Veridas Foundation

The regular activity of the organization is related to maintaining a creative space in Gomotartsi, Vidin municipality and creating conditions for creative provocation and inspiration for amateur artists, local craftsmen and self-made people and independent established authors in the creation of innovative and attractive cultural production by applying spatial innovations to attract audiences in non-urban environments, in open spaces and residential-type spaces. The experience of the organization in creating successful educational programs, holding creative workshops and presenting street performance was upgraded through the implementation of the "Danube Airarium" project, and the current project proposal is a continuation of the achieved results in terms of implementing mechanisms for expanding and attracting public through new cultural production, maintaining and developing the creative potential of art lovers, including refugees. Innovations and new cultural production: Innovations created with an interactive approach provided more targeted solutions that were easier to implement, as the process is conducive to accelerating the introduction and adoption of new ideas. The interactive model that was used relied mainly on collaboration, knowledge sharing and brokered methods of imparting knowledge and skills between amateur creators, artisans and established authors. This approach helped to develop the initial results of creative inquiries into practical applications and generate new ideas through cross-fertilization between participants. The audience had the opportunity to participate in the outdoor performances, which encouraged the creation of a community of those who participated in the outdoor stage events. The public sees the conquest of new spaces, including outside the city, as a demonstration of how art can be made anywhere. Their relationship to art and to space and nature changes, the audience had the opportunity to explore their own talent, so that the audience gains a connection to the culture and space, because the audience develops when they are inspired. The same goes for artists. The creative space itself became an experimental stage for testing with approaches and methods during the art studios, during the residency program, the creation of a joint stage product by a newly formed creative team without disturbing the authentic environment, which attracted a new audience, turned the space into a creative destination for reflection and free experimentation, exchanging radical moments, breaking the barriers between creator and audience. The new stage production "Danube Airarium" was created in an alternative residency, combining the aesthetic achievements of puppet theater art and authentic local craft techniques in the field of intangible cultural heritage. The main theme is the powerful connection between art and nature. Neither overshadows the other: each piece is placed in harmony with its surroundings to create an incredible synergy in the environment. The advantages of applied innovation are achieving a creative balance in terms of interdisciplinary cultural experimental innovation, a prototype that can be tested and upgraded over time, which will increase its reliability, organizational skills and team support capacity, economy and providing easy access of artists and audiences to cultural products, scenes, spaces. Innovative approaches were used in the creation of the educational program / creative workshops of the residential type / which offer the trainees the opportunity to get acquainted with authentic and forgotten techniques, which will be significantly improved for the creation of new modern creative products, with elements of decoration in the field of fashion design, interior and exterior design and others and presenting them to the public. The foundation's resident education program and shared space will foster long-term audience interest in cultural products, while helping the organization adapt to the need for new ways to engage with today's and future audiences. Innovative approaches support amateur and independent artists and the sector to develop the new skills they need by learning from each other, building networks and collaborating to contribute to the development of new methods and new sources of income. Audience development is an important new focus in this context. It is decisive for the post-crisis recovery of the sector. In order to achieve short-term and long-term results, emphasis is placed on improving the conditions and quality for presenting to an audience / physical and virtual / the rich cultural heritage through the application of interactive and modern techniques, digital products and methods of combining achievements in theatrical production and authentic techniques from everyday life and folklore