The National Academy of Art (NAA) and the Pomorie municipality signed a five-year partnership deal today to support culture, young artists and heritage protection in the town. NAA rector professor Georgi Yankov and Pomorie mayor Ivan Alexiev signed the deal at the Academy's branch in Burgas, shortly before it opened its ninth academic year there.
Under the deal, the two sides will put on joint exhibitions, workshops for children and young people, art camps, seminars and internships for students. The aim is to give more Pomorie residents and visitors access to art and education projects. The plans include:
- exhibitions and creative workshops;
- education programmes for children and young people;
- art camps, seminars, student internships and summer placements.
Lecturers, PhD students and students from the NAA will take part, along with the Dechko Stoev City Art Gallery in Pomorie. The Academy will help restore cultural artefacts and also work on visuals and branding for local projects. The municipality will provide space, logistics and funding for the joint projects.
The main focus of the partnership is work with children and young people. "This partnership with the National Academy of Art will let us open creative workshops for young people," mayor Ivan Alexiev said. He said Pomorie already has a track record to build on — the town hosts art camps every year that draw artists from across the country. "A lot of people who come here later feel at home and choose to stay and live here," he added, linking the cultural projects to Pomorie's ability to draw and keep people tied to the arts.
NAA rector professor Georgi Yankov said the partnership with Pomorie is a natural next step after the Academy's growth in the region. He recalled what the NAA has done to build up Burgas as a hub for the arts and said expanding its education and cultural work beyond Sofia is part of the university's growth plan.
Professor Yankov also said the branch is opening its ninth academic year this year with 151 students on its bachelor's and master's programmes — two more than last year. The new courses are "Art Glass – Stained Glass" and "Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage." The rector said underwater heritage in particular can link academic study, Black Sea coast heritage and local institutions.