Bulgaria Artist Residency
Following on from the success of Interbeing in Romania, we’re now partnering with Ivan Shopov and the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BPSB) to host a new artist residency in Bulgaria, supported by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative’s Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme.
In a similar vein to Interbeing, the ‘Iron Curtain to Green Belt’ project will tell stories of the landscape, wildlife and local people through music and film – highlighting the essential conservation work of the BSPB. Working with local folk singers and musicians, the aim is to help preserve these traditions for a modern audience, while raising awareness of environmental and cultural challenges.
BSPB is the first and largest non-governmental organisation in Bulgaria and over a few days in January we met the passionate team and learnt about its work, from rigorous data collection to vulture feeding stations, from anti-poison dog patrols to working with local farmers to preserve habitat. The new artist residency is set to bring the BSPB’s work to a wider audience.
“Art, as a powerful medium, will serve as a means to expand our message, elevate the visibility of our efforts, and resonate with individuals who may currently be unaware of the pressing environmental challenges we face”
Bulgarian musician and composer Ivan Shopov will be working in collaboration with Nico de Transilvania and local communities to develop new music inspired by the natural and cultural landscape.
A priority for the artists will be to engage local folk singers and musicians, to preserve these traditions as well as direct people’s attention more to nature and the landscape. The idea is to raise awareness to the pressing environmental challenges we face and inspire people to make positive changes for nature.
Ivan Shopov and Nico de Transilvania
“I’ve worked for a long time with Bulgarian traditional songs, our culture which like nature is also at risk of being lost, and forgotten. This collaborative project is a perfect opportunity to work together creatively, to bring attention to these subjects and help preserve our natural and cultural heritage for the next generation.”
Read more about our research trip to Bulgaria in our blog and find out more about the BPSB’s work and more about Nico and Ivan’s collaboration ideas.