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FULL- Various Crafts-Bulgaria

Dates: 21st June to 19th July 2010

Number of UK Participants: 6

Duration: 4 weeks

Bulgarian Cuisine

Participants from 2009

Background Information

This placement is hosted by Ms Velislava Chilingirova, a tourism expert with a wealth of experience working on international projects, who is based in Troyan, central Bulgaria. The four week placement will give participants an inspirational insight into the rich cultural heritage and craft traditions which exist throughout Bulgaria. Participants will fly from an allocated airport in the UK (designated by Grampus Heritage) to Sofia, where they will be met by the host partner Ms Velislava Chilingirova. The group will then be transferred by minibus to the town of Troyan, which is approximately 170km from Sofia. Troyan is situated at the foot of the Stara Planina mountain range and comprises of approximately 30,000 inhabitants. It is the central municipality in the region encompassing 20 surrounding villages. The town is famous for its traditional pottery, probably developed partly as a result of the qualities of the local clay soil. Pottery was a main source of income for the local craftsmen during the Bulgarian Renaissance Period.

LYUBO from the Pottery cooperative in Troyan

Ceramics made by participants in 2009

Placement Structure for 2010

During the first week of the placement the group will be accommodated in self-catering apartments in the town of Troyan. The group will receive a cultural introduction to Bulgaria, including the area of Troyan and go on several visits to local craftsman at the National Museum of Folk Crafts and Applied Arts in Troyan, Troyan Monastery and the National Crafts Exhibition and Fair, whereby participants will be given the opportunity to get involved. At the beginning of the placement the host partner will also arrange for the group to have a two-day basic Bulgarian language course conducted by a English language teacher from a local school. This is to enable participants to gain a basic understanding of the Bulgarian language and where possible, to use of what they have learnt. As part of the second week the group will go to to the village of Drashkova Polyana, which is approximately 15km from Troyan and learn the artistry of ceramics taught by the master-trainer Encho Gankovski. The group will also be accommodated at the house of Gankovski and his wife Villi, a photographer, where all meals will be provided. The ceramics made by participants will be fired in a kiln after they leave and given to them one week later. During the third week, the group will go to the Architectural complex Etara near Gabrovo, which is an open-air museum and the picturesque medieval city of Veliko Tarnovo, whereby participants will work with local museum experts in a variety of different crafts e.g. traditional decoration for belts, decoration with braids, work with maize leaves, textiles and dying raw materials. The final week will be spent learning the traditional craft of wood-carving under the supervision of master-trainer, Rayko Raykov, who works as a teacher at the Professional School of Forestry in Teteven. The group will be accommodated in the town of Teteven which is approximately 70km west of Troyan in self-catering apartments.

Participants will work 9am-5pm Monday to Friday with half an hour for lunch. Weekends are generally free, but cultural visits will also be organised. As with our previous Bulgarian placements, 2010 participants will benefit from a rich and varied cultural programme, which will include a visit to Sofia, local museums, monasteries and nature walks. There may also be a chance to learn some traditional Bulgarian cookery. Accommodation will change on a weekly basis according to where participants work e.g.in the villages of Etara, Troyan, Veliko Tarnovo and Teteven. As the placement will be conducted during the summer period, it will coincide with several local festivals and concerts.

EU Leonardo da Vinci Funding

The placement is funded by the EU Leonardo da Vinci scheme and covers return flights, accommodation, and a subsistence allowance (equal to 3 meals a day). The placement is targeted at students studying a relevant vocational course (e.g. textiles, woodworking, traditional crafts etc) at school, college or university, who are interested in pursuing a career within these sectors. For more information on the placement, please email the host partner Velislava Chilingirova. The following websites may also be useful;

Alternatively to apply, please complete an application form and return it to Grampus Heritage.

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Location of Troyan, Bulgaria

Read the report by Angela Fox, a participant from the 2005 Bulgaria TICATEC placement.

NOTE: Participants on all of our placements will now require a European Health Insurance CARD (EHIC). CLICK HERE to visit the external website and apply for your EHIC online.

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