Atelietata in Plovdiv – Residency program in Bulgaria

The goal of the residency program by Akademie Schloss Solitude and the Goethe-Institute Bulgaria is to provide the independent art scene with spaces for artistic research and development, and to deepen the exchange between Bulgaria and Germany.

The residency program, formerly known as LUFTSTUDIO, relocated from Sofia to Plovdiv in 2024. This move to a city outside the capital aims to decentralize cultural promotion and exchange within the independent art scene. Plovdiv is known for its calm yet vibrant atmosphere, its dedication to art and culture and its status as the European Capital of Culture in 2019.

The partner and host in Plovdiv is Atelietata (the Ateliers), a creative artist community. They rent studio spaces in a building constructed in the 1930s and owned by the Zograph Monastery on Mount Athos. This building also housed Plovdiv’s district hospital from the 1950s to the 1970s. The spaces provided are solely for workspaces and do not include accommodation. The building’s aesthetic is informal, resembling a Berlin squat.

In 2023, the collective also opened its independent exhibition space, Galeriata (The Gallery), which hosts monthly exhibitions. Galeriata presents both projects initiated by Atelietata’s creatives and guest projects from artists of diverse backgrounds and locations. The building fosters a lively atmosphere, as most resident artists are young, making it well-suited for emerging artists. The courtyard frequently serves as a venue for events, concerts, and parties.

Today, some of Bulgaria’s most renowned contemporary artists have studios at Atelietata, including winners of the BAZA Young Artist Award such as Martina Vacheva (Artist-in-Residence at Akademie Schloss Solitude, 2022), Dimitar Shopov, Yavor Kostadinov and Dimitar Genchev, as well as international artists including Mitch Brezounek and others. The artists at Atelietata work in various fields of visual arts.

Resident artists in Plovdiv are provided with a studio within the Atelietata building and a separate apartment in the city center. An additional partnership exists with Cu29, a small gallery in Kapana, the city center’s hipster district. The 2024 fellow, Monika Czyżyk, exhibited her works there at the end of her residency. Starting in 2025, resident artists will be able to utilize Galeriata’s spacious annex for the final month of their stay. An exhibition, event, presentation or performance at Galeriata at the end of the residency is possible and highly encouraged.