The main objective of the European Heritage Days 2000 in Bulgaria was to raise the problem for the preservation and rational use of the cultural heritage and draw the attention of a greater number of communities – various in profile, number and level of exhibit – starting with the general public of the national mass media, the population of the participating municipalities, the members of various national and local associations and organizations, and ending with the specialized institutions in the field of the heritage and the experts, gathered at a unique working meeting on an international project of special long-term importance regarding the approach to this problem. This aim completely corresponds to the new vision for the activities related to the preservation of the cultural heritage, considered as teamwork, including various partners.
The national topic “Cultural itineraries” provoked great interest in all participants: state administration and institutions, numerous municipalities (Belogradchik, Vidin, Veliko Tarnovo, Vraza, Gabrovo, Goze Deltchev, Dryanovo, Elena, Isperih, Kjustendil, Lovetch, Malko Tarnovo, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Russe, Svilengrad, Sliven, Smolian, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Shoumen), NGO, dozens museums all over the country, central and local media, the press.
One of the central activities of the Days was the stage phase of the international project “Cultural Itineraries of South-East Europe”, implemented under the initiative and the leading role of ICOMOS/BULGARIA, with the participation of experts from all countries from South-East Europe: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey and Yugoslavia with the financial assistance of the “Open Society“ Foundation, the “East – East” Program, the PHARE Program and the King Baudouin Foundation (prize “European Heritage Days” from the competition announced by the Foundation and the Council of Europe).
The results from the work on the project were discussed at an International workshop dedicated to “Cultural itineraries of South-East Europe”, held in Sofia, on 16 and 17 September 2000. In the Workshop participated representatives of world and European institutions, outstanding experts from all countries of the region, representatives of Bulgarian state institutions, NGO, etc. In the Final document of the meeting, the experts adopted the Charter of the cultural itineraries of South-East Europe as valuable basis for the regional politics for the preservation and use of the cultural heritage and determined the main trends of the future activities on the project.
Events held within the frames of the European
Heritage Days 2000
* Cultural itineraries – transcontinental, trans-border, national, local, the International regatta along the Danube river; the journey “Along the thread of time, organized by ”Yatrus” Club in the Mediterranean countries; the exchange of youth groups between the municipalities of Svilengrad and Trigono, Greece; the cultural itineraries to Macedonia, carried out by the municipality of Kjustendil; the cultural itinerary carried out by a Greek group on the territory of the Goze Deltchev municipality; the cultural itineraries carried out by the Lovetch municipality in Germany and Greece;, the cultural itinerary of a Bulgarian group from Bossilegrad – participants in the Fair “Rojen”, organized by Sofia municipality; a number of national and local itineraries, organized by various tourist associations, members of the Bulgarian Tourist Federation and from numerous municipalities.
* Forums, discussions, conversations on problems related to the heritage, its preservation and use: Round table about tourism at the All-Bulgarian Fair “ROJEN 2000” (26-27 August); meeting – discussion dedicated to “Heritage – Architecture – Art” (Sozopol, 7 September), included in the program of Apolonia 2000; meeting – discussion on problems related to the socialization of the “Baba Vida” fortress (Vidin, 15 September); lecture course dedicated to “Shoumen and its presence in the XX century European Culture”; meeting – discussion on the project “Eco-ethno-park Belogradchik” (Belogradchik, 16 September) etc.
* Exhibitions, dedicated to the creative work of the famous Master Kolio Ficheto, in Dryanovo and in the Union of the Architects in Bulgaria, Sofia; the exhibition “Heritage and dialogue among cultures” in Plovdiv – in cooperation with the “EPACT” – France Association and the University “Paissii Hilendarski”; the exhibition of students’ projects related to the preservation of the cultural heritage, held during Apolonia, as well as numerous thematic exhibitions in Belogradchik, Bojenzi, Etara, Gabrovo, Vidin, Elena, Kjustendil, Lovetch, Smolyan etc.)
* Concerts, artistic and literary happenings, as part of the central and local programs of the European Heritage days in all the above-mentioned municipalities.
* Inauguration of restored monuments of culture
* The Thracian tomb near the village of Sveshtari was open to visit thanks to the financial aid of the Headley Trust Foundation, Great Britain, provided with the help of the Bulgarian National Committee of ICOMOS. No doubt, this was the leading event in the Bulgarian cultural life at that time.
* Free access to the exhibitions of most museums on 16 and 17 September.
* Media campaign – two press conferences, interviews, reports, radio and TV broadcasting, publications in the press.