The Singer-Zahariev foundation was established in 2021 by Kathrin Singer-Sachariewa and Kamen Zahariev to support the organization of exhibitions, performances, workshops, artistic interventions in the public space, publications, conferences, seminars, educational programs, lectures, etc. and to support financially similar activities of other organizations. In 2022 the foundation launched “SZ CONTACT” – a program of grants to promote the aims of the foundation which include support for Bulgarian contemporary art institutions, artists curators and producers across the spectrum of the visual arts. The main idea of the grant program is to provide funding for projects which support art professionals. In 2023 Open Art Files' activities are partially financed and supported by the Singer-Zahariev foundation.
The Plovdiv 2019 Foundation is the organization responsible, as its main goal, of preparing the Plovdiv application for the title European Capital of Culture 2019 and, after winning it, realizing the project for the first time in Bulgaria. Since its establishment in 2011, the Foundation has organized 12 open calls to enable more than 1 000 organizations from the country and abroad to share their ideas for the European Capital of Culture project. Its main role is, together with its partners, to support the development of sustainable initiatives and structures that contribute to the positioning of Plovdiv and its citizens in the European context. “Plovdiv 2019” Foundation creates a network of partnerships between the business community, the artistic sector and the official institutions to ensure a lasting change in the cultural climate in the country and its opening up to an even wider international scene.
The Gaudenz B. Ruf Award was set up in 2007 by a Swiss national who lived in Bulgaria from 1995 to 2000, during which time he became acquainted with the rich cultural life of the country and convinced of its artistic potential. The Award is financed through a fund established in Switzerland. The aim of the Award is to promote and propagate artistic expression in Bulgaria in the field of visual arts and to focus in particular on the younger generation. From 2007 until 2011 the Award was granted annually to one young and one advanced artist within the framework of a competition. During those five years more than 560 candidates competed for the prize and 79 artists were shortlisted. The works of the shortlisted artists were presented at the yearly Award exhibitions and published in catalogues (cf. Archive). From 2012 until 2018 the funds of the Gaudenz B. Ruf Award availed support to the creation of art works by Bulgarian artists and to events presenting contemporary Bulgarian art in Bulgaria and abroad. Finally, in 2019 the Gaudenz B. Ruf Award celebrates the last year of its existence by organizing once more a competition, for young artists aged not more than forty, and the subsequent exhibition “Finale”.
The National Culture Fund is the Bulgarian organization that supports at the national level the creation, development and dissemination of Bulgarian culture and art in the country and abroad. The National Culture Fund was established by the Law on Protection and Development of Culture and started functioning in November 2000. The main goal is to support the development of culture by raising, managing and spending funds intended for the implementation of the national policy in the field of culture, set in the Programs of the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria for the respective period and in the Law for protection and development of culture.
Sarieva / Hub is the first hybrid environment created to improve the culture of living and perception. The hub stands out with its multi-genre and multifunctional charecter, combining the activities of certain well-known organizations and spaces with their own programs and focal points - Sarieva / Gallery, Open Arts Foundation, artnewscafe and Кабинѐт. The platform is not simply a medium, but also a tendency and a way of life which inspires a modern-day lifestyle directly related to the art domain.
artnewscafe bulletin is a monthly professional selection of art events from Bulgaria, the Balkans and around the world, introducing museums, collections and art practices and careers to the large public and art amateurs. The bulletin was created in 2008 and is published by the Open Arts Foundation. Available as a free mobile app and monthly newsletter.