International Arts Congress-Varna, Bulgaria May 28-June 6th 2004
The international arts congress is a cross continental cultural exchange aimed at exploring ideas of creativity and sustainability within a growing international culture that isn’t confined to existing political borders or limited by language. The congress is in effect a venue for seamless collaborations, exchange of knowledge, and skill sharing. The agencies involved in organizing this congress have established a long-term working relationship that has manifested itself in several projects. Since June 2000 and every summer thereafter, a multinational team of artists and performers have made their way to Bulgaria to collaborate with Bulgarians on music and art events. From the 28th of May till the 6th of June 2004, the International Arts Congress will host workshops as well as public audio-visual exhibitions, performance arts, circus, and environmental arts. Participants and volunteers will take part in numerous experiments with a social-cultural purpose involving the international artists and young independent creators from Bulgaria.
Mission:
To continue and expand the recently initiated projects of international cultural exchange between Bulgarian and western artists which are now crystallizing as the International Arts Congress and simultaneously to present it’s subject of unique arts in Bulgaria. Supported by numerous traveling artists and musicians who use new technologies in combination with ancient ritual, sustainable ecology and theatrical forms. The Congress aims for generation of print, video and audio publications as well as live internet audio streams sent to public radio stations around the world. The integration of Bulgarian and international artists is the defining concept which explores music and the arts as a common language for the exchange of ideas and information.
Goals:
Where and when:
The congress program will include independent cinema, ecological workshops, theatrical performances and concerts.The events will take place in Varna city gallery and the concerts will be at a variety of venues in and around the city of Varna. In the gallery, exhibitions will include inventive devices, photography, live musical performances, circus acts and cinema. The larger halls in the gallery space will be occupied by various exhibits, but a small sound system with live audio-video communications and dj's is also planned. The congress will last for 3 days at the gallery and in closing, the performances we arrange will move to the city sea garden with audio and video installations. On the second 30 hour party we will transmit live tekno dance music supported with video feedback, that creates an aural sea from sound and picture. Here, circus performance will be offered, as well as New Zealand’s ritual dances with fire. The idea is to make real many performances at different places in the town of Varna, aiming for pure communication between artists and guests. We expect collaboration from Varna municipality, giving us free space for actions and expression. All performances, orkshops and installations are offered to the public at no charge.
Organizers:
Ecological Sound Corp: Nikolay Stanchev, Metodi Kostov
The Corp is responsible for the project realization, relations with guests and also their collaboration. They are also responsible for organizing an advertisement budget including flyers, posters and brochures. They select the music program, sound and technical equipment, and participate as performers (authors) of projects.
Association for Visual culture: "Kera"
The Association is co-organizer of the congress, public relations and financial coordinator of the project and will also participate as artists, organizing several expositions and installations.
The American delegation is being organized by The Nascent Project.
Partners:
"Kera" –Esoundc, Androvirus, Noweb -France, Gallery So To Do -Berlin
Artists:
Tardigrade/Sycomor Records/ Paris
K8don & dj Keef /Hull
Nik Fit /Havoc Sound / New York
S.P.A.Z. sound system /San Francisco
Cybodt /Varna
Esoundc /Varna
"Kera” Visual Arts /Varna
Expectations from the Congress:
To achieve exchange of ecological and cultural ideas and creation of new relations utilizing art as a form of communication to facilitate collaboration; To discover new possibilities for expression and presentation for foreign and Bulgarian artists around the country; to provoke new positive thinking in Bulgarian cultural space; To make video and print publications from the performances.
Media plan:
Flyers and posters
for the whole congress program including
sponsors logo, and sign. Advertisement: 1000 flyers, 1ooo posters, and
also a free magazine with program and information about the forthcoming events
and interviews from the artists on several radio and television broadcasts
through the whole country.