Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in the world, a place of longing for artists and Creative, a trendy place for young entrepreneurs and the European capital of culture 2019. Were it not merely these two pigs.
The mayor of Plovdiv, just wanted to let the Pig out – literally. Convinced and determined, in bright anticipation of the upcoming holidays, he announced during a city Council meeting that all citizens of the battles for Pork in the centre of the city were invited. The goal was to preserve the Bulgarian traditions at Christmas. “Many people, especially young people, no longer have the opportunity to go to the village and to experience these traditions. So we have decided to bring the traditions in the city,” the mayor Ivan Totev.
The proposal enjoyed Empire most attention: While some of the residents ensured, whether the two pigs were for the rich at all for the entire city or whether they should really be in the centre under the Christmas tree slaughter, questioned others as to the compatibility of this Tradition with the title of European capital of culture 2019.
“The politicians who govern us have a different idea of culture, as we are dealing with culture and involved in the application, the Plovdiv as a European capital of culture from the beginning. The politicians do not think that you can impress with such actions, they see the culture as something to create change and the future can be addressed,” said Manol Peykov.
Manol Peykov: culture can create change and focused on the future to be
He is a publisher and was one of the idea generators and initiators for the city’s candidacy as European capital of culture. He was a member of the Foundation “Plovdiv 2019”, the – had to of prepare from five civil society representatives and four representatives from the policy – the framework programme. In front of one and a half years, Manol Peykov left together with the other civil society Represented the Foundation in Protest at the fact that many ideas and projects with which the city had originally applied for, would now be disadvantaged by the local politicians.
Resolve conflicts through culture
A Central theme of the application of the focus on the ethnic minorities in Plovdiv, especially the Roma population. Stolipinovo, a district of Plovdiv and the biggest Roma neighborhoods in the Balkans, should also be part of the cultural programme in the coming year. “We believe that the culture has the ability to generate social change. The majority of young people living in Stolipinovo, have left the district, never, on the other hand, the residents of Plovdiv have visited this district before,” says Manol Peykov. “But the politicians said that we should not show our back yard in front of the foreign audience. ‘Why the Roma’, they said. ‘We have but also other ethnic groups here, and so was rejected our idea and projects are stopped”.
Stolipinovo, a district of Plovdiv is the biggest Roma neighborhoods in the Balkans
Under the Motto “Together” should be drawn to the situation of the Roma and the difficult social cohesion. By cultural conflicts to overcome, which was the topic of what convinced the Jury and Plovdiv won the title of European capital of culture 2019. The Motto remained. The projects are not.
“The social insecurity in the 1990s has brought the people to look with suspicion on some of the ethnic groups. They thought the ‘other’ would take away something of their social Status. And this way of thinking is present on both sides. When applying as a capital of culture, we knew that Plovdiv has a lot of history, archeology and a multi-cultural society, but we have decided to put the political correctness aside and speak openly about the shortcomings and tension between the ethnicities,” says Mariana Tcholakova, honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany with seat in Plovdiv and also the initiator of the application from the city. You wanted to overcome, because the more honest you treat the topic, the more solutions you can find. “And just as we have formulated it in our application”, so Tholakova.
Mariana Tcholakova: to be Honest also about the tensions between the ethnic groups speak
Plovdiv – a melting pot of cultures, religions, eras
Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in the world, you can look back on a 8000-year history. Thracians, Romans, Slavs, and other peoples, enriching the city. This is also reflected in the architecture: the Roman amphitheatre, early Christian basilicas, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish houses of worship in the city’s shape together with Hipster shops, modern cafes, artist studios and Street art.
It is a place of longing for artists and a hip place to be for young entrepreneurs – a vibrant city that has rightly get the title. Also Mariana Tcholakova is convinced: “I am optimistic about the coming year. The title of the European capital of culture gives us the opportunity to be an active member of the European cultural scene. Until now, we lacked self-confidence.”
Plovdiv is a place of longing, a vibrant city
In 2019, the city expects two million tourists from all over the world. The preparations are in full swing and yet, many culture will remain facilities to be closed. Also, the construction of the main square is still not finished yet. Although the contract for the renovation has already been granted in the year 2014. Currently trying with temporary the site Work to be concealed. Other important cultural buildings are not completed in time. Similarly, there is a lack of suitable halls for scheduled cultural events. The policy has failed in many Parts of the city on the eventful year to prepare.
The failure of the policy
“The old and the only concert hall for major events in Plovdiv has been for years in bad condition and can not be used. A project for the renovation of the hall for at least three years on the Desk of the mayor. But nothing was done,” said Manol Peykov and other buildings, which are the expiration close. “Kino Kosmos, the largest cinema of the Communist period in Bulgaria with more than 900 seats, is also in a pathetic condition. The mayor has promised to pressure from the civil society about two years ago, about one Million Leva for the renovation of the cinemas. Today, the cinema is still in the same condition as before.”
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Plovdiv – The Cultural Capital Of Europe 2019
The revival and transformation of the so-called tobacco city, a district in Plovdiv, in the artist district was one of the major goals of Plovdiv 2019. This district was for decades the heart of the Bulgarian tobacco industry, and was privatised after the fall of communism. “Although most of the buildings are monuments of culture, of interest to the new owner mainly for the land. There may not be demolished, the building is used a different tactic: The roofs have been removed and the demolition of one leaves the weather,” says Manol Peykov.
“In the light of these important circumstances, I would not like to comment on the statements made by the mayor to the slaughter of the pigs,” says Mariana Tcholakova.
The missed Potential of the city
The day after this statement – the turning point: This was not meant to be. It was a “social Experiment,” declared the mayor. If you wanted to initiate a debate on the Bulgarian family traditions, one of which is the slaughter of animals at Christmas. An interesting debate at the launch as the European capital of culture 2019.
“Together”: The Motto is not stayed, the projects
The real mess, it seems, are not the pigs, but the missed Potential. The story and the atmosphere in the second largest city in Bulgaria offers all that is required, as the European capital of culture. Old traditions, unfinished blocks, stretching and social discrimination could be this project, however, fatal. A missed Chance, the conclusion of the Manol Peykov concludes.