Today, the Bulgarian-Norwegian project on fighting anti-Semitism and preserving Jewish heritage “Strategic cooperation between Bulgaria and Norway in support of Bulgaria’s international commitments to combating antisemitism and preserving Jewish heritage” officially has ended. Center for Jewish-Bulgarian cooperation “Alef” represented by the chairwoman Mrs. Alberta Alkalay also took part in it. “Alef” joined the project with the second International Literary Youth Festival “Friendship – Meaning and Salvation”, which took place between June 18 and 21 this year in Burgas and arouseд enormous public and media interest.
Center “Alef” was also a guest at the last two events organized by the State Cultural Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today on the occasion of the completion of the two-year project.
This morning, on the fence of the National Art Academy in Sofia, the exhibition “Posters and Memory” was opened, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews. Before that, on June 21, within the framework of the second International Literary Youth Festival “Friendship – Meaning and Salvation”, it was exhibited in Burgas on the quay wall of the port.
The exhibition is inspired by the message of humanism and opposition to anti-Semitism, which the story of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews carries 80 years ago.
The posters of Anna Simeonova, Ivan Kashlakov, Kiril Zlatkov, Lyuba Tomova, Margarita Doncheva, Maya Staykova, Mila Lozanova, Nenko Atanasov, Petar Chuchuligov, Radoslava Boor, Strahil Dimitrov and the Hungarian master of the socially engaged poster Peter Poch were presented. The result is a collection – an expression of the civil and creative reaction against anti-Semitism and violence, against any form of disrespect for human dignity and the right to life.
The poster collection project was implemented by the State Cultural Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria together with the International Stage Poster Triennial within the framework of the project “Strategic cooperation between Bulgaria and Norway in support of Bulgaria’s international commitments to combating antisemitism and preserving Jewish heritage”.
In addition to Burgas, the exhibition also visited Sliven, and at the moment it can also be seen in Samokov.
“Our institute implements a project financed by the Norwegian Fund together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diplomatic Institute. Today is the last day, and this exhibition will remain for two weeks, due to the partnership of the National Academy of Arts, and the efforts, emotions and talent, and the belief that the poster is a tool for impact,” said the director of the State Cultural Institute Snezhana Yoveva-Dimitrova.
“Congratulations to all authors. I am very happy that their works are visiting us, and at the same time I feel a bit disappointed, because they are extremely current. You see a wave rising again. I don’t know where these dark forces come from. So, unfortunately, this exhibition is very relevant, especially against the background of what is happening 500-600 kilometers away from us, in Ukraine,” said the Rector of the National Academy of Arts, Prof. Georgi Yankov.
Later in time, at the State Cultural Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an Open Day began, during which all visitors can see the exhibition of the Argentinian artist Leticia Burgos “Spirit and Matter”. It was opened on June 6 and will be exhibited in the “Mission” gallery in the State Cultural Institute until July 28. The exhibition, realized under the patronage of the Embassy of Argentina, is part of the Sofia Fartian Art Fest. Each of the works of the Argentine artist has a strong spiritual message, complemented by rich expressive materiality.
“Alef” Center was a guest at the Open Day. The chief expert of the State Cultural Institute Yavor Koinakov presented the representative of “Alef” Nikoleta Stoycheva with a special diploma belonging to the chairwoman of the association Alberta Alkalay. The certificate is awarded for the partnership in the implementation of the Bulgarian-Norwegian project.
