OUR TEAM THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
Photo by Galya Yotova
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Nia Pushkarova – Artist, Festival Organizer and Founder of NGO IME
Born in Sofia, Bulgaria
BA Honors in Fine Arts, Reading University, UK
ICCM, Salzburg, Austria – art management diploma
Founder and Director of NGO IME since 2004
Since 2006 I thought of initiating some sort of action around an abandoned water tower in Sofia, beacuse of its indesputed character and beauty. Juts passing it by every day doing nothing, seeing how it decays with time left me with the conviction that something has to be done. Gradually through the years and a lot of effort form coworkers and volunteers I managed to turn this initiative into an internationally recognized festival in Bulgaria. The importance of making this festival is in its synergy with the local needs and our adequacy in Bulgaria and the ever inquisitive mind of artists in order to live better live – pointing out to problems, no matter how uncomfortable they may be to some. I have studied in UK and graduated Fine art in 1995, when I consciously returned to Bulgaria. By participating and collaborating in exchange of ideas I believe that art can overcome the stagnation of nowadays politics cultural and social life. By doing all this I believe we can help change the local mentality for the better via overcoming prejudices, bringing tolerance towards “the other” including social interaction through arts.
Being an artist you have the visa for the world.
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Oli Gots – PR
Oli has been the PR coordinator for the festival for two years, and for the 10th, anniversary, edition (Water Tower Art Fest 2016, 16-25 June) is looking after the music programme for the opening night. Her pas projects include some of the leading Bulgarian music events, such as Mos Def Live in concert (June 2015), Sofia Rocks 2014, series of exhibitions in alternative spaces under the Cooltsalon initiative, alternative screening nights for Crooked Cinema, etc.
Oli has graduated in BA Media & Communications: Film Production from Goldsmiths College, University of London – the alma mater of such “creative minds” like Damien Hirst, Mary Quant, Laure Prouvost – and MA Managing in Creative Economy at Kingston University. From 2004 to 2012 Oli lived, studied and worked in London, and as of 2013 she is in Sofia, channeling the acquired skills and experience to the local creative initiatives.
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Elena Radeva – Coordinator and Artist Liaisons
Creative head and soul, Eli keeps order in the second year residency, brings her experience on the field of cinema and TV productions and festivals (including contemporary art), Bulgarian and English. She graduated from the Arts High School, then Bachelor of Cinema and TV at the University of Arts in London (2015); over the years he has worked as a freelance assistant director, while in the meantime she has been building his own project – a musical duo, 200 Autiste.
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Georgi Kambourov – Technical Assistant
Born 1981. He has worked as a stagehand at National Theatre “Ivan Vazov” and “Global Films”, technical assistant at Centre for culture and debate “Red House – Andrey Nikolov”, light desk operator at Theatre 199 “Valentin Stoichev”, technical consultant and assistant at “Antistatic” festival for contemporary dance and performance.
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Teodor Nenov – technical assistant
Teodor is part of the technical team of the festival. He works is the fields of painting, sculpture and has participated in international art forums and collective exhibitions. He has graduated from the Highschool of Applied Arts in Troyan, Bulgaria and from the National Art Academy in Sofia, sculpture department.
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email: info@watertowerartfest.com
https://www.facebook.com/watertowerartfest/