Detailed description (English): The mission of VarnaSpaces is to include citizens in urban planning. The main goal of the “Forum for Varna 2025 - Communities and Urban Environment” initiative is to harness the potential of people who care for the urban environment and unify them into a resilient community at the national and regional level. The forum will host more than 40 non-profit organisations from nearly 20 Bulgarian cities, as well as 10 companies, which offer quality products for the urban environment. The end goal is to eventually have strong and united citizens’ communities with dedicated people, who, together with the city administration and the local businesses, can improve the environment that we live in.
The events during “Forum for Varna 2025 - Communities and Urban Environment” will take place 20 - 22 September 2025 in the area of “Sevastopol” - the colourful space in front of the City Art Gallery. The planned three-day program includes a bike tour, presentation-and-discussion panels and a fair exhibition with our participants’ stands.
“Forum for Varna 2025” is a continuation of the “Reconnect the City 2023” project, part of the “Asphalt Art” initiative by Bloomberg Philanthropies, whose goal was to encourage the pedestrianization of the area around “Sevastopol” Square, by painting murals on the streets and alleyways. In last-year’s “Forum for Varna 2024 - the Good Examples”, which became part of the European Mobility Week 2024, one of the leading topics was Sustainable Urban Mobility. The theme Mobility for Everyone will certainly be in the focus of the upcoming “Forum for Varna 2025".
Detailed description (original language): Мисията на сдружение “Пространствата на Варна” е да включва граждани в градското планиране. Основната цел на инициативата “Форум за Варна 2025 - общности и градска среда” е разгръщането на потенциала на хората с отношение към градската среда и обединяването им в една устойчива общност на национално и на местно ниво. Във форума ще се включат над 40 неправителствени организации от близо 20 български града, както и 10 фирми, които предлагат качествени продукти за градска среда. Крайната цел е един ден в нашите градове да има силни и обединени граждански общности от отдадени хора, които съвместно с администрацията и местните бизнеси да подобряват средата, в която живеем.
Събитията към “Форум за Варна 2025 - общности и градска среда” ще се проведат между 20-22.09.25 в района на “Севастопол” - цветното пространство пред Градска художествена галерия. Планираната тридневна програма включва велотур, презентационно-дискусионни панели и панаирно изложение с щандове на участниците във форума.
“Форум за Варна 2025” е продължение на проект “Reconnect the City 2023”, част от инициативата “Asphalt Art” на Bloomberg Philanthropies, чиято цел бе да насърчи опешеходяването на района около площад “Севастопол” чрез изрисуване на улици и алеи. В миналогодишното издание на “Форум за Варна 2024 -добрите примери”, което стана част от European Mobility Week 2024, една от водещите теми бе устойчивата градска мобилност. Темата Mobility for Everyone ще бъде във фокуса на предстоящия “Форум за Варна 2025”.
Target group(s): - The citizens of Varna - focus on local formal and informal communities in different fields, who seek sustainability in their communities;
- Civic organizations from across the country, who have shared values for quality urban environment, walkable cities and the preservation of cultural and natural heritage;
- Experts with background in urban planning, urban mobility, urban renewal and revitalization of cultural heritage;
- Businesses, which offer high-quality products/ services for the urban environment;
- Investors and large construction companies in the city and the region;
- Local administration (Municipality of Varna) - the main driving force behind urban transformation processes, as well as representatives of the City Council of Varna - the institution, which approves the decisions concerning urban development.
The variety of different topics and inspiring participants will attract a diverse audience from all walks of urban life. A major priority of the forum is raising citizens’ awareness about the possibility for them to become an active part of the transformation of our cities. And most of all, how these urban communities can work sustainably to achieve qualitative results in the field of sustainable urban mobility.
Objectives: The main goal of the “Forum for Varna” initiative is the knowledge and experience exchange in order to accumulate the collective experts’ and citizens’ energy into solving substantial urban topics. Forum for Varna serve as a platform for the creation of communities, centered around quality urban environment and sustainable mobility at the regional and national level.
The focus is on the unification of diverse public groups with differing profiles and affiliation in the pursuit of collective solutions. Our main objective is to provide a basis for constructive dialogue between the administration and the general public, which would lead to consensual agreements with wider approval among citizens afterwards. A fundamental component of this project is raising the awareness about the surrounding urban environment and promoting new ways of thinking as a basis for a sustainable and happy future.
Partner: - “National Network for Development” is a union of civic organizations from across the country, which aims to achieve sustainable changes for the improvement of the society;
- “The Team of Sofia” is an organization, which works for a better living environment through an expert approach and dialogue with all concerned sides;
- Union of Urbanists of Bulgaria is an expert community of urbanists and a platform for collaboration of professionals and organizations in the field of urban planning and development;
- “The Collective” Foundation brings together citizens, experts and institutions in common initiatives for the improvement of the environment and revitalization of derelict urban spaces in the whole country;
- “Imp-Act Agency” is a communications agency, which combines the experience and energy of experts in the field of sustainable urban planning and urban environment;
- “New Architectural Heritage” is an initiative, which brings together various experts in order to research, popularize and develop post-war architecture;
- “Gradoscope” is a collaboration of various experts, focused on the urban environment, whose goal is the sustainable transformation of urban spaces;
- “Componenta” is a consulting company for urban policies, mediation and analysis, focused on sustainable urban planning and development;
- “Blue Cube” Foundation supports projects, platforms and initiatives in the field of artistic research, cultural policies and sustainable development;
- “The Gang of the 1500” is an organization, dedicated to solving the problem with stray animals, through changing the public perception;
- “BG Be Active" works for building healthy connections between people, communities and the urban environment, through active participation in the improvement of the environment;
- “Plovdiv - City for the People” is an organization, which works via civic activism for contemporary and balanced development of the city of Plovdiv and the region;
- “TAM” is a civic union, which annually livens up the “Varusha-South” neighbourhood with a multitude of public cultural events;
- “Christo and Jeanne-Claude Center” in the city of Gabrovo is an up-and-coming “factory” for knowledge and collaboration, which partners with the local community and administration;
- Gabrovo Municipality organizes the annual forum “Gabrovo Innovation Camp”, which addresses issues from the urban environment, among which are the revitalization of the “Sixth District" neighbourhood;
- Artistic collective “In the Street” aims to turn the city of Stara Zagora into an international cultural destination and a hub for innovation and creative industries;
- “The Buzludzha Project” Foundation was created with the goal of preserving the “Buzludzha” monument - one of the most iconic buildings of post-war modernism;
- “The Wondrous Garden” is a project for urban agriculture in the city of Dobrich, which gives opportunities for people with intellectual difficulties, and defends their rights and needs;
- “SaGrazhdani” is an organization created as a volunteering hub, and unites several civic organizations with a focus on the urban environment in the city of Ruse;
- “InFormal” Association works towards creating sustainable cities, which give rise to resilient communities through the placemaking approach;
- “In the Open” Foundation works towards improving the urban environment in the city of Kyustendil thrоugh the active involvement of citizens in the urban transformation;
- “Belish Residence” is a center for alternative educational methods in the rural regions, which aims to revitalize the area of the village of Belish through analyzing the cultural and historic aspects;
- “Hub-a” is a shared space for self-employed youth, a place for events, language and art ateliers in the town of Samokov;
- “Rural Heritage” is an informal union, focused on rural architectural heritage in Bulgaria with a particular interest in the stories of each house;
- “You Are Sliven” is an association in search of policies for the preservation and development of the city of Sliven, through organizing public events.
Bulgaria