Diana Andreeva Univ. of Economy, Sophia EFRP workshop on the Urban Impact of artistic festivals, Helsinki 11-12 April 2008.

Diana Andreeva Univ. of Economy, Sophia

EFRP workshop on the Urban Impact of artistic festivals, Helsinki 11-12 April 2008

Apolonia festival , Sozopol town Kaliakra Rock Fest, Kavarna In the Castle, International short film

festival, Balchik Bansko Jazz Festival, Bansko

Balchik, Black Sea Coast Sozopol, Black Sea Coast Kavarna, Black Sea Coast Bansko, Pirin Mountain ski resort

All the above mentioned festivals are: International With significant public support In small towns In tourist resort location

History, status and year of establishment Apolonia festival , Sozopol town- 1986,

NGO, multidisciplinary Kaliakra Rock Fest, Kavarna -2005,

Municipality, music In the Castle, International short film

festival, Balchik- 2003, NGO, cinema Bansko Jazz Festival, Bansko, 1997, NGO,

music

Apolonia festival- one of the oldest festival in Bulgaria, the only that is multidisciplinary, with significant artistic development . The development of Apolonia festival reflects the transition of the Bulgarian society, in particular the development of small towns.

Kaliakra Rock Festival- Kavarna became Rock capital of the Balkans through the festivals and the satellite rock events throughout the year.

In The Castle, International Short Film Festival- has become in the last 5 years a stage for development of Bulgarian new wave in cinema, and has presented international short films.

International Jazz Festival in Bansko is one of the biggest and most prestigious musical events in Bulgaria. It is also the oldest jazz festival in Bulgaria, its international popularity has been growing progressively over the years.

Private sectorAttracting people with high social status

and consuming possibilitiesIncreasing demand for property, land,

building of prestige infrastructural projects ( golf playgrounds, yachting) as a coincidence, increase of property prices, increase of employment and of salaries.

Municipal initiatives Increase of municipal resources in

Bansko, Balchik, Kavarna and Sozopol with well developed management bringing about an improvement in transport infrastructure, reconstruction of buildings and cultural infrastructure, including locations of festivals

Possibility of development of a festival municipal policy

EmploymentAll four festivals have: Permanent festival team Temporary festival team Local volunteers

Kavarna is a special case because the festival has been prolonged with single events, causing a positive effect. The permanent and temporary local festival employment increased 70%.

Indirectly, festivals create additional local employment through the infrastructural projects, connected with the festival events. This effect could be measured in a longer period only and is caused by a well developed and traditional festival event/Apolonia, Sozopol, Kaliakra Rock Fest Kavarna/.

Local entrepreneurship and businessThe share of tourism in the economy of

Balchik, Bansko, Kavarna, and Sozopol is 90-95%.

The effect of the prolongation of the tourist season related to the time of festivals is significant, with approximately 85-90% occupation of the local hotels and private rooms

Increased demand of local commodities and services

Increase of the local cultural consumption (this effect is mixed –economical +sociocultural)

From festival tourism to cultural tourism- this process is stimulated in Balchik, Bansko, Kavarna and Sozopol, in connection with the cultural heritage. Thesetowns have a significant amount of cultural heritage objects.

Decentralization of cultural supplySignificant increase of local access to

cultural commodities and servicesLocal effect: increased consumption of

cultural commodities through decentralization. To measure this effect, a 3 years period is necessary, to prove that there is a tendency of rising demand for the unique features of the place.

EU structural funds European regional development fund

The four festivals are located in tourist places with significant cultural heritage objects and municipal credit rating A, which is higher than the state’s one B+ credit rating. The Regional fund has a budget for the next year of approximately 800mln. EUR, including 10% for cultural projects

EU pre-accession funds Phare

The initiative of Ministry for regional development proposed a grant scheme for development of cultural programmes and projects in 177 from 264 municipalities, including Bansko, Kavarna, Sozopol, and Balchik.