On September 4, 2025, the Women’s Club “Rose Valley”, in collaboration with the Youth Center – Karlovo, organized the art event “Women in Art” at the “Old Town Karlovo” Complex. Over a glass of wine, the participants discussed the topic and painted, while learning more about:
- The #5WomenArtists initiative by the National Museum of Women in the Arts, which encourages people around the world to share information about women artists on social media to promote their work and creativity;
- The life and work of five prominent women artists – Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Rosa Bonheur, Camille Claudel, Yayoi Kusama, and Frida Kahlo;
- One of the most iconic women in contemporary art – Frida Kahlo, through a short film about her life and artistic legacy;
- The Women’s Art Support Fund by the Bulgarian Fund for Women, which finances women-led artistic projects in Bulgaria;
- The provocative art collective Guerilla Girls, known for addressing urgent social issues related to inequality and discrimination through bold posters. In 2025, they celebrate their 40th anniversary and visited Bulgaria at the invitation of the Bulgarian Fund for Women, presenting their exhibition “The Art of Disobedience” at the National Gallery “Kvadrat 500”, touching on the issue of women’s underrepresentation in political power in Bulgaria;
- The unequal representation of women artists in Bulgaria’s National Gallery, where, as of 2018, 91% of the works in the permanent collection were by male artists, and only 17 of 128 solo exhibitions (13%) featured women;
- The fact that the number of male and female artists in the Union of Bulgarian Artists is nearly equal, sparking a discussion on why female artists are still underrepresented in exhibitions.
To support ongoing conversations with youth, the organizers prepared art materials and gifted Frida Kahlo-inspired brush holders to all local art schools, encouraging educators to continue inspiring children and young people to seek equal opportunities for creative expression and development.
The event was joined by Penka Mincheva, Director of the Municipal Art Gallery – Karlovo, who shared her insights both as a gallery director and a visual arts educator. Prominent Karlovo-based sculptor and painter Dimitar Bakardzhiev also took part as a guest mentor for the painting sessions.
This art event is part of the project “Mission Possible”, implemented by the Youth Center – Karlovo, built by the Association “Youth and Civic Initiatives in the Rose Valley”, with financial support from the Bulgarian Fund for Women, under their project “Birds in BG”, co-funded by the European Union.
For more details, follow the team’s Facebook page:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/mgirdrosevalley
#AnnaLindhFoundation
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