The opening of the first Art Gallery with works of art made by completely blind and partially sighted artists from all over Bulgaria will be held on May 30, 2019 in Plovdiv, in the Archaeological underpass (the so-called underpass at the  Monday market), The initiative is part of a project of the National Rehabilitation Center for the Blind, Plovdiv and it is  funded by the European Social Fund through the Human Resources Development Operational Program, “Equal Chances” Procedure. The project focuses on innovative and holistic services dedicated to the physical, professional, social and cultural integration of people with visual disabilities and raising awareness about their talents and skills in society.

  Variety of modern paintings will be exhibited in the Gallery, as well as artistic ceramics and pottery products – panels, mosaics, castings, human figures, household objects.

There will be oil paintings by various artists, most of them learned their artistic skills by themselves. Also, there will be paintings made with the ancient painting techniques of hot wax (Encaustics).

The art ceramics and pottery products are also made by visually impaired people in the pottery workshop at the NRCB, where the blind and partially sighted artists are trained to make clay and ceramic products.

From June 2019, the Art Gallery will  also host a unique „Coffee in the Dark“ event, during which each visitor will have the opportunity to be served coffee in complete darkness. The idea of this activity is to make the visitors familiar with the world of the blind and the challenges of a life without sight.

The press conference will take place on  May 30, 2019 at 11:00 in the Trakart Cultural Center. The official opening of the Art Gallery will be at 18:30 on the same day.