5 January 2017

Organized by the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv, the Cultural Seminar took place in three modules – art, theory and exhibition.

The first issue of the event was dedicated to the Armenian, Jewish, Turkish and Roma communities in Bulgaria. The workshop gave rise to discussion and analysis of the communities, their established habits or forgotten traditions, integration and other themes that are interwoven into multifaceted cultural and social life of ethnic groups in Plovdiv. During the conference, topics were discussed and highlighted by multimedia presentations related to the musical and spiritual heritage of different ethnic groups in Bulgaria.

Hripsime Erniasyan, editor in chief of AGBU Voice bi-monthly newspaper, joined the discussion, sharing her experience in mother tongue education and in the preservation of traditions through various forms of amateur art, religious and social programs. From Saturday kindergarten to Scout organization, through Saturday school, the Armenian Virtual College and student reaching programs that help young people in their career development, the Armenian community gives many opportunities for the Armenian youth in the Bulgarian society. In parallel, a religious-spiritual community life also develops, without which, according to Ms. Erniasyan, no ethnic group would have preserved its traditions and its specificity.

The Cultural Seminar ended with an impressive concert bringing together Armenian, Jewish, Turkish and Roman communities in the full splendor of their costumes and distinct styles, in front of the crowded hall of the Academy: Lika Ashkenazi, Jewish vocal-instrumental group “Dulce Canto” and Jewish dance group “Cedar manseva” from Sofia, ensemble Turkish folklore to community center “Ömer Lutfi -1993″ of Kardzhali, Armenian children’s dance group “Asthigner (Stars)” and VIS “Erebuni” to “AGBU” Plovdiv Chapter, Roman dance group “Roma dance” at school “Vasil Levski” – Karadzhovo, student ensemble at the Academy, ensemble “Trakia”.

All sponsors, including company “Inspres” Ltd president Rupen Chavushian were awarded certificates of gratitude and the badge of “The Unknowns”.