::The Ideal-project-about us::

The Art Today Association is a nongovernmental organization registered in public favour. The beginning was set 14 years ago by the “Edge” group - a nonformal group of artists that performed a revolutionary role for the cultural life in Bulgaria. At that time the group’s artistic work is a reaction against the established cultural norms modeled in accordance with the orders by the totalitarian regime. Later in the period of transition to another social and economic organization of life, due to its numerous actions the group generated public interest to this kind of visual culture. The attention of the municipality was attracted and the need for a place where the contemporary art would be presented was realized. Thus the Plovdiv citizens and the Bulgarian artists have the opportunity to enjoy the first Center for contemporary art in the country. In order to organize the activities of such future center, the “Edge” activists together with other intellectuals established the Art Today Association in 1997. The Association’s aim is to create a Center for contemporary art – Plovdiv, that will become a starting point for an active communication, will organize exhibitions, seminars, theoretical conferences and festivals, will win a position of the Bulgarian art in modern cultural processes, will create аn informational base presenting the contemporary artists, will establish a Multimedia Laboratory, will popularize the newest ideas and forms in contemporary art among the wide audience, will implement educational programs for students, pupils and young people in unequal social position, will establish a residence program. The Art Today Association has gained the right to situate the Center for contemporary art – Plovdiv in the premises of the Ancient Rome bath, additionally built in the period of the Turkish Empire. The building is an unique monument of architecture from the 16th century with total area of 500 sqm with specific interior. This is the exhibition place for all important events organized by the Art Today Association. The Association successfully realizes some large-scale international projects: the annual edition of “Week of contemporary art”; “Communication front” /three editions/ which is the largest project for new media art and theory in Bulgaria; First international techno-trance festival BG 2001; East-West workshop in the frame of Konsequenz Project, Shedhale, Zurich, etc. The Association was a partner in: International New Media Art Festival “MEDI@TERRА” (2002), “Vilda Dance” Project, International Festival “Videoarcheology’99”, “Process-Space” Festival (2002, Balchik), etc. It also supported numerous contemporary art initiatives. Now the Association reaches a new stage in its activity implementing the three-year project directed to build its capacity and establish an effectively operating center for contemporary art. The anticipated result is to widen the new cultural space that will engage in its activity the society, local institutions and contemporary artists from all over the world. The project is financially supported by the Swiss Cultural Program for Southeast Europe and Ukraine. The Art Today Association, as an implementer of the project, is supported by and will work in cooperation with several national (Municipality of Plovdiv; National Culture Fund) and international institutions (International Centre for Contemporary Art – Bucuresti; Alliance Francaise – Plovdiv; New Media Scotland; FOURNOS - Centre for Art and New Technologies, Athens; Shedhale – Art Centre, Zurich; Kuda.org - New Media Art Center, Novi Sad, Serbia; Stiftung Kunstlerhaus – Boswil, Switzerland). Within the project the Centre and its managing team will work for the establishment of an international network of partnerships with similar centers worldwide and foreign residence programs.

ART TODAY ASSOCIATION

36, Konstantin Stoilov St , Plovdiv 4000, Bulgaria
Tel: +359 32 / 638868, +359 888529224
E-mail: arttoday@arttoday.org