site.btaDabene: An Art Village in a Village Stadium

The village stadium will turn into an art village in Dabene, southern Bulgaria, for a week from August 26, 2024, organizer Penka Mincheva told BTA. An artist with a long experience as exhibition and art event organizer, she currently heads the Municipal Art Gallery in nearby Karlovo. It will be the fourth edition of Dabene Art Camp.

The organizers have invited both young and established artists from Bulgaria and abroad, including local artists working in painting, sculpture, installation and photography. They will paint, sculpt and photograph, and will show their creative process to the participants and will hold classes for enthusiasts. The events are designed for children and adults alike. There will be film screenings, music shows, including foreign musicians doing experimental music, circus stints and an art and craft market.

Dabene Art Camp will open with the visiting exhibition from the Triennial of Stage Posters, including design of record covers from the stock of record producer Balkanton. Like everything else, the exhibition will be arranged on the stadium and will remain there for a week. 

Penka Mincheva told BTA that her idea is for a festival where modern art will meet traditions. "I want to see art reach small settlements, to provide a venue for a meeting between local artists, young artists, established artists where they will spend a week creating together. At the end of the week, they will present what they have made at an exhibition," she explained.

Dabene Art Camp is hosted by Karlovo Municipality and the Dabene Mayor's Office, and is supported by Karlovo town hall, local business people, Dabene residents and friends.