H. E. Mr. Michael Forbes, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ireland to the Republic of Bulgaria, together with the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation,

invited guests on 18 April at the Irish Residence to meet with the writer Rob Doyle and the other participants in the 2019 SPA (Sofia Poetically Animated). Teachers, journalists, representatives of NGOs, cultural figures, writers and artists conversed in a casual and friendly atmosphere.

SPA (Sofia Poetically Animated) is an interdisciplinary mini-residency that brings together writers from different countries across Europe to work alongside musicians and visual artists. "In the SPA's worldview, Europe is bigger than the borders of the EU and literature is a source of inspiration for other art disciplines", representatives of the Foundation say.

This year it was held in Sofia and Plovdiv and  presented the writers Vladimir Martinovski (NMK), Dimitar Shopov (Visual artist, BG), Edy Poppy (Writer, NO), Ivan Dimitrov (Writer, BG), Rob Doyle (Writer, IE), Rossen Zahariev (Musician, BG) and Christos Ikonomou (Writer, GR).

From 17 to 19 April in Sofia there was A Literary Walk in Sofia, organised by Reading Sofia Foundation; Art in the Classroom, wit the assistance of 22nd Georgi Rakovski Language High School; Performance and Talk at Structura Gallery. In Plovdiv, from 21 to 23 April were organized Cultural walk in front of SKLAD, Tobacco city; Art in the classroom, with the cooperation of Ivan Vazov Language High School and Performance and Discussion in SKLAD, Tobacco City.

The project is a part of the programme of Plovdiv – European Capital of Culture 2019. The project is funded by the Culture Programme of Sofia Municipality. The project is supported by the Embassy of Ireland in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Photos: "Diplomatic Spectrum"

Above: H. E. Mr. Michael Forbes, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ireland to the Republic of Bulgaria, addresses participants and guests