A concert called "The Meaning of the Road", marking 170 years of the chitalishte (community cultural centre) movement, will be held on 29 October in the Toncho Rusev hall of the NHK Cultural Centre in Burgas, the organisers said. Entry is free.

150 children, young people and adults from more than 22 chitalishte groups and schools will perform. Burgas council and the chitalishta in the region are the hosts.

The audience will hear songs and Bulgarian folk music, and see modern dance, ballet, theatre and spoken word. Kristina Doncheva and Vladimir Spasov will appear as special guests. The show is directed by actors Alex Anmahyan and Gergana Anmahyan. Alexandra Granycharova and Diyan Rusev of the State Puppet Theatre in Burgas will present the evening.

The programme follows a letter that travels through time and stops at three symbolic points: "Tradition", "Creativity" and "Harmony". The organisers say the show brings the past together with the talent and dreams of today's generations, and presents the chitalishta as centres of knowledge, art and spirituality.

The evening will open in the foyer of the Cultural Centre with the exhibition "The Meaning of the Road – My Chitalishte" and piano performances.

The event is part of efforts to strengthen cultural life in Burgas and supports the city's bid to be European Capital of Culture in 2032.

A second exhibition on the work of the chitalishta, covering libraries, groups, schools, clubs and creative projects, is on display in front of the NHK Cultural Centre throughout October.