The International Photographic Exhibition “National Dress: A Source of Pride and Heritage.” Visits the Town of Elena
On 11 June, the Art Gallery of the town of Elena will host the international photography exhibition “National Dress: A Source of Pride and Heritage”. The exhibition is presented in cooperation with the State Institute for Culture to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This is the fifth time the photography collection has been shown in Bulgaria. In Elena, it will be on view until 10 July.
Most recently, the exhibition was shown at the Regional Ethnographic Museum in Plovdiv, and it has previously been hosted in Sofia, Burgas, and Gabrovo.The exhibition was first shown in May 2024 during the 9th General Assembly of GPDNet in Doha, Qatar, in partnership with 17 member states of the international organization, including Bulgaria. As a member of the Global Public Diplomacy Network (GPDNet), the State Cultural Institute under the Minister of Foreign Affairs ensured Bulgaria’s participation in the exhibition with four artistic photographs of Bulgarian folk costumes—recreations by Svetoslav Petrov and photographed by Petya Dobreva.
“National Dress: A Source of Pride and Heritage” features selected photographs that reveal the diversity of national costumes as bearers of history, identity, and spirituality. The photographs showcase the uniqueness and vibrancy of the cultures of 17 countries and capture the essence of traditional attire, a key element of cultural heritage and global diversity. In a time of growing global division, this collection promotes a better understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity, emphasizing what is typical and unique to each nation.
Established in 2014 in Seoul, the Global Public Diplomacy Network (GPDNet) is a platform for cultural, academic, and civic exchange, uniting 29 member countries to promote international cooperation through the tools of cultural and public diplomacy. Bulgaria became a full member of GPDNet in 2021 with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Doha and is represented by the State Institute for Culture to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.