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Description
The project proposal Stage At The End of Town has been developed in full compliance with the objectives of the EEA FM 2014-2021 to establish broad cooperation between organizations from donor countries and Bulgaria to reduce economic and social disparities in Europe. Perceiving culture as a driver for local and regional development, organizations from Bulgaria and Iceland come together, focusing on the development of international cultural cooperation and promoting diversity in culture and arts, through the development of audiences and the involvement of people in different cultural, educational and information activities. The foreseen activities include implementation of various artistic and creative events, festivals, performances and initiatives, in order to attract and engage new audiences, which will revitalize peripheral spaces and inspire life in smaller settlements, incl. 1. A plan for attracting audiences and training of expert personnel of Drama- Puppet Theater "Ivan Dimov" and ARCD, thus ensuring sustainable development of audiences and widening the spectrum of people participating in the cultural events of the theater; 2. Student Theater Festival "P.S. Theater, I love you! ”- an unique event in the field of theater arts; 3. Stage Artist - Forum and exchange of experience for cultural operators and visual artists from Bulgaria and Iceland; 4. ART- shop - training in cultural entrepreneurship; 5. Rock Zone 29 on the road or the rehearsal tour, during which a new musical production will be created featuring the main characters of young people, aged under 29, with interests in art. Project organization and management activities are also envisaged, as well as information and communication measures aimed at informing the general public and stakeholders about project development, as well as creating a product related to project characteristics, sustainability and results.
Summary of project results
The main goal of the ''Stage At The End of Town'' project is to establish culture as a driver for local and regional development with focus on international cultural cooperation and promotion of diversity in culture and arts. This is to be achieved via various artistic and creative events, festivals, performances and initiatives. The project would attract and engage new audiences and would be crucial for the revitalization of peripheral areas to brighten the life in smaller settlements in the Haskovo region and beyond.
In the summer of 2022, the audience in the town of Haskovo welcomed the first edition of the Stage at the End of Town student theatre festival, which took place on a purpose-built outdoor stage in Yamacha Park in Haskovo. The second edition of the festival took place in the summer of 2023. During the 7-day festival, 8 theatre plays were performed on the open stage. The purpose of the festival is to introduce graduating students from acting classes to theatre directors and directors, as an opportunity for professional development. Already at the first edition, all univesities with acting majors in Bulgaria took part in the festival, and a number of graduates received offers and filled the troupes of several Bulgarian theatres.
The festival also has a number of side events, such as street performances, a cartoon night, and a career development meeting with students from Haskovo, musical performances and more. There was also a workshop with lecturer Mr. Hannes Olli Agustsson, an actor and program director in the performing arts department of the Iceland Academy of the Arts, who also works in theatre, film and television.
The theatre play "The Big Day" of the Youth Experimental Theatrе - Haskovo opened the second edition of “Scene at the End of the City” in the summer of 2023. The theatre play was specially created according to the project of this year''s edition of the festival.
The project successfully contributed to improving the conditions and the quality of presenting art and cultural heritage in its diversity at both local and regional level. The project''s various initiatives had a vast impact in the town of Haskovo and the region. The ''Stage At The End of Town'' revitalised new spaces in the periphery of the town and will sustain in the future. The promoter Drama-Puppet Theater "Ivan Dimov" will continue to develop most of the project activities in the future.
Summary of bilateral results
Within the project the ''Stage Artist - Forum'' was conducted in Reykjavik together with the partner from Iceland - Frumlitir. The initiative allowed for a fruitful exchange of experience among representatives of cultural institutes – artistic directors of theatres and operas, and visual artists from Bulgaria and Iceland (painters, photographers, animators, etc.). This gave an opportunity for Bulgarian and Icelandic artists to present their work and good practices and share their knowledge on common challenges.