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Pro Rodopi Foundation, Bulgaria

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Contact
Telephone: 
+359888639923
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Description
Information about institution: 

Pro Rodopi Foundation is one of pioneer independent cultural organizations in Bulgarian countryside. It is the only Bulgarian member of Trans Europe Halles (www.teh.net).

Its aim is to facilitate wide spectrum of creative process (performances, workshops, presentations, conferences, socio-cultural debates etc) in field of performing arts, and its impact on artistic, social, cultural, geographical and individual identity of human being. Crucial qualities of the Pro Rodopi Arts Centre are openness, local and intenational co-operation; will and ability to change and adjust its directions according to its local and global environment.

Main achievements are producing ‘Adults Forbidden’ International Performing Arts Festival for Children and Young People; realizing 8 professional dance and theatre projects in residence, toured to over 35 countries worldwide; co-producing ‘Aquarius Era’ Festival of Bulgarian Physical Theatre in Bourgas; various workshops, conferences, international meetings.

The profile of Pro Rodopi Foundation as the only professional independent enterpreneurship in the field of performing arts in the region of Rhodopes in Bulgaria is innovative by definition due to existing practices and experiences in the cultural landscape of these broad part of South Bulgaria. It brings new practices and expertise to the whole area of Smolyan (centre one of the 27 regions of Bulgaria).  It produces professional dance and theatre events outside state and city institutions and it connects local professional to colleagues from other parts of the country and abroad.

Adults Forbidden International Performing Arts festival for Children and Youth Audiences is an annual event happening since 2012 in the rural region of Smolyan - one of the poorest parts not only in Bulgaria, but in whole European Union. The event presents every year to the younger generation in different 10 small town and villages 10 to 15 international theatre, dance, street and circus productions on over 20 stages with over 35 performances. Every year more than 5000 people are engaged and reached by the activities of the festival. Smolyan region consists of 10 municipalities. The festival has been able to cover all of them with its activities. The event is recognized by national authorities as well as Ministry of Culture, National Culture Fund etc.

The festival reaches annually over 5000 people from the whole region - kids and young people, parents, teachers etc. Special events are organized for children with special educational needs and children in risk like orphants, kids from minority groups etc. The event opens their horizon for personal growth and developing social skills like cultural education, speaking foreign languages, learning to accept differences and tolerance. There are towns and villages where for the first time kids experience professional performing arts and this is one of the greatest achievements of the event.

Among partners of pro Rodopi Foundation in realizing the project so far were Minicipality o Smolyan, Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria, national Culture Fund, America for Bulgaria Foundation, Art Office Foundation, Goethe Institut Sofia, Municipalies  of Banite, Borino, Chepelare, Madan, Ruzdozem, Nedelino, Zlatograd, Dospat, Devin, Dutch Fund for Performing Arts, Austrian Embassy in Bulgaria, Radio1 Smolyan, Bulgarian National Radio, Smolyan Regional Governer etc. The contribution of partners and sponsors is either financial or with offering facilities and promotion for the event.

International performing arts specially for kids and youngsters was unknown in this rural part of the country. One of the first obstacles was to convince local authorities in the importance of presenting to the kids in the region international art and how beneficial this can be for their personal development and to their social skills. Another very big problem is that area of Smolyan is one of the poorest in the whole country (respectfully in whole Europe) and the fact that economy is very badly developed there, e.g. it is almost impossible to find commercial sponsors for the event.

Pro Rodopi Foundation is one of pioneer independent cultural organizations in Bulgarian countryside. It is the only Bulgarian member of Trans Europe Halles (www.teh.net).

Its aim is to facilitate wide spectrum of creative process (performances, workshops, presentations, conferences, socio-cultural debates etc) in field of performing arts, and its impact on artistic, social, cultural, geographical and individual identity of human being. Crucial qualities of the Pro Rodopi Arts Centre are openness, local and intenational co-operation; will and ability to change and adjust its directions according to its local and global environment. Main achievements are producing ‘Adults Forbidden’ International Performing Arts Festival for Children and Young People; realizing 8 professional dance and theatre projects in residence, toured to over 35 countries worldwide; co-producing ‘Aquarius Era’ Festival of Bulgarian Physical Theatre in Bourgas; various workshops, conference etc.

Short history: 

Pro Rodopi Foundation (PRF) is one of the most prominent independent Bulgarian cultural organizations. It is an NGO – a private foundation for public benefit, according to Bulgarian law. It has been established by the well known Bulgarian performing artists Petar Todorov and Desislava Mincheva in 2000 with the aim to break through the existing mainstream state infrastructure and to create new model of producing cultural projects in Bulgaria.

PRF has produced and maintained over 40 artistic and socio-cultural projects of national and international importance so far, mainly in the field of performing arts. PRF has received grants as a co-organizers in four projects funded by EU programs.

In 2004 has launched Pro Rodopi Art Centre (PRAC) in the small village of Bostina in Central Rhodopes mountain in South Bulgaria. It is the first independent cultural resident centre in Bulgaria which hosted four projects till present. PRAC is the only Bulgarian member of Trans Europe Halles (TEH), www.teh.net. Petar Todorov was a member of the Executive committee of THE, 2007-11. Productions created in PRAC have been touring in Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Czech republic, Slovakia, Poland, Austria, Italy, Iceland, The Netherlands, France, Singapore, Australia, USA, Pakistan, India etc, and they have received many prestigious national and international awards.

PRF has been working with many partners, donors and sponsors so far incl. Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria, Municipality of Smolyan, European Cultural Foundation, Pro Helvetia, KulturKontakt, Trust for Mutual Understanding New York, Asia-Europe Foundation and many others.

Pro Rodopi Foundation

Bostina 4745, Smolyan district, Bulgaria

T: +359 301 80722

M: +359 888 639923

www.prac.biz, [email protected]

The most important projects: 

In 2004 has launched Pro Rodopi Art Centre (PRAC) in the small village of Bostina in Central Rhodopes mountain in South Bulgaria. It is the first independent cultural residential centre in Bulgaria which hosted 8 projects till present. PRAC is the only Bulgarian member of Trans Europe Halles (TEH), www.teh.net. Projects created in PRAC have been touring in Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Serbia, Turkey, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Iceland, Israel, Singapore, Australia, USA, Pakistan, India, Russia etc, and they have received many prestigious national and international awards.

Objectives: 

Pro Rodopi Foundation is the only Bulgarian member of Trans Europe Halles (www.teh.net).

Its aim is to facilitate wide spectrum of creative process (performances, workshops, presentations, conferences, socio-cultural debates etc) in field of performing arts, and its impact on artistic, social, cultural, geographical and individual identity of human being. Crucial qualities of the Pro Rodopi Arts Centre are openness, local and intenational co-operation; will and ability to change and adjust its directions according to its local and global environment.

International cooperations: 

PRF has been working with many partners, donors and sponsors so far incl. Ministry of Culture, National Culture Fund, Municipality of Smolyan, European Cultural Foundation, Pro Helvetia, KulturKontakt, Goethe Institut, Trust for Mutual Understanding, Asia-Europe Foundation and many others. PRF has received twice grants as a co-organizer in two projects funded by European community grants.

The most important awards: 

Awards for I, Thy Soul:

  • 2nd Award for Petar Todorov new written play at ‘The Other One’ playwright competition, Sofia 1993;
  • Best performance at XVII International Puppet festival ‘Two are not Enough, Three are too Many’, Plovdiv 2008 (an award by Main International Jury);
  • Best Bulgarian performance at XVII International Puppet festival ‘Two are not Enough, Three are too Many’, Plovdiv 2008 (an award by Dutch Jury);
  • Award for Desislava Mincheva for Exclusive Artistic achievment at ‘Puppet Fair’ International Theatre Festival, Sofia 2008
Publications: 

Creative Mileus in Europe

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