Veliko Tarnovo and Gabrovo should unite with a joint candidacy for European Capital of Culture in 2032, suggested the mayor of Veliko Tarnovo Daniel Panov, BTA reported.
The idea was presented within the framework of the festival “48 Hours - Varusha Yug“. On the open stage in front of the “Tsarevets“ fortress, the artistic director of the festival Galin Popov thanked all participants and guests who have been sharing the cultural and artistic spaces of Veliko Tarnovo for the fourth year and pointed out that it has been his long-standing dream for the two cities to join forces and show their potential in a joint candidacy for the prestigious award. The theme of the festival is “Up – down: far closer“, in which good neighborliness is an essential part. This year and next, Bulgaria is applying for the European Capital of Culture, and if the two cities join forces, they will have every chance of success, said Popov.
Mayor Daniel Panov emphasized that he wants to extend a hand from the old capital city to Gabrovo and called on all artists who support this idea to work together for it, because the two cities share a common region and have rich historical ties since the Revival.
The partner of the festival in Veliko Tarnovo this year is the Goethe Institute. The director of the institute and head of the Cultural Program Department, Kirsten Hackenbroch, indicated that she was impressed by its rich program and the exchange of different cultures, languages, and communication in the over 50 locations in Veliko Tarnovo, which is a good prerequisite for development.
The festival program this evening included several different open stages, where musicians of different styles presented their art to hundreds of guests. After the performance “Sound and Light“, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary, the audience immersed themselves in the harmony of the female choir with conductor Vanya Moneva, and before that, the choristers from “Pletenitsa“ performed on stage.
In the evening hours, nearly ten musical formations played on the open stages, there were dozens of exhibitions, creative meetings, and art workshops. On Sunday, the festival program begins with a Sunday liturgy in the church of “St. Nicholas“, with a talk and discussion about the work of master Kolyu Ficheto, prepared by the Historical Museum in Dryanovo. A philosophical breakfast will be held in the “Boris Denev“ Art Gallery, dedicated to the topic of machines and people with Zornitsa Hristova. Attractive entertainment with a camera obscura, concerts, yoga exercises, creative workshops and meetings with artists in various genres are ahead.