The 20th edition of the Roma Children’s Festival “Open Heart”
Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance “Amalipe” organizes the Twentieth edition of the Roma Children’s Festival “Open Heart” on 6-7 June 2025 in the town of Sofia. The event will take place on the 6th and 6th of June in Veliko Tarnovo. The festival concept foresees that it will build on all previous exhibitions, both in terms of the depth of the festival programme and accompanying events, and in terms of geographical scope and participants. In addition to the programme on stage, which involves children and schoolchildren, a series of cultural events will take place that showcase, affirm and promote different aspects of Roma culture: a presentation of authentic Roma folklore, a Roma crafts alley, theatre performances, a Roma poetry recital, exhibitions, etc. The festival will also expand its geographical scope to include international participants to enrich cultural diversity and help create new bridges between different nations and cultures.
The aim of the festival is to give children of different ethnicities an opportunity to express themselves and to stimulate a lasting interest in the learning process as a whole. Its main idea is to show that the folklore of each ethnic group has its own cultural richness and is indispensable for our existence and communication as a united nation.
The festival is aimed at preserving, developing and promoting Roma culture and folklore, as well as presenting Veliko Tarnovo as a tourist destination.
We expect representatives of various institutions at regional and national level, as well as ambassadors of embassies in Bulgaria to join the Open Heart Festival.
The official opening of the festival will be on June 6, traditionally in the park “Marno pole” in the town of Veliko Tarnovo. The programme includes a colourful variety of songs, dances, festive customs, tales and traditions of the Roma, Bulgarians, Turks and other ethnic groups living in Bulgaria. The spectators of the festival will be fascinated by the colourfulness and mood that the participants will bring. They will also be able to see products made by the skilful hands of the children in the interest clubs. A number of side events are also organised as part of the festival.
At 17:30 will be held the traditional procession of all participants in the festival along the central street of Veliko Tarnovo “Vasil Levski”. The procession will start from the Students’ Chair and will end with a cross dance in front of the Mother Bulgaria monument.
Watch a short video that will show you the magic and energy that each edition of the Roma Children’s Festival “Open Heart” brings:
How you can participate (alternative):
- dance – maximum duration 5 min. of the performance. It is mandatory to include Roma motifs, clothing, music
or
- musical performance (song) – maximum duration 5 min. Roma costume and music must be used.
To request your students to participate in the Festival you must fill in the application form at the following link: https://forms.gle/Trz8FMcdSqryTw8a8
IMPORTANT! In order to apply to participate in the Open Heart Festival you need to fill in the form and send a video application that presents your dance/song performance that your group of students will participate in the event. Send the video requests to: amalipe.edu@gmail.com
Deadline for submission of applications, as well as for sending the video application: 30 April 2025.
For more information: tel. 062/600-224, 0882540242