The 18th Summer Scholars’ Meeting of the American Foundation for Bulgaria will take place from July 25 to August 3, 2025, at the Seasons Hotel in Tryavna. And... there are still spots available!
What awaits you:
Lectures on exciting and interesting topics;
Screenings of great films;
Meeting new people;
Walks in nature;
Games, friendships, and lots of laughter!
The goal:
To bring together scholars from all over the country in one place, get to know each other, and have fun in a friendly, informal atmosphere.
IMPORTANT:
Travel expenses to Tryavna are covered by you.
Accommodation and food are covered by the Foundation.
There are only 50 spots – hurry up!
How to register?
Send an email to: office@afbulgaria.org
The meeting is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the American Foundation for Bulgaria (AFB).
We are celebrating the 60th birthday of the AFB President Teodor Vasilev under the common motto of the meeting “Rock and Roll, Baby,” with the first edition of the “AFB Rock School.”
The honorary guest will be Prof. Mihail Nedelchev from New Bulgarian University.
Here is the preliminary program:
July 25, Friday
12:00 – Arrival at Seasons Hotel, Tryavna
17:30 – Presentation of the 18th Scholars’ Meeting program. Introduction to the team
19:00 – Dinner
20:30 – Group and module assignments
21:00–22:30 – Music Module. Cool Rock – Tsonyo Tsvetkov and Ilin Papazyan – Ninyo
July 26, Saturday
08:00–09:00 – Breakfast
10:00–12:30 – Cinema Module with Klimentina Nedelcheva and Ahmed Yumer
12:30–13:30 – Lunch
14:00–16:00 – Free time
16:00–17:00 – Introduction to Orthodox Christianity with Alexey Khristov
17:00–19:00 – Art Module with Diana Vasileva. Visual arts and design – how to look and understand. Presentation
19:00–20:00 – Dinner
20:00–21:30 – Music Module. Cool Rock – Tsonyo Tsvetkov and Ilin Papazyan – Ninyo
July 27, Sunday
08:00–09:00 – Breakfast
10:00–11:30 – Applied Arts Module with Diana, workshop
11:45–13:00 – Ideas of Prof. Mihail Nedelchev on European and Bulgarian (in particular) literary personalism
13:00–14:00 – Lunch
14:00–16:00 – Free time
16:00–18:00 – Applied Arts Module with Diana, workshop
18:00–19:00 – Module work
19:00 – Dinner
20:30 – Cinema. Screenings from the International Student Film Festival "Early Bird"
21:30–22:30 – Music Module. Cool Rock – Tsonyo Tsvetkov and Ilin Papazyan – Ninyo
July 28, Monday
08:00–09:00 – Breakfast
09:15 – Optional visit to the Divine Liturgy in Tryavna
10:30–12:30 – Applied Arts Module with Diana, workshop
12:30–14:00 – Lunch
14:30–16:30 – Applied Arts Module with Diana, workshop
17:00–18:30 – What does it mean to be a radical witness of the times of literature and literary life in the People's Republic of Bulgaria? – conversation with Prof. Mihail Nedelchev on his book "Radical Witness" (NBU, 2025)
19:00 – Dinner
20:00–21:30 – Music Module with Ilin and Tsonyo. Rock School
July 29, Tuesday
08:00–09:00 – Breakfast
10:30–12:00 – Style, light, and rock'n'roll – photographic stories on stage with Nora Angelova
12:30–14:00 – Lunch
14:00–16:00 – Free time
16:00–17:00 – Let's cook something delicious with Iglika, Nora, and Alexey
17:00–18:30 – Module work
19:00 – Dinner
20:30 – Astronomy / telescope observation with Blagovest Tsarev
July 30, Wednesday
10:00–18:00 – Long hike to Bozhentsi
18:30–19:00 – Free time
19:00 – Dinner
20:30 – Early Bird program – film screenings
July 31, Thursday
08:00–09:00 – Breakfast
10:00–12:00 – History Module. The Monastic Republic of Mount Athos – Alexey Khristov
12:30–14:00 – Lunch
14:00–17:00 – Free time
17:00–19:30 – Module activities
19:30 – Dinner
20:30 – Rock quiz
August 1, Friday
08:00–09:00 – Breakfast
10:00–12:30 – Museums in Tryavna
12:30–14:00 – Lunch
14:00–17:00 – Free time
17:00–18:00 – A small talk about the future: Data is the new money – how to rock'n roll your data to tell a story – with Atanas Karashenski
19:00 – Dinner
20:30 – “Scholars Without Books” 2025 – literary reading of personal works
August 2, Saturday
08:00–09:00 – Breakfast
10:00–12:30 – Creative time
12:30–14:00 – Lunch
14:00–19:00 – Creative time
19:00 – Dinner
20:00 – Discussion and project presentations. AFB is looking for talent
August 3, Sunday
08:00 – Breakfast. Departure
The first ten new participants to register for the meeting will receive prizes – an original painting, book, or music album, supported by the American Foundation for Bulgaria.