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Courtesy of Tsarino
Tsarino
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Description
The Tsarino Foundation, since 2009, is an international collective of artists and an architect. While restoring and maintaining the formerly abandoned village of Tsarino in the Bulgarian Eastern Rhodope Mountains, their main purpose is to function as an art platform. Using the village as an art space, they organise artist-in-residence programmes, exhibitions and other cultural events.
The first artist-in-residence programme in Tsarino took place in 2011, followed by three more in 2012, 2013 and 2018. These programmes are part of a wider research project placing contemporary art in the rural and remote environment of Tsarino, inviting artists to explore its unique context, living and working conditions. The foundation strives towards being able to organise residencies on a more regular basis in the future when the necessary facilities are permanently in place. For more information, see residencies.
In all its activities, the foundation recognises its position and responsibility towards its environment and the local community. By organising AiR programmes and other events, the foundation aims to offer a platform for cultural exchange between people of the area and guest artists, as well as preserve Tsarino as a village. Surrounded by nature, the foundation also thinks of its place in the ecosystem and is working on environmentally friendly solutions where possible.
They offer two types of residencies: artist-in-residence group programmes funded by the foundation and self-guided residencies financed by the artist, currently with a 40% pilot discount. The foundation offers volunteering work for a further reduction of the price (max. 5 days per month).
Studio Information
There is a basic set of hand tools (think of shuffles, wheelbarrows, hammers, saws) that can be borrowed on request. In Chorbadzhijsko there is a black and white printer, blacksmith, seamstress, sawmill, and various hardware shops.
Accommodation Information
The foundation currently uses seven habitable houses which have been renovated on a very basic level to provide artists with accommodation and studio space. In recent years, the foundation has improved the general facilities by reinstating old water lines, rebuilding parts of the road network, constructing an outdoor kitchen and setting up a solar-powered electrical charging station. However, because of its remote location and being off-grid, the conditions remain very basic.
Group programmes held in summer can accommodate up to twelve people in private rooms, furnished with a desk, chair, carpet, mattress, pillow and sheets. These rooms can be used as accommodation and studio space. Additional workspace can be arranged. There is ample space in the village, e.g. empty houses, fields and forests. If you ask, we will happily show you what is available and help you find a spot that meets your requirements.
The self-directed, individual programme can accommodate up to two artists or artist duos at a time, or an artist group of up to six people (spread over two houses). Each artist (or artist duo/group) participating in the current pilot (see Residencies: Apply) will have their own private house including a bedroom (bed, wood-fired heater, carpet, chair), studio (desk, wood-fired heater or fireplace, chair), small kitchen (small gas stove and/or wood-fired stove/fireplace, cold water tap, sink) and outdoor toilet + wood-fired shower. They may also use the large outdoor communal kitchen.
Electricity:
There is no electricity network in Tsarino. We do have a solar charger providing electricity to charge laptops, batteries, phones, and other electronic devices up to 500W. It consists of a solar panel, inverter, and battery. It features a power hub with universal sockets (EU, US and UK plugs all work) and fast-charging USB ports. The battery, once full, can be taken out and carried around. We also have an extra car battery which can be charged. The amount of energy produced by the solar charger depends on the weather and can therefore not be guaranteed. However, in summer laptops generally charge within an hour.
Internet:
The mobile phone and 3G network is available in Tsarino, although the signal strength varies depending on time, location and weather conditions. Wifi is available in the neighbouring village of Chorbadzhjisko.
Kitchen:
We mainly cook over open fires in our communal, roofed outdoor kitchen. Meals can be enjoyed in the shade on the adjacent terrace, or indoors when it is raining or cold. We expect the participants of our group programmes to actively contribute to the organisation of daily needs, such as cooking dinner and washing up. We make use of a rota to fairly divide the daily tasks.
Water:
There are three outdoor sinks with drinking water coming from a spring higher up the mountain: inside the kitchen, next to the kitchen and next to the showers.
Toilets and showers:
There are three outdoor composting toilets and two cold showers. It is also possible to use the wood-fired boiler to warm up water for up to 6 showers. In summer we make use of a solar heating system which can heat up water depending on the weather.
Firepit:
In the evenings everyone is welcome to sit around the campfire in our cosy firepit and have a drink from the mobile Tsar Bar.
Location
The formerly abandoned village of Tsarino is a small village in the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains, near to the Greek border. It was abandoned over thirty years ago by all original inhabitants except one. This was due to a combination of factors, one of which is its isolated setting amongst hills and forests. Over time, most original inhabitants moved to Chorbadzhiysko, a nearby town revolving around agriculture, growing predominately peppers and tobacco. Tsarino (its previous name in Turkish was Hasyurt) belongs to a Pomak community of Muslim Bulgarians. Pomaks are a minority group living side by side with the ethnic Turkish community, making up over half of the population in this region.
Although abandoned, Tsarino is still of significance to the communities of the area. Its mosque and graveyard are still maintained and used. Some families visit their houses, pick fruits or ‘park’ their cows in the village. The animals can take care of themselves and use the empty houses as their homes. In recent years, the local community has shown a growing interest in Tsarino. Previous inhabitants of Tsarino have taken initiatives to restore their houses or a stretch of road.
