48 hours Varusha South

About the festival

The idea for a festival with cultural and creative events in the Varusha South district was born in 2021. 40 enthusiasts responded to an open invitation of the Association BT IVENTS / TAM Veliko Tarnovo to work together to activate and reorganize the social and cultural life in the Old Town as part of the international project "Open City". 

About the festival

The idea for a festival with cultural and creative events in the Varusha South district was born in 2021. 40 enthusiasts responded to an open invitation of the Association BT IVENTS / TAM Veliko Tarnovo to work together to activate and reorganize the social and cultural life in the Old Town as part of the international project "Open City". 

Open city

The European initiative aimed to explore and promote innovative models of community development at neighbourhood level in Germany, Greece, Latvia, Italy and Bulgaria. "Open City is a concept entirely inspired by the idea of empowering local communities and focuses on local residents as the most important actors in changing the neighbourhoods and cities we inhabit.

In the first phase of the project, participants explored and mapped the potentials and challenges in Warusha South. This was followed by lectures and trainings to develop their personal and professional skills as well as to foster a community-building process. The most exciting part was the practical application of what was learned, which led to the first edition of the 48 Hours Varusha South Festival.

The example

The inspiration for the name and concept of the event comes from the art festival "48 Stunden Neukölln", which takes place in one of Berlin's most colourful neighbourhoods - Neukölln. Established in 1999, the German festival uses art as a tool to connect different communities, create opportunities for co-creation and is an invitation for people who live and work in the neighbourhood and all curious visitors to meet.

48 часа Варуша юг
2022 г.

The festival was held for the first time in 2022 and the programme included 53 events in 22 locations. The revival of the yoga house and the beach, as well as the painting of the Yantra river embankment were among the highlights of the first edition. Visitors' curiosity was also piqued with the opening of the former Museum of Architecture building, where events with an architectural and urban planning focus were held - lectures, exhibitions, discussion. The programme of events also included exhibition openings, as well as urban interventions such as a temporary 3D drawing in front of Tsarevets by the GiArt trio. Street closures and concerts on the outdoor stages of Les Animaux Sauvage, Via Mavis and Funkilicious undoubtedly became a favourite experience for all. 

48 часа Варуша юг
2023 г.

With its second edition, the festival affirmed its function of being a celebratory culmination of the year-round community efforts in the Varusha South neighborhood. There were more than 80 events on the program. Work continued on revitalizing unmaintained spaces such as St. Spas Church and the square in front of St. Constantine and Helena", where a new space "Amphitheatre" was created. The Collective Foundation and their Rivers of the City initiative joined the cause to revitalize the Yantra beach. The playground of the American College Arcus was painted by the graffiti artists GANA and GLOW. The architectural program was upgraded with a practical exercise - Urban Walk 'Casually along the Coastal' along the forgotten route connecting the Old Town with the Boris Denev Art Gallery. In the second edition there was another musical scene on the square in front of Tsarevets, where we listened to a symphony orchestra conducted by Maxim Eshkenazy. The festival continued to encourage people living in the neighbourhood to open their houses for events. Private homes became galleries and creative studios.

48 часа Варуша юг
2024 г.

Третото си издание фестивалът „48 часа Варуша юг” посвети на вечната река Янтра – най-големият архитект на град Велико Търново. С този фокус подчертахме ролята на Янтра като основен формообразуващ елемент в структурата на Старопрестолния град. Вдъхновението, с неговите динамични приливи и отливи, вечният източник на творческа енергия, се прояви в над 120 събития! От аудио-визуален спектакъл на ЗВУК 6 в Лапидариума на Археологическия музей, концерт на британската дива Plumm и 3D мапинг на ключов за Варуша юг сграфито стенопис, до малки артистични намеси, отворени ателиета и музикални изпълнения по тесните улички на квартала. Въведохме и тематични програми – Визуални изкуства, Музикална, Архитектурна, Творчество и релакс, и Семейна – което позволи на посетителите и участниците да намерят своята посока във вече драстично по-динамичната атмосфера на фестивала. 

The people behind the festival
so far

Анета Тенекеджийска, Антоан Станев, Валентина Лапчева, Ванеса Виденова, Ваня Димитрова, Вероника Чанков, Веселин Денев, Весислава Желева, Вуоко Кейски, Галин Попов, Ганчо Ганчев, Георги Рачков, Гергана Нойкова, Дарина Колева, Дарина Стаматова, Деница Милушева, Деница Петрова, Десислава Паунова, Димитър Петров, Екатерина Панченкова, Елена Димитрова, Елица Петкова, Емануела Стоянова, Емилия Попова, Ивайло Драганов, Иван Попов, Илза Христова, Илина Пенева, Изабела Маркова, Йоана Стоянова, Катерина Милушева, Катерина Стоянова, Кристина Колева, Мария Даринова, Maria Malcheva Марияна Георгиева, Мариян Маринов, Марта Павлова – Стоянова, Мартина Йорданова, Мая Иванова, Миглена Данова, Милена Симеонова, Мирослава Попова, Невена Лефтерова, Нийл Уордън, Николай Зарков, Николай Корчев, Николай Т. Колев, Петър Атанасчев, Радомир Данков, Реймънд Стийрс, Румен Димитров – Попа, Светла Виденова, Силвия Нешкова, Снежана Михайлова, Стоян Рачков, Тодор Георгиев, Фабио Топацини, Цвета Тенекеджийска, Цветелина Максимова

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