“Sofia? Isn’t that in Bucharest? A square or something? - No man, Sofia is THE capital of Bucharest.” (Geographical dispute at Stockholm Airport, on the way back from IETM meeting in Stockholm last spring)

The artistic scene in Sofia is very much alive but not so well known by IETM members. To fill in this gap, 12 participants joined the Caravan to meet independent Bulgarian artists during a very important time for them. A time during which the future of the independent scene in Bulgaria was being defined.

From 17 to 20 November 2011, participants discovered more than 20 different artists and cultural operators, in various places in Sofia, which has not been recognized as an artistic hub yet. But this is about to change and participants met the people involved in this process of recognition. IETM member ACT Association was the local partner in organising this meeting with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture and Sofia Municipality. During this meeting, participants enjoyed various performances, met new people, discovered new spaces and possibilites for new collaborations.

Sofia is bidding to be the European Cultural Capital in 2019 and in the next years many new initiatives and constructions are yet to come.

Image in banner: © Jonas Smith