The 2nd Cultural Festival titled “Building Bridges of Cross-Border Culture,” organized by the Municipality of Lagkadas, was successfully held on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the Central Square of Sochos, with a large audience attending. The project “RENOVATION,” implemented within the framework of the Interreg Greece – Bulgaria 2014-2020 program, is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the national resources of the participating countries.
The Deputy Mayor of Cleaning and Recycling, Petros Doiranlis, thanked all contributors to the 2nd Festival and everyone present, emphasizing:
“The RENOVATION project focuses on utilizing cultural heritage in the cross-border region of Greece – Bulgaria. The lead partner of the project is the ‘Yane Sandanski 1928 Community Center,’ while the Municipality of Lagkadas and the Thessaloniki Concert Hall Organization (OMMΘ) complete the partnership. Through the available cultural infrastructure in the cross-border region, specifically the Cultural Center in the Sochos Community and the ‘Yane Sandanski 1928 Community Center’ in the Municipality of Hadjidimovo, and through activities exchanging experiences, the project offers diverse opportunities to utilize the available cultural tourism products of the Greece – Bulgaria cross-border region. The project combines the improvement of existing cultural centers and their use for cultural activities. Thus, as part of the project, these two cultural buildings were renovated to enhance the cultural life of the two municipalities and increase the number of visitors to the area. In this way, through the use of community centers for cultural purposes, more opportunities for entertainment for visitors and tourists in the area are created. Additionally, local businesses (mainly related to tourism) benefit from the increased attendance in the area.
Beyond the cultural festivals — the first one was held in the Municipality of Hadjidimovo on May 27 — and the renovation of the two cultural buildings, the project also successfully organized, through OMMΘ, the opera “Don Giovanni” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with four performances in November – December 2021.”
Finally, Mr. Doiranlis stressed the need for such activities to continue:
“We, the local government but also the citizens themselves, must contribute to strengthening cross-border culture even after the project ends, by establishing the festival institution ‘Building Bridges of Cross-Border Culture’ in the coming years, and by fostering cooperation between the two municipalities in other types of activities.”
Next, Vasileia Katsavounidou, Head of the Education and Culture Department of the Municipality of Lagkadas, took the floor, thanking all those involved in organizing the event. She also emphasized the need to continue strengthening cross-border culture:
“It is very important to make such efforts, as the local community benefits and the friendship and cooperation ties with our neighbors from Bulgaria are strengthened.”
Following that, the project manager of “RENOVATION,” Yulfi Arnaoundova, expressed thanks to the Municipality of Lagkadas for hosting and organizing the 2nd Cultural Festival, highlighting the close friendship ties developed in the cross-border region due to intercultural activities.
Finally, Krastiu Vodenitsarov, Secretary General of the “Yane Sandanski 1928” Community Center, thanked everyone for the effective cooperation during the project’s implementation over the last three years. He mentioned the importance of cultural centers for the lives of locals and the need to strengthen their role in cross-border cultural life.
The Festival, organized also by “Lever – Development Consultants S.A.,” continued with traditional music and dance performances by local groups and groups from Bulgaria, followed by the main concert titled “From the Black Sea to the World – Tribute to the Set-to-Music Poetry of Kostas Varnalis,” dedicated to the life and work of the great poet and writer Kostas Varnalis. The concert included famous songs by
Theodorakis, Mamangakis, Spanos, Leontis, and others, based on the poetry of Kostas Varnalis.
