Through this significant partnership, two leading institutions in the fields of art and science declare their shared commitment to the development of interdisciplinary dialogue and joint initiatives. The document was signed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zhan Pehlivanov, Rector of the Prof. Asen Diamandiev Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts, and Prof. Dr. Tsanko Gechev, Director of the Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology – Plovdiv. The mediator of this cooperation is Prof. Dr. Vesela Kazashka.

The fruitful interaction between the two institutions will contribute to the support of young talents, to the promotion of culture, art, and science through joint projects, as well as to the strengthening of Plovdiv’s position as a scientific and cultural center of international significance.

Gender equality in research is considered a priority for the European Research Area and the Framework Programmes. The human resources (HR) policy of AMDFA"Prof. Asen Diamandiev" is in line with the European framework for research careers, in particular the European Charter for Researchers.

The principle of gender equality is an integral part of national legislation and the rules for the functioning and management of AMDFA "Prof. Asen Diamandiev":

• National legal framework:
  • Law on Protection against Discrimination
  • Higher Education Act
  • Labour Code
  • Employment Promotion Act

With the development, adoption and implementation of the Action Plan for Gender Equality, AMDFA "Prof. Asen Diamandiev" places emphasis on equality and diversity, which is also part of international research programmes, including the Horizon Europe programme.

AMDFA "Prof. Asen Diamandiev" is committed to providing equal opportunities for all researchers and employees. Our goal is to promote a sustainable research organisation with a culture that is sensitive to issues of gender equality and diversity.  This plan includes actions to ensure gender equality, diversity management and work-life balance.

Read the full Action plan HERE.

The event brought together chapter authors, members of the Core Group (CG), and the Management Committee. The programme included parallel sessions on the chapters of the forthcoming book, a plenary discussion on the main thematic strands and next steps, as well as a meeting of the Management Committee.

Prof. Vesela Kazashka actively participated in the working meeting in Lisbon in her capacity as a member of the CA22156 Management Committee. In this role, she contributed to discussions on the conceptual framework of the volume, possible formats for presenting the results (including publishable datasets, visualisations, and short thematic formats), and the strategic directions for the further development of the initiative.

The Lisbon meeting reaffirmed the international network’s commitment to researching transformative processes in resource-constrained contexts and to developing practically applicable knowledge based on empirical data and interdisciplinary dialogue.

On 4–5 December 2025, a Regional Forum entitled “Knowledge and Technology Transfer and Factors for the Integrated Development of the Northwestern Region” was held in the city of Pleven. The Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts “Prof. Asen Diamandiev” participated in the event through its Technology Transfer Office (TTO).

The forum was attended by Mr. Nikolay Paunov, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, and Ms. Ralitsa Bazaitova, Senior Expert at the Directorate “Performing Arts and Arts Education.”

Prof. Vesela Kazashka presented opportunities for cooperation between AMTII and other cultural institutions in the region. She emphasised the potential for joint project activities, the creation of a talent incubator in collaboration with the National School of Arts “Panayot Pipkov”, as well as broader interaction in the fields of arts and culture.

Mr. Rumen Todorov, Director of “Panayot Pipkov” school, presented the project “Regional Arts Academy,” which received AMDFA’s support during its application process. The project aims to develop the regional cultural and educational infrastructure, highlighting innovations in education and cooperation among various educational and cultural institutions.

During the forum, the following opportunities for future collaboration between AMTII and institutions from the Northwestern Region were discussed:

• support for introducing innovations in the arts;

• joint project development;

• organization of scholarly and creative events;

• conducting masterclasses;

• preparation of a business plan and a strategy for long-term cooperation.

The forum laid the groundwork for future interaction and the integration of various cultural and educational initiatives with the aim of developing the Northwestern Region through joint efforts in the fields of arts and culture.

The aim of the meeting is to bring together researchers and artists from all over Europe to share ideas, develop joint projects and explore the possibilities of collective intelligence within the framework of artistic practices and scientific research. During the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tsvetomira Kazashka from the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts – Plovdiv presented a report on the topic: «Collective Intelligence at the Intersection of Art, AI, and Cultural Innovation», which aroused interest and provoked a discussion on the role of artificial intelligence and cultural practices in building new forms of creativity and collaboration. The Rector of the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts “Prof. Asen Diamandiev” - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zhan Pehlivanov, and the Director of the Technology Transfer Office - Prof. Dr. Vessela Kazashka also took part in the discussions. COST is a European organization for funding research and innovation networks, which promotes inter-institutional cooperation and the sustainable development of creative and scientific communities. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zhan Pehlivanov, Prof. Dr. Vessela Kazashka and Asst. Prof. Dr. Tsvetomira Kazashka participated and exchanged experiences with colleagues from ABOROMA during the European Night of Scientists in Rome - The Enacting Artistic Research project (EAR). The program was full of events for young and old, and the artistic community offered and promoted the connection between new digital technologies and art. AMTII "Prof. Asen Diamandiev" has over 15 years of experience as a partner in organizing the European Night of Scientists in the city of Plovdiv.

The visit also provided an opportunity for direct participation and familiarization with the activities of the G.I.O.I.A foundation, which supports people with mental disabilities by creating a social environment, work and opportunities for inclusion. G.I.O.I.A., which stands for “Youth”, “Engagement”, “Employment”, “Inclusion” and “Welcome”, is the name of the project launched by the Embassy of the Order of Malta to the Holy See, in collaboration with the Grand Priory of Rome of the Order of Malta and the social cooperative Diversa Arte, to support 10-12 young people in a three-year inclusion and vocational training program. Prof. Dr. Vessela Kazashka is a core lecturer in inclusive education at the AMTII “Prof. Assen Diamandiev”.

For a photo gallery of the events, visit the profile of the Art Academy Plovdiv on social media.

Date: October 30-31, 2025


Website: https://www.seia-conference.eu/ 
Venue: AMDFA "Prof. Asen Diamandiev", Plovdiv
Deadline for submitting applications: September 30, 2025


Deadline for submitting papers: September 30, 2025 to the email address: conference@artacademyplovdiv.com


The conference will take place on-site in Plovdiv, at AMDFA #Asen Diamandiev".

LINK FOR REGISTRATION

The event will be organised in three panels:

• PANEL 1: Education and Management
• PANEL 2: Music and Dance Arts
• PANEL 3: Visual Arts and Design

The conference is free of participation fees.

Please consider the following technical Instructions to the authors.

Our main goal is to create an academic environment for scholars from various fields of knowledge, where they can present and interpret the evolutionary and revolutionary processes related to science, culture, and share scientific papers from diverse disciplines

This year’s conference builds upon the themes of previous editions, focusing on the modern theoretical and practical aspects of managing art organizations and the link between art and business.

Registration link.

We welcome articles and presentations in the following areas:

• Strategic management of art organizations
• Motivation and human resources
• Marketing and PR in the arts
• Art promotion and communication
• Entrepreneurship in art
• Collaboration with education

Submission deadline for participation requests: 15.10.2025 

LINK for REGISTRATION
Paper submission deadline: 15.10.2025, conference@artacademyplovdiv.com

 No registration fee

 Submissions accepted in Bulgarian, English, Russian. Please consider the following technical Instructions to the authors.

Contact: conference@artacademyplovdiv.com and https://www.amc-conference.eu/