Abilities Festival in Burgas: Support for People with Intellectual Disabilities

The Bulgarian Association of People with Intellectual Disabilities (BAPID) will host the fourth edition of the Festival of Abilities, which will be held in the city of Burgas on September 13. The event, organized with the support of the Municipality of Burgas, is dedicated to demonstrating the talents and skills of people with intellectual disabilities and is a key initiative for promoting social inclusion.

Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in an atmosphere of creativity and community. The Sea Garden in front of the Pantheon will be transformed into a lively hub, filled with sounds and colors. A total of 26 workshops will be set up in the park, offering participants from the city, municipality, and all over Bulgaria a unique opportunity to showcase their achievements in crafts and fine arts. The demonstrated skills will include making souvenirs, badges, and handicrafts, as well as the encaustic technique, among many others.

The idea of the festival

The idea of the festival is to provide a platform for people with intellectual disabilities to express their creative potential, while also giving every visitor the opportunity to get actively involved. Guests will have the chance to experience the creation process firsthand and make a souvenir to take home. The event is not just an exhibition but an interactive experience that aims to overcome barriers and encourage mutual understanding.

The event organizers emphasize its deep philosophy. As the official message states, "The festival is an expression of our belief that different abilities are a way to discover the unique in the person opposite us. And when we create together, everyone is unique, and differences are a value". This statement shows that the event is much more than a demonstration of skills—it is a celebration of human diversity and uniqueness.

The festival will be officially opened at 10:00 a.m. in the Sea Garden in front of the Pantheon. Throughout the day, visitors will be able to explore the workshops and interact with the participants. The culmination of the event will be a concert program, which will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will feature performances by representatives of social services from the Municipality of Burgas, as well as young people from the schools at the Youth Cultural Center - Burgas and the 'St. St. Cyril and Methodius 1985' Community Center, Burgas. The host of the festival program will be the famous actress Elena Petrova. Admission to all events is free, which highlights the organizers' desire to make the festival accessible to anyone who wants to get involved and support this important cause.