A Bulgarian exhibition by the students of Spiritual Mirror Society, all aged below 14, opened in Katara Cultural Village Foundation recently. ‘Symbols of Bulgarian identity’ was officially unveiled by Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara Cultural Foundation, and Bulgarian ambassador Metin Hussein Kazak. Ambassadors from other countries such as Japan, Poland and Turkey were also present at the occasion.



Ambassador of Bulgaria Metin Kazak presenting a letter from Bulgarian vice president to Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, the General Manager of Katara Cultural Foundation.

All 25 pieces of art in the exhibition are the work of young talents from three Spiritual Mirror schools in Bulgaria — the carpet weaving school in Chiprovtsi, the school for works from maize leaves from Kurtovo Konare, and embroidery of costumes.Each work presents a motif that children’s ancestors used in carpet weaving, costumes and maize leaf art.
The Spiritual Mirror Society was founded in 1998 with Tatiana Kostadinova as chairperson. Its mission is to encourage cultural co-operation and friendly relations between nations through child and youth art. Spiritual Mirror as part of civil society sets noble goals: to create conditions for performances of young talents; to support young people in their choice of positive leisure activities in order to detect and develop the skills and talents into art, culture, science and sport, to realise their boundless imagination and original ideas.
Spiritual Mirror follows the pursuit of cultural co-operation and understanding between peoples seeking growth in the way of youth creativity. “Our goals are aimed at creating conditions for the spiritual development of the younger generation. We want children and young people to share their joy of music, poetry, visual arts, dance, science,” says the society.




All 25 pieces of art in the exhibition are the work of young talents from three Spiritual Mirror schools in Bulgaria.

It aims to make young people with no difference in their social status, religion and race to feel the freedom of creativity, beauty and knowledge and to look around to find the best in themselves and to multiply. These objectives will be achieved by the combined efforts of all accepted ideas of Spiritual Mirror. The society also hosts an international eco-art centre Spiritual Mirror for children and youth recreation, art and sports in the Natural Park Strandja, Brodilovo.
The Center for Social Integration and Rehabilitation of Children is located in an ecologically diverse area along the scenic Veleka in the heart of Strandja mountain, near the sea. The combination of mountain and sea air is therapeutic for children with pulmonary and allergic diseases. In the summer programme, it provides visiting the beach until noon (Nestinarka beach) and activities of interest in the afternoon. The centre has rooms, studios for creative activities in the arts and dance hall.
The studio arts hold indoor and outdoor pursuits — painting carving, photography, batik and other activities. For anglers, Veleka has 32 species of fish and boating takes people to beautiful and mysterious places in the reserve. In the sports complex, youngsters can practice football, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, cycling and horse riding.
Local heating allows for year-round use for green schools, workshops and other extracurricular activities such as evening dance together, to enjoy the talents of the campfire and the carnival.
Every year, Spiritual Mirror organises a competition for children — art-literature works, fine arts, photography, music and dance and performing arts in which more than 3,000 children participate. It also bestows awards by children’s jury in the International Youth Festival in Italy and in Children Apollonia in Sozopol. The programme of the Children Apollonia includes open space workshops, exhibitions, meetings with creators, outdoor stages for literature, musical and dance performances where young talents present their skills.
The exhibition will remain on display at building 18 of Katara Cultural Complex till 27th of this month.