A significant step in strengthening cross-border civil society collaboration for cultural and natural heritage was marked on June 20, 2025, through a series of events in Sofia and Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, attended by representatives of the Athens Heritage Hub and Europa Nostra.
Meetings with cultural heritage organisations in Sofia.
In Sofia, a key meeting with local civil society organizations took place at the premises of StandartNews. ELLINIKI ETAIRIA – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage was represented by Stavroula Thravalou, Coordinator of the Athens Heritage Hub. The meeting was moderated by Marieta Atanasova from DULO Association.
Among the participants were: Ms. Slavka Bozoukova, President of the Cultural Heritage Society Bulgaria, Parvan Simeonov, Co-founder of Save Bedechka Association, Dora Ivanova, founder and director of the Buzludzha Project, Elena Dimitrova, Jury Member and Vice-Chair of the Europa Nostra Selection Committee (Research category) and Angela Vasileva, Head of Marketing and advertisement department of Standartnews media.
The meeting served as an opportunity to share best practices in heritage preservation, civic engagement, and policy advocacy. Discussions also highlighted key challenges including insufficient institutional frameworks, lack of resources and long-term funding.
Celebrating the Efforts of Civil Society to Protect Bedechka Park.
In Stara Zagora, the Athens Heritage Hub proudly represented Europa Nostra at the award ceremony honoring the Art of protecting Bedechka project, winner of a 2024 Europa Nostra Award. The award recognized the association’s dedicated efforts to protect Bedechka Park that was threatened by several controversial development plans. The Art of Protecting Bedechka project has creatively expanded the park’s identity by establishing it as Bulgaria’s first land art park – a remarkable example of grassroots environmental activism.
The award was presented by Stavroula Thravalou, Coordinator of the Athens Heritage Hub, during the vibrant Green On (“Na Zeleno”) Festival, during the concert of renowned Bulgarian artist Stefan Valdobrev.
While in Stara Zagora, meetings were also held with local stakeholders, including Petar Kalchev, Director of the Regional Museum of History, who shared insights into the city’s ancient necropolis and upcoming conservation plans, and Mircho Hristov, Co-chairman of the On The Street Art Collective, who discussed community awareness and advocacy efforts for protecting Bedechka Park.
These encounters reaffirmed the importance of local engagement and cross-European solidarity in the ongoing fight for heritage preservation. The Athens Heritage Hub remains committed to empowering civil society and championing initiatives that safeguard Europe’s shared heritage for future generations.
