6 Svoboda Square
7000 Ruse
Bulgaria
- Arts
- Environment/Sustainable development
- Heritage
- International/Cultural relations
- Youth and education
Ruse Free Spirit City Municipal Foundation is established on 15.11.2012 with Resolution № 380 of Ruse Municipal Council. The Foundation’s executive body is its Managing board consisting of a Chairman and 2 members. The Foundation has an Executive Director and 2 permanent positions - Communication Expert and Expert Project and Programmes. The work of the organisation is also supported by experts from European Development Department of Ruse Municipality. The annual budget for 2015 allocated to the Foundation by Ruse Municipal Council amounts to 100 000 BGN. The Foundation also receives donations from private donors. The Foundation supports innovative events and projects that create sustainable and cohesive community ties and stimulates the development of local talents in spheres like science, education, art and culture. The Foundation works in partnership with informal structures of civil society, non-profit organisations – sports, music and youth associations, community centers, cultural and academic institutions; municipal structures; citizens.
The identity of the city of Ruse is built on traditions, European spirit and innovativeness. Situated on the bank of the most international river in the world – the Danube, today Ruse is a city which creates its future in the wider context of cross-border and macro-regional cooperation. The mission of the Ruse Free Spirit City campaign is to regenerate the creative power of the city and to turn it into a cultural centre in the Danube region, uniting citizens, cultural communities, artists, professional unions, academic representatives, non-governmental organisations, international partners and the media. Within the campaign we support the realisation of large-scale and innovative events, which create “sense of community” because we believe this is how Ruse can strengthen its image as a port of the free creative spirit. We create international partnership networks and we actively work to promote our city as a cultural tourism destination. Ruse Free Spirit City Municipal Foundation is actively working for establishing Ruse as a cultural magnet, contributing to the development of art and creative industries and making them more exciting and appealing for people. Specific objectives: Ruse Free Spirit City Municipal Foundation supports the implementation of activities in two main areas: 1. Supporting talented individuals from Ruse Municipality - In 2014 the Municipal foundation created “The Faces of Ruse” fund, which stimulates the development of local talents in the spheres like science, education, art and culture, promoting the city on national and international level with their achievements. 2. Financing local activities - Ruse Free Spirit City Municipal Foundation supports and stimulates the implementation of activities which strengthen the positions of Ruse as a city which successfully combines traditions and innovation in the sphere of: civil society development, science, education, culture, historical heritage preservation, cultural tourism development, arts and literature, inventions and high technologies.
In 2014, the Foundation organised 81 events many of which stood out with their large scale and innovativeness, created a “sense of community”, provided opportunities for dialogue among representatives of different cultural and professional groups, and promoted cross-sectoral forms of cooperation. Among the events that the city of Ruse hosted was Allegra International Summer Academy with the participation of 40 young classical musicians from 18 countries, the Roller fest Let’s roller-skate together in Ruse and Bucharest that gathered more than 100 fans of the roller sport from Bulgaria and Romania, Salsa Weekend Ruse which gathered 200 dance lovers from 13 clubs from the whole country, the large-scale interactive concert Mission Ruse with more than 300 musicians on stage and more than 2000 people audience and many others. 156 creative products were made. The long list of events and initiatives was made possible thanks to the efforts of 30 project teams, 3382 active participants in their implementation, 34 volunteers and 89 partnerships, created during the 2014 campaign. As a result of this, nearly 102,000 local citizens and guests of the city had a dynamic and exciting year of festivals, concerts, creative experimentation and shared emotions. At the end of 2014, Ruse Free Spirit City Foundation announced Call for project proposals. The main objective of the Competition for projects – 2015 was to stimulate the development of cultural life in Ruse and to link different organisations, institutions and artists to work together to establish Ruse as a cultural center. Candidates could apply in the following categories: - Support for talented individuals from Ruse Municipality; - Science, inventions and new technologies; - Funding for local initiatives - communities of interest; - Funding for local initiatives - cross-sectoral and international partnerships. 84 projects were submitted to the Foundation. They were evaluated by the Managing Board of the Foundation in accordance with the criteria in the Methodology for evaluation of project proposals. As a result of the announced call, it was decided that in 2015 Ruse Free Spirit City Municipal Foundation will support 7 talented individuals and groups from Ruse Municipality and 21 projects and initiatives in the field of art and culture, inventions and high technologies, science and education. Throughout the year the Foundation will continue to accept applications from talented individuals who promote the city of Ruse on national and international scale.
Ruse Free Spirit City Foundation has a successful experience in establishing sustainable and efficient model of collaboration and networking among various municipal, public and non-governmental structures, which has provided useful and visible results. All partnerships established by Ruse Free Spirit City Municipal Foundation have a significant sustainability perspective. Sustainable and beneficial partnerships have been established with 89 local, national and international cultural and educational institutions, NGOs, etc. that have participated in the Ruse Free Spirit City campaign. A big number of the events supported by the Foundation in 2014 had another edition in 2015. We believe that with this expertise we will contribute to the development of the Anna Lindh Foundation Network in Bulgaria.
We would like to join the ALF Network because we would like to expand our sphere of contacts and to create new fruitful and sustainable partnerships with various organisations; to participate in new cooperation initiatives in the fields of arts, culture and education; to implement diverse projects, which will contribute to the development of civil society.