bulgaria for america

The Old School Residency, Gorna Lipnitsa, Bulgaria works in partnership with artists from around the world to strengthen the civil and artistic sector and its impact on institutions.

The Old School Residency develops the long-standing traditions of goodwill and friendship between Bulgaria and the artists of the world. The residency’s editions embody the generosity and strength of the Bulgarian people and the highest Bulgarian standards of strength, ancient history and pristine values.

We are looking for courageous artists with an innovative spirit who possess the vision and the capacity to bring about positive change. We support creative ideas and new solutions. We are not afraid to take risks that others would not, and to challenge established orders and stereotypes. In an effort to stay true to our overall mission and strategies, we listen to local needs to ensure that the initiatives we support have a lasting impact on the local community and are embraced by them. All are welcome regardless of geographical location and in particular those who need a breath of chaos to wake up. We will welcome you with open hearts, offer you new ideas, and change your reality. The rest you will do on your own.

*We use “Bulgaria” and “America” not just as designators for territory and people, but also as a metaphor for the POTENTIAL of Bulgaria’s typical wildness, unruliness and connection to nature, lack of traditional political and economic stability and the STAGNATION of the developed democracies and economies.

About the residency - The Old School art residency is the first international artist residency program in Bulgaria. It’s been 14 years now since we started supporting artists from all over the world in their search for inspiration and new ideas by offering them the magic of the parallel artistic reality that we’ve created. Our residency program is not just an escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city, industrialization and consumer society but it also serves a purpose as a retreat for artists with whom we share our ideas, friendship and wholeheartedness. We believe that in doing so we help with the creation of a new generation of people/artists who have the bravery and courage to challenge and change themselves. In our eyes art is not just a mean for creating that which is esthetically pleasing but also a tool capable of changing the world. By staying with us in Gorna Lipnitsa and creating your art here, you will have the chance to become the spark of change for the people here and to leave a lasting trace in their lives. It might even happen so that the place enchants you and affects you in an unexpected way. How exactly… it’s for you to find out.

We offer a place for creative work and relax. A locus for individual artists or a small group of artists – up to 4 people – to ruminate, reflect and rejuvenate. Gorna Lipnitsa, is a rural community, where the present and the past complement and contrast one another. Here, the spirit of Socialism is still alive, remnants of which can be found throughout the streets of the village. Upon visiting us, you will be enveloped by the bucolic scenery, crisp, clean air, silence, economical and fresh food, amiable community, and opportunity for true inspiration.

The Residency studios - The name of the residency derives from the place where the studios are located – a spacious and beautiful school building, created more than a hundred years ago. The classrooms of the already closed down school have been rearranged into rooms where the artists can work. The residency provides workspace for the participating artists – 6 indoor workshops including a photo studio and open air spaces – the yard of the school, movie and concert salon.

The residency has its own “Room of secrets” in which different objects are being kept, such as teaching materials collected during the long history of the school and objects from Bulgaria’s socialist past, like posters, dipositives, vinyl, literature, diaries, paintings, etc. The visiting artists have the freedom to use whatever they find in this particular room for their works. The school is open 24/7 for the artists.

Accommodation - The artists will be accommodated in guesthouses in the village. Each artist will have his own room, a common space to hang out with the other artists, a shared bathroom and kitchen. The guest houses have their own separate yard which can also be used for work and leisure. Nearby the houses are located beautiful fields and walking trails, spaces to practice sports and suitable spots to observe the evening starry sky. For the visiting artists we organize welcome and closing dinners. We also provide the artists with the opportunity to taste clean and healthy food originating from the village: fruits and vegetables from our garden, homemade jam, dried herbs to make tea with, traditional Bulgarian alcoholic drinks as well as homemade honey. Products can be purchased from two shops in the village as well as from the nearest town, 10 km away from Gorna Lipnitsa.

Residency periods and duration of stay:

6 – 23 of September 2024