"It is the science of designing human habitats to resemble the natural environment as much as possible," answers Gina Kafedzhian, head of project and international activities at the Plovdiv Music, Dance and Fine Arts Academy. "In our interpretation of permaculture through art, culture and spaces, it reflects on the invitation to recall together the fragile ecosystem we inhabit and at the same time how regenerative nature and art can be."

Coexistence, respect, care are all social aspects of the environment. According to Gina Kafedzhian, we live in a period in which the power of human influence on nature exceeds its capacity for natural recovery, and this means that if we do not treat this community with respect, we are doomed. "If not this generation, then the next for sure," she is convinced.

It is no coincidence that the revelation of successful interaction with nature and its power to transform is translated into the language of art.

"In art, the ancient idea of catharsis passes through the experience of a dramatic moment," says Gina Kafedzhian. "In this way we are able to rediscover meaning and love the responsibility we have as inhabitants of this world. Our main mission now is through the encounter with art - for example, when we hear a folk song that draws its roots from the connection with nature, its generosity and how we are part of it, to realize how disconnected we are from our surroundings. And also our dependence on the food chain in big cities and our willingness to buy food from supermarkets that has travelled thousands of miles, rather than paying attention to the producers near the cities, to the need to reduce emissions from transport that have become an inevitable part of the economy."

In partnership with several cultural institutions, the organizers are focusing on locations that are beloved by the residents of Plovdiv and a must-see for tourists. "But it seems our habit of seeing them through the kaleidoscope of art is rarer," points out Gina Kafedzhian.

"That's why we turn our attention to the parks, the approaches to the iconic buildings, the street pedestrian environment, which is not just our movement from one place to another, but also part of our dwellings," adds Gina Kafedzhian. "We invite the audience to come and take a look at the yard of the Hristo G. Danov house museum to see what wonderful features Plovdiv has as a city to live in and a stage for public performances, but also to ask ourselves if we care enough about these spaces. 

Similar is the revitalisation of the new staircase cascade in front of the City Art Gallery. The recently renovated space is a wonderful start to a walk in Old Plovdiv and an occasion to pay attention to how much it is landscaped and how we as temporary visitors to these sites leave them. We have also had two productions at the State Puppet Theatre with a tremendous impact on audiences - the children's musical "On the Edge of Heaven" and the adult show "Queen of Spades". We will also be opening an exhibition of posters by students in the Fine Arts Department in the recently renovated City Garden. The space with which we close the events is once again emblematic and that is the 'Hisar Kapia' in the Old Town."

Photos: Zhivka Tancheva, baa.kab.bg, plovdiv2019.eu, podtepeto.com, bulgariatravel.org