The ‘River of Tolerance’ International Youth Art Festival is a project of the ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund that brings together lecturers and students in the visual arts from Balkan states into inclusive educational initiatives. Over its course, established artists and young talents have the opportunity to share their ideas, views and practices in art and to build a common vision of the values that unify them.
The festival took place in 2011, 2012 and 2014, with the last one held under the auspices of UNESCO.
Over the years, Vasil Kolev – Vassillo, Tsvetan Ignatovski, Daniela Vasiliu, Cem Kara, Bogdan Stefanovic, Forina Oprescu, Dimosthenis Bogiatzis now all established artists in their fields, participated as students in the festival.
Until now, the venue of the ‘River of Tolerance’ has been the Sarafs’ House, a site of architectural and historical cultural value of national importance and a representative centre of NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ in the town of Samokov, a hub for one of the most prominent and significant Bulgarian art schools of the National Revival epoch.
For the first time, in 2021 (13–17 September), the Festival will be held online. On the NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ website, we shall organise a ‘space’ for free sharing and exchange, where we can meet artists from the Balkans, including Croatia, in the fields of graphics, photography and the digital arts. The main theme, ‘The Shared Art of the Balkans—Traditions and Contemporaneity’, reflects the goals and objectives of the event and corresponds to UNESCO’s current priorities.
The working panels in the Festival programme are planned in two principal formats: lectures and workshops. Special time will be allocated for conversation and discussion. Virtual tours of the sights in Samokov, of the Sarafs’ House, and the Graphic Art Base in the town, will be included.
In their lectures, well-known and established figures in their fields in Bulgaria will share their experience, knowledge and views. Workshops in graphics, photography and the digital arts will provide an opportunity for the sharing and practical mastering of technological knowledge and means of artistic expression.
As an event, the Festival will stimulate and enrich the cultural exchange between higher art schools from the Balkan states. With the art they create, young artists and their teachers will express and convey their message on important topics and values in the changing world in which we live.
The artworks created during the Festival and donated to NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ will be included in an follow-up exhibition at a prestigious Sofia gallery with an accompanying catalogue. Additionally, we shall propose the exhibition should also be held in 2022 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
Day 1
OFFICIAL OPENING
Official video message from UNESCO
Welcoming remarks by Slava Ivanova, Executive Director of NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’
Videos of the first three editions of the ‘River of Tolerance’ International Youth Art Festival.
Presentations of the higher educational institutions participating in the project, in alphabetical order
BULGARIA
National Academy of Art, Sofia
GREECE
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
ROMANIA
Bucharest National University of Arts
SERBIA
Welcoming remarks by Prof. Georgi Yankov, Rector of the National Academy of Arts
PANEL 2
Lecture by Prof. Svilen Stefanov, D.A., entitled ‘Changes in Bulgarian Art on the Cusp of the 1980s and 1990s’
Video of the Sarafs’ House, the NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ regional centre in Samokov. Traditionally the place where the Festival takes place
Day 2
PANEL 1
Assoc. Prof. Yohan Yotov, Graphic Art Department, National Academy of Arts, Sofia
Workshop: Graphic Art
Vasil Kolev – Vassillo, D.A., on his involvement in the ‘River of Tolerance’ International Youth Art Festival
Dr Veselin Hadzhiangelov on the cultural history of the town of Samokov
Day 3
PANEL 1
We present Ivan Kyuranov, D.A., History of Art Department, Photography Section, National Academy of Arts, Sofia
Topic: Medium format analog photography as a tool for the contemporary artist
PANEL 2
Ivan Kiuranov on his involvement in the ‘River of Tolerance’
Dr Veselin Hadzhiangelov, Director of the Samokov Museum of History speaks about the town’s landmarks: the Barakli Mosque, the Synagogue and the Belyova Church
Day 4
PANEL 1
Assoc. Prof. Venelin Shurelov, D.A., Digital Arts, History of Art Department, National Academy of Arts, Sofia.
Workshop: Digital Arts, part 1
Topic: Where is Serendip?
Video about the ‘Light and Spirit’ project of NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’, a multimedia exhibition of Vladimir Dimitrov – Maystora, created by Assoc. Prof. Venelin Shurelov
Assoc. Prof. Venelin Shurelov, D.A., Digital Arts, History of Art Department, National Academy of Arts, Sofia.
Workshop: Digital Arts, part 2
Topic: Datafied Interaction
PANEL 2
Mr Bogdan Topirceanu from Romania, participant in the second edition of the ‘River of Tolerance’ in 2012 on the project Art Factory – AR art festival and ArtLink
Topic: The Visual Artist Survival Kit. From Adversity to Opportunity. Insights into artist-run art projects
Boyan Vasilev presenting the project: Marco – Where videogames meets cultural heritage.
Day 5
PANEL 1
Lecture by Snezhana Yoveva on ‘The Art That Connects Useful Practices, Partnerships and International Exchange’
Ms Slava Ivanova, Executive Director of NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’, closing speech the 4th ‘River of Tolerance’ International Youth Art Festival
Bucharest National University of Arts’ contribution to the implementation of the Festivals programme
METAL detecting as contemporary artistic research method. Educational values and ethical issues