. In the period 2008-2010, he was a costume designer in the international theater company “Caravan Stage Company”. Visual artist, author of interactive installations for exhibitions and festivals of contemporary art.
Part of the artistic troupe “Adventures with a Ship” with which he creates puppets and scenography for traveling puppet-musical performances: “Born under a Lucky Star”, Sofia
Natalia Tsekova
Natalia Tsekova is a Roma woman, an actress.
She graduated with a degree in “Acting” for dramatic theater in the class of Prof. Zdravko Mitkov, and then a master’s degree in “Public Speaking”, again there. She has several one-man shows in tandem with Zdrava Kamenova, the last one being “The Taste of Life”. She is actively involved in film and television productions. Through meetings, talks and art, she works towards changing attitudes towards the Roma.
Margarita Petrova
Margarita Petrova is an actress with many years of experience. She completed her professional education in 2008 at the Theater Department of the National University of Bulgaria, Sofia.
He participates in various theatrical and social projects.
In the period 2002 – 2015, he was on the team of the “Summer Theater Academy for Children at Risk” of the “Den Gri” Foundation, where he developed his individual approach in working with disadvantaged children and youth.
Since 2006, she has been part of the team of the Theater of the Senses “Labyrinth Theater”, Sofia. After training in sensory theater with Iwan Briok, in the period 2008-2014 she was in the troupe of “Ilkova Theater” where she developed her professional experience in puppet theater. Her repertoire includes a number of author’s projects in the field of contemporary theater, one-man shows and numerous participations in prestigious forums and festivals in Bulgaria and abroad. She is passionate about dance and participates in various workshops in Butoh dance, Contact improvisation, Contemporary dance forms. Between 2016 and today she works in various educational institutions as a theater teacher. In 2019, she participated in a production of traditional Noh theater, undergoing 10-day training in Osaka, Japan. The same year, with the composer and musician Milena Velikova and the artist and scenographer Zdravka Kantareva, they began work on the trilogy “Adventures with a Ship” puppet musical performances with live music and creative workshops. Inspired by the work of Tove Jansson, the artists work as Margarita Petrova actress, playwright and songwriter in the performances, Milena Velikova composer and performer of the music, and Zdravka Kantareva creates the decor, puppets and creative workshops. In 2021, Margarita Petrova was certified as a trainer at the Academy for the Development of the Intellect “AMAKids” in several methodologies. She continues to work with children and on various theater projects. She is developing the project “Adventures with a Ship” together with her colleagues Milena Velikova and Zdravka Kantareva, releasing music albums with children’s songs, another project is a 3D book with music.
Ivaylo Mitev
Ivaylo Mitev graduated from the Theater Department of the New Bulgarian University in 2006 with a degree in Scenography.
During and after her studies, she gained experience both in her specialty and in projects dedicated to working with children from vulnerable groups, the main one of which was “Art for Social Change”.
In 2010, he got together with two more friends and colleagues and started “PUNKT Workshop”, in which they breathed new life into old furniture.
Since 2018, he has been actively involved as a technical assistant in the puppet-interactive miniature “Fairytale Mission with the Wizard”, which tours the country and meets with children from smaller and larger settlements.
Pavel Tagradzhiyski
Pavel Tagradzhiyski - one of the first chocolatiers in Bulgaria, opened his workshop in 2007.
In parallel, he developed his interests in the fields of education, philosophy, political science, etc.
Since 2020, he has been studying Non-Formal Education at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and has participated as a volunteer and intern in various educational, theater and art projects. Thanks to them and his education, he is oriented towards creative approaches in education as a basis for the development of personal, civic, social and artistic competencies in both children and adults.
The Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area.
The European Economic Area Financial Mechanism (EEA FM) provides funds provided by the Kingdom of Norway, the Republic of Iceland and the Principality of Liechtenstein to reduce economic and social disparities in Europe and strengthen bilateral relations between donor and beneficiary countries by financing several priority sectors, including culture, civil society, good governance, fundamental rights and freedoms.
During the period 2014-2021, the Ministry of Culture is the Program Operator of the cultural funds through the Program PA14 “Cultural Entrepreneurship, Heritage and Cooperation” with a total budget of €10,000,000. The Program will be implemented with the participation of a Program Partner from the Donor Countries – the Arts Council of Norway.
The Programme will support projects that improve the presentation conditions of collections in museums, galleries, libraries and community centres, as well as those that document the cultural history of social, ethnic and cultural minorities and groups. Expanding access to culture is also among the objectives of the programme, and projects that create new cultural content through the organization of festivals, performances, traveling productions, exhibitions, cultural routes, etc. will be funded.
See more at www.eeagrants.org / www.norwaygrants.org / https://www.eeagrants.bg/
Iceland Liechtenstein Norway grants
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SPACES Foundation
The PROSTRANSTVA Foundation was established in early 2018 by a group of independent artists working in the fields of theater, dance, photography and cinema, and visual arts. It is registered as a public benefit organization in the Registry of Legal Entities of the Republic of Bulgaria with UIC 205000465. The Foundation is managed by the Foundation Council, which is the supreme governing body and Executive Director. The Foundation’s mission is to promote art as an important factor for positive development in all spheres of the country’s social and cultural life and carries out activities in close cooperation with the spheres of education, science, and ecology. The Foundation’s organizational team has good experience in managing projects of various content and scale in the field of contemporary arts and their application in education.
DON'T BLINK IN FRONT OF BULGARIAN CINEMA Foundation
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