Apollonia Festival

Apollonia is a multidisciplinary arts festival first held in Sozopol in 1984. It was created to present Bulgarian artistic achievement, sustain established traditions and support experimental work across the arts. Its programme combines classical, folk, jazz and popular music with theatre, literature, cinema, dance and visual arts. During its early years, the September celebrations were complemented by a Winter Academy of Arts. The Apollonia Foundation, established in 1991, subsequently took responsibility for organising the festival. Exhibitions in the Old Town gallery, performances on several stages and presentations of new Bulgarian films and books bring different artistic communities together. World and Bulgarian premieres have formed part of its programme. The first Apollonia was held in Sozopol in 1984, founded by the violinist Dimo Dimov; until 1990 it came in two halves — the September festival on the coast and a Winter Arts Academy in Sofia each January. A foundation set up in 1991 has organised it since. Ten days on five stages carry classical music, folk, jazz and pop concerts, theatre, new Bulgarian feature and documentary films, book launches, exhibitions and masterclasses. Since 1999 the foundation has given the Apollon Toxophoros award for contribution to Bulgarian culture.