Seven contemporary Bulgarian artists have opened the ninth Port Prim Art Fest with an exhibition at the Petko Zadgorski gallery in Burgas. The festival runs until 10 October. Its main organiser is the Primorets Grand Hotel and Spa.
The artists are Gergana Lalova, Izabel Slavcheva, Iliana Ilieva, Nikolay Buzov, Yane Gadzhev, Tsvetelina Maksimova and Stefan Bozhkov. It is the festival's first event for the public this year.
Bozhkov is an artist and the festival's curator. At the opening he introduced the seven artists and their works. He said freedom is one of the core values of art, and that artists look for "freedom and independence".
"For me it is always the greatest pleasure when the moment comes to visit Burgas," the curator said. He believes the city is fertile ground that draws artists.
Bozhkov said the meeting between the public and the artists is one of the festival's most important features. He said Port Prim Art Fest will keep showing "the newest, the premieres, the most current artists" and remain a place for artists and audiences to exchange ideas.
Petya Karamanska, marketing manager at Primorets, also spoke at the opening. She said the organisers are glad that many talented artists and visitors are again coming together in the city. There will be events in different arts in the coming days, and the programme has something for everyone, she said.
Burgas deputy mayor Diana Savateva attended as an official guest. "It is wonderful that the artists who put together this exhibition are here among us," she said. Savateva said the city wants artists to be seen, to be among the public and to get attention and support.
Savateva said culture needs backing from both the public sector and business. She called the festival an example of a successful public-private partnership between local government and business. She said it adds a different "streak of colour" and brings the public together with artists from various arts, which is why the local cultural community looks forward to it every year.
Savateva tied this support to Burgas's bid to be European Capital of Culture in 2032. She added that such goals cannot be reached without the backing of the local community. She said the tenth edition of the festival is due next year.
The programme continues today with the book "The Libyan Case: All Diplomatic Means", presented by journalist Georgi Milkov and Tanya Mihaylova. Later, the Petya Dubarova hall at the Sea Casino cultural centre will show a selection from the international short film festival "Karantinata". In the evening, the Plovdiv State Theatre will stage "The Enamoured Airship. The Fate of the Poet", directed by Diana Dobreva, at the NHK Culture House.
On 9 October Georgi Toshev will present his film "The Mystery of Leda Taseva" and the book "Leda and the Words", marking 100 years since the actress was born. In the evening Mario Hosen, Kristina Miller and Klaudiusz Baran will give the concert "Classical Music Meets Jazz and Tango".
On the last day the audience can see the puppet show "Long-Nosed Dwarf" and a new selection of short films. The festival will end with a literary evening with Maria Kasimova-Moase, who will present her latest book, "Eye".