East European Performing Arts Platform (EEPAP) supports the
development of contemporary performing arts (dance and theatre)
in 18 countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

Art Office Foundation, Bulgaria

Sylwia Śmigiel
Contact
Telephone: 
+359 2 987 33 81
Description
Information about institution: 

Art Office is registered as a foundation for public benefit engaged in promotion and circulation of non-commercial productions of the performing arts (theatre, dance and music). It works with Bulgarian artists and their artistic productions and has activities in Bulgaria and abroad.  Art Office also provides educational services, organization of cultural programs, consultations, and implements surveys and studies.

The director of Art Office is Kalina Wagenstein, programme coordinator is Albena Tagareva.

The Foundation was established in 2007. It works independently and in partnership with Bulgarian and foreign institutions and organizations. It is mainly occupied with the career development of young and emerging artists. 

For over 5 years of existence, Art Office has developed and implemented more than 30 short- and medium- term projects. Some of the programs are in progress for a period of 3 to 5 years.

The most important projects: 

The most important projects:  

  • “Art in movement “– presentation of independent performance art productions outside of the capital city

The main goals are to foster the contacts between independent groups and cultural venues all over Bulgaria, to ensure the minimum funds necessary to make the traveling possible, to provide young freelance artists with the opportunity for additional presentation of their productions, and to bring variety to the cultural life of the hosting city.

  • Module “Showcase” at International Theatre Festival “Varna Summer”

Art Office Foundation together with ITF “Varna Summer” initiated a “Showcase” module for mobile Bulgarian productions presented for festival selectors, program directors, theatre specialists and critics. The programme is annual and was organized in 2011 for the 4th time.

  • ”Open Actors Classes”

Bulgarian professional actors who do not teach at theatre schools share their professional experience with a younger audience. Up to this moment Art Office has organized 14 events, 6 more are planned for the next theatre season. Partner with the Youth Theatre ”Nikolay Binev”, Sofia.

Objectives: 

The main goals of Art Office are to influence the diversity and quality of Bulgarian cultural life by ensuring the audience’s easier and wider access to a variety of contemporary art productions. It aims to foster the institutional and career development of Bulgarian artists, art groups and organizations by introducing professional art marketing practices for promotion and circulation of art productions.

The Art Office also intends to arouse, develop and maintain the interest of the audience in contemporary art works and attract the attention of young people, in order to stimulate the institutional development of the Bulgarian art scene and contribute to more varied and inventive art funding and methods. International exposure of Bulgarian acts also remains a vital part of the office’s work.

International cooperations: 

International cooperation:

 

  • Bulgarian partner in the East European Performing Arts Platform  
  • Bulgarian partner in U.S./Bulgaria Stage Directors Exchange Program (together with The Drama League in New York).

 

Publications: 

Publications:

  • Hristova, Kremena and Razsolkova, Kristin, European Model of “Export” of National Culture Around the World, Art Office, 2010
  • Dimtrova, Galina and Dorovska, Margarita, Five lengths freestyle (Handbook for debuting executing cultural projects), Cult Foundation, 2007 (financial and logistic contribution)
Websites