The Association for the Development of Arts and Crafts, established in 2008 has handed its annual Guard of Traditions awards for a 4th year in a row. The organization links the spirituality of the past with present day people, bringing together persons, who enjoy old Bulgarian crafts and customs.

This year’s edition of the contest distinguished with 11 awards in 7 categories art people in the spheres of crafts, folklore, culinary… Awards were handed to a settlement and an organization that have preserved the originality of Bulgarian spirit and lifestyle, as well as to a person – guard of traditions. Both the jury and the audience voiced their choices, coinciding in most cases. Young artists and experienced ones receive the prize for their efforts to preserve what’s Bulgarian, the spirituality that has kept the nation alive through the years.

© Photo: private archive

Master engraver on wood and metal Evgeni Dimov works and lives near the town of Sopot. He is the winner with both the votes of the jury and the audience in the Crafts category /adults/. Few people know that guns, engraved by the master are owned by Jordan King Abdullah II, as well as by one of the princes of the United Arab Emirates. The master’s works can be found in the private collections of VIPs and are always engraved only once. Here’s what Evgeni Dimov told a RB reporter:

“The market prompted me to start dealing with buttstock and gun decorations. I have worked with nearly all Bulgarian arm producers, as well as with foreign companies. Each craftsman is a cell, preserving the collective memory of the Bulgarian people and that is why such people should be protected and supported. I don’t mean just funding, but also contests like this one. Craftsmen face difficult times across the globe and particularly in Bulgaria. I will speak openly – there have been a lack of state policy in that direction for years, aiming to protect and develop crafts. That is why such awards are pretty valuable.”
Folk singer Nikolina Chakardakova took the jury prize in the Person – Guard of Traditions category, while magnificent Bulgarian voice Yanka Rupkina was awarded in the Folklore /adults/ category. The town of Razlog was distinguished within the Settlement – Guard of Traditions category.

© Photo: private archive

“Modern people get acquainted with the labor of these craftsmen via our initiative, with their art", Penio Ivanov, one of the contest’s organizers  says. "We must say a big Thank You to those, who have somehow preserved the Bulgarian spirit till now. We must highlight their work that remains one way or another isolated in contemporary life. We try to unite as many of them as possible, in order for those to know each other and to become well-known to the community – that’s the main thing. We established several accompanying events, one of them a contest for a photo, titled Guard of Traditions. There is another initiative of the association – a roundtable, discussing with the academic community and NGOs the implementation of a Lifestyle and Tradition subject with primary education in school. Thus the children will be able to get to know Bulgarian national traditions. They should know for instance what happens on St. Dimitar’s Day, St. Lazarus’ Day and on Christmas Eve. We owe that to the next generation,” Penio Ivanov says in conclusion.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev