Bulgaria should make specific nominations for the registration of new records in the UNESCO list for preservation of the non-material cultural heritage. The appeal was made by Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General at a meeting with president Plevneliev during the last day of the UN conference on sustained development “Rio+20” in Rio De Janeiro. So far Bulgaria is represented in the UNESKO list only by the authentic folklore group ”Bistrishki Babi” and the ancient ritual Nestinarsvo(dance over live coals) In mid-June an expert commission, formed with a decree of the Minister of Culture, has made 5 nominations for the non-material cultural heritage list. Once listed there, they can apply for UNESCO protection. The choice was made out of 88 nominations at regional level, where different customs, traditions, traditional folklore and crafts were proposed. The 5 nominations are as follows: “Dobarskite Babi( Grannies), who are considered to be custodians of the traditional custom Vodici: Brass orchestra “Dunavski ritmi( Danubian rhythms)” form the village of Antimovo: the self-educated violin maker Stefan Petrov : the world famous rags from the town of Chirpan and the winter holiday Surva.
A few days ago the Bulgarian production”Otkat(Back Blow)” created by the young director Stayko Murdjev has won the audience award at the 10th edition of the theatre festival “New plays from Europe 2012” in Wiesbaden, Germany. 31 productions from 25 different countries were nominated at the festival, but only 3 of them, those from Russia, Bulgaria and Cyprus, won the award. Selected among 376 other local productions “Otkat” play by Zahari Karabashliev has been performed at Bulgarian stage at the Theatre of Bulgarian Army. Back in 2010 it won the prestigious award “Asker”. Stayko Murdjev has already won an “Ikar” award for the most talented director. The performances got the public vote as well as the vote of a 10-member jury, which was headed this year by the theatre critic Jurgen Berger.
The ministry of Culture will receive a gratuitous help of 27 million leva for the construction of the National Museum complex also known as the Bulgarian Louvre. The funds will be come from the European Regional Development Fund. The project is expected to start in the nearest future. The museum will be situated in few buildings, owned by the Ministry of Culture in the center of Sofia. Vast display areas will be built, together with many exhibition halls, modern storage rooms and restoration studios. There will also be a sculpture center in the inner yard of the complex.
Artist Anton Antonov, who is often compared with the magical Sezan, has opened his latest exhibition on June 26th. The exposition consists of 37 paintings under the name” Day and Night” and has been shown in the “Forum” Gallery in Sofia. The exhibition of the world-renowned artist has marked his 50th anniversary. Anton Antonov makes his first exhibition as a student back in 1977 in the town of Dryanovo, where he still lives. Some of his paintings became part of the collection of The University of Tokyo, as well as of the municipality of the town Ceske Budejovice in the Czech Republic. Many of his paintings were sold in Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Portugal, England, Switzerland, China, USA and other countries.
