International initiatives
The uniqueness of the Etar Museum makes it a welcome host and partner in a range of national and international events.
International symposium of Kinetic Art and Land Art KEVIS
KEVIS is a creative initiative of artists ready to experiment in the sphere of land art and kinetic art. Its organizers are the ALOS и Center for Informal Education and Regional Ethnographic Open Air Museum Etar. Partners in the symposium include the Visual Arts chair of St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia and Art in Action Association.
Kinetic art and land art are areas of contemporary art which use as media the phenomenon of movement and the natural landscape. Their place in world art practice is largely related to taking art outside conventional exhibition venues. The development of these artistic areas is part of the conceptual trend in 20th c. art. It radically breaks away from classical art forms and brings the essence of art to the level of a concept. In the 21st c., these artistic phenomena have grown completely conventional. Due to their appeal, events related to them are widely popular outside pundit circles.
The symposium's name—KEVIS—derives from writing conversely the name of the River SIVEK that runs across Museum Etar territory. It is a symbolic reference to the mirror properties of the river's water surface and to the importance of water, the beginning of everything.
KEVIS began in 2015 as a youth symposium for kinetic art powered by water which was held with the financial support of America for Bulgaria Foundation as part of the project Parallel steps, parallel spaces. Since 2017, it has targeted professional visual artists and starting in 2018, it claimed an international status. So far KEVIS had had four editions and has emerged as a get-together of different generations of contemporary artists.
KEVIS began in 2015 as a youth symposium for kinetic art powered by water which was held with the financial support of America for Bulgaria Foundation as part of the project Parallel steps, parallel spaces. Since 2017, it has targeted professional visual artists and starting in 2018, it claimed an international status. So far KEVIS had had four editions and has emerged as a get-together of different generations of contemporary artists.
The symposium is on the lookout for concurrence of natural givens, local traditions related to the use of water power and contemporary forms of art. It accentuates the river as a source of life and income. Its purpose is to find out how bygone practices of using the power of water in traditional crafts can directly impact the work of artists.
Etar Museum is the logical choice for venue where such ideas would be successfully put into practice. The specific landscape of the region combined with the location of one of Bulgaria's most visited museums provide the ideal conditions and audiences of creative challenges in land art.
Some of the installations made during the symposium's latest two editions are currently on display on Etar Museum's grounds.
Etar Museum is the logical choice for venue where such ideas would be successfully put into practice. The specific landscape of the region combined with the location of one of Bulgaria's most visited museums provide the ideal conditions and audiences of creative challenges in land art.
Some of the installations made during the symposium's latest two editions are currently on display on Etar Museum's grounds.
Over the years, a number of established contemporary artists from different generations have participated in the symposium. Among them are Prof. Dr. Orlin Dvoryanov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anna Tsolovska, Dr. Maya Antova, Orfey Mindov, Principal of the Trevnenska shkola National High School of Applied Arts, Virginia Pencheva, Antonia Duende, Spartak Konstantinov, scenographer Petya Boyukova and others.
Working with aspiring artists, pupils and art students is an important principle in the organization and functioning of the symposium. In all its editions, they are involved as assistants to professional artists and as volunteers who support organizational and logistical activities. These are mainly students at the universities of Sofia and Veliko Tarnovo, the Southwestern University, the National Academy of Art, as well as students from the Trevnenska shkola National High School of Applied Arts in the town of Tryavna. The idea of continuity is leading in every respect. An example of this is the fact that some of the assistants in the first editions were subsequently invited to take part as independent authors.
Each edition has a theme of its own. In 2017, the symposium's theme was Sturgeon Moon; in 2018 – Large is Beautiful; in 2019 – Flowing and Running out; in 2020 – Despite Everything; in 2021 – Something from Nothing; in 2022 – New Life; and in 2023 – Down the Magical River.
In 2020, an exhibition with posters of some of the works created during the first four editions of the symposium was arranged.
In 2020, an exhibition with posters of some of the works created during the first four editions of the symposium was arranged.
In 2021, a catalogue of visual materials from all previous editions of the symposium was printed. The book is another opportunity for Kevis to send out its message – notably that today's present derives from yesterday's past and is a starting point for tomorrow's future.
During the summer months at the Etar Museum, any visitor can observe the individual colour shapes and their combinations to realize that everything is transient – sooner or later it falls apart, and its separate parts form new and completely different combinations. Land art is a philosophy, an outlook on life, a provocation to seize the moment, to realize that what matters is now – a consequence of your yesterday, a starting point for your tomorrow.
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Traditions, Colours and Beauty Through the Eyes of Our Children
International festival
The festival is organized by the Mickey Mouse Kindergarten, Gabrovo. Its first edition was held on the grounds of the Etar Museum in October 2019. The event aims to:
– promote the material and spiritual heritage of Bulgarian folklore and crafts among children;
– establish good practices in using the diverse national traditions and culture in the education of Bulgarian children;
– stir interest in the ancient Bulgarian crafts among children.
– promote the material and spiritual heritage of Bulgarian folklore and crafts among children;
– establish good practices in using the diverse national traditions and culture in the education of Bulgarian children;
– stir interest in the ancient Bulgarian crafts among children.
The festival has a competitive character and includes the following events:
– a competition for children's drawings;
– a folk dance competition for preschool age children.
The program also features accompanying non-competitive events:
– open-air workshops;
– Traditions and Present pedagogical forum;
– demonstrations of modern pedagogical practices for cultivating love for the Bulgarian folklore heritage.
– a competition for children's drawings;
– a folk dance competition for preschool age children.
The program also features accompanying non-competitive events:
– open-air workshops;
– Traditions and Present pedagogical forum;
– demonstrations of modern pedagogical practices for cultivating love for the Bulgarian folklore heritage.
Since 2021, the festival has been held at the beginning of June on the grounds of the Etar Museum. It is implemented with the financial support of the Community Donation Fund – Gabrovo Foundation and in partnership with the Etar Museum, the State Agency for the Bulgarians Abroad and the YMCA Gabrovo Association.
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European Artistic Crafts Days
An initiative of the Institut National des Métiers d'Art (INMA, the French Crafts Council)
Its coordinator for Bulgaria is the Central Stara Planina Regional Municipal Association. In March 2015, at the invitation of INMA, France, Central Stara Planina RMA organized for the first time in Bulgaria the European Artistic Crafts Days. The Etar Museum joined the first edition of the initiative and has taken part with its events in all of its subsequent editions. The umbrella theme for the events in 2015 was Innovative Spaces, and the countries that joined in included France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Latvia, Switzerland, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Portugal and Luxembourg.
Let's Shape the Future was the motto of the 2016 edition. At that time, numerous parallel events were held on the territory of the municipalities of Gabrovo, Elena and Teteven, including demonstrations, workshops, bazaars, trainings. Internationally, Austria, Lithuania and Romania joined the initiative.
Let's Shape the Future was the motto of the 2016 edition. At that time, numerous parallel events were held on the territory of the municipalities of Gabrovo, Elena and Teteven, including demonstrations, workshops, bazaars, trainings. Internationally, Austria, Lithuania and Romania joined the initiative.
In 2017, the emphasis was laid on the diversity of crafts and on promoting contacts of master artisans with partners from different walks of life. In Bulgaria, local authorities, museums, schools of applied arts and craftspeople also united around the topic of getting in touch. At Bulgarka Center of the Etar Museum, students from the national schools of applied arts in Tryavna and Troyan trained children and adults in icon painting, woodcarving and pottery. Participation in workshops for crafting felt articles and for painting on ivy was included as an option. Through its third participation in the European Artistic Crafts Days the Etar Museum aimed to span a bridge between traditional crafts and modern design, to unite different generations and to show that together we are more creative and can do more.
The theme of the 2018 edition was Let's Leave a Heritage for the Future. A journey back in time, an encounter with the unknown, creative provocations, the thrill of getting in touch with the most ancient Bulgarian traditions – all this was brought together at the fourth edition of the European Artistic Crafts Days in Bulgaria.
Local Crafts was the motto of the initiative in 2019. Inspired by Materials was the choice of theme for 2020, but in the wake of the CODIV-19 pandemic, planned events were cancelled throughout Europe. However, the highlight on materials remained in 2021.
Following talks with partners and a poll with the audience, the Bulgarian version of the motto was accepted as the following: When materials speak, masters keep silent. With this playful choice, due attention was paid to materials and their irrevocable presence in artisan workshops while at the same time accentuating the talent of the craftspeople, in whose hands materials come to life to tell stories, inspire and receive their best incarnations. Many of the events dedicated to the initiative took place online.
Local Crafts was the motto of the initiative in 2019. Inspired by Materials was the choice of theme for 2020, but in the wake of the CODIV-19 pandemic, planned events were cancelled throughout Europe. However, the highlight on materials remained in 2021.
Following talks with partners and a poll with the audience, the Bulgarian version of the motto was accepted as the following: When materials speak, masters keep silent. With this playful choice, due attention was paid to materials and their irrevocable presence in artisan workshops while at the same time accentuating the talent of the craftspeople, in whose hands materials come to life to tell stories, inspire and receive their best incarnations. Many of the events dedicated to the initiative took place online.
In 2022, the events in the framework of the European Artistic Crafts Days were held under the motto Our Hands in Unison. The Etar Museum joined the initiative with a free training for knitting jewellery with beads.
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