Culture
Museum of History
The Museum of History of the town of Lom is established on 20th of September, 1925 as Archaeological Association Almus of Lom with museum by the initiative of Dr Petur Kurdzhiev (graduated in medicine in Petersburg, former mayor of Shumen). Its management was implemented by board of trustees and control commission, chosen by general assembly. The first board of trustees consisted of Simeon Tabakov, Miss Kostova, Dr Petur Kyrdzhiev and St. Toshev. Dr Kurdzhiev is chosen for chairperson and due to his great love to history, he constantly works for collection, preservation and popularization of "the memory of people" until 1950. The regular members of the association are seventy people – lawyers, doctors, traders, pharmacists, engineers, teachers, artists and officers. They worked out and accepted its regulations; its content contained touching care for preserving of antiques of Lom's region, collecting and preserving of archaeological monuments, ethnographic materials, books, photos, paintings. The association and the museum work with the help of the municipality and donors; the main donor is the Bulgarian Popular Bank Treasure.
Presently, the museum has the following sections: Archaeology, Bulgaria XV – XIX century, New History, Ethnography and Art. The permanent exposition is the situated on both floors of the museum buildings; the themes are Krystio Pishurka and the First Theatre Plays in Lom, the Port of Lom, Gods and Images from Crete and Mikena (old bronze necropolis of the village of Orsoya, Lom, The Christian Culture during the Centuries (icon painting and church plate), Town Manner of Life – the End of XIX century till the 40's of XX century, Lom – the Last Decades of XIX century – 40's of XX century (administrative division, economy, crafts, cultural life), Cold-Steel and Fire-Arm Weapon. There is permanent ethnographic exposition Traditional National Costume, Ritual Requisite of Winter, Spring and Summer Rituals and Traditions at the house of the famous Dimitur P. Ginin. In connection with the biggest spring Christian celebration Easter, the museum presents Exhibition-bazaar Colourful Perashki (coloured eggs) for the citizens and visitors of Lom since 1992. The exhibition represents coloured eggs after the pattern of Dimitur Marinov (ethnographer, folklorist and public figure), gathered in the end of XIX century. The house has yard where chamber folklore programmes are presented. There is piano in the building of the museum; the central hall has very good acoustics and is just right for chamber concerts.
Contact information:
3600 Lom, 6 Eremia Bulgarski Street
Telephones: +359 (0) 971 66069, e-mail: muzei_lom@abv.bg
WEB: muzei.lom.bg
National chitalishte (community centre) "Postoianstvo"
National community centre "Postoianstvo" is a self-governing cultural and educational association of the people of the town of Lom, which performs and national cultural and educational tasks. The community centre is NGO, registered according to the Law on National Community Centres. Its purpose is to satisfy the needs of the local communities, connected with development and enrichment of the cultural life, keeping of customs and traditions, enlargement of knowledge of the citizens and their incorporation in the values and science achievements, art and culture, popularization of regional achievements in all spheres of public life, access to modern informational and communication technologies.
For the first time in our history, the word "chitalishte" (community centre) appeared in Lom in the secular school of the revival teacher and patriot Krustio Pishurka in 1848. Many of the articles in Tzarigrad Gazette from Lom and Vidin say that the "chitalishte" (community centre) existed far before its official opening on 23rd of April, 1856. According to Dimitar Marinov, the first opening of the community centre was on 27 of October, 1852. The community centre created the first Bulgarian theatre in 1856. The first play is "Long-suffered Genoveva". Krustio Pishurka became founder of the first Bulgarian theatre – first director, producer, scriptwriter and actor. In the same year, another play called "Velizarii's Opera" is presented with accompany of musical performance of small orchestra. For the various cultural and educational activity of the community centre, there are two published anniversary collections on the occasion of 70 and 100 anniversary of the community centre in 1927 and 1956. The echo of the community centre's because keeps trembling and living by the cultural initiatives- library for children and adults, meetings with authors, theatre, folklore ensemble, formation for old popular tunes Ekaterina Vankova, and Arts school. And today, more than century and a half, the community centre "Postoianstvo" proves its contribution on the survival of our nationality, language and culture.
Library
The library of the National community centre "Postoianstvo" of Lom is found in 1848 in the school, where Krustio Pishurka was a teacher. It is accessible for all, the biggest in the Municipality of Lom. It has more than 107 000 library units - books, periodical, graphic and cartographic editions, slides, video tapes, rich music stock, very valuable note material. 163 incunabular, rare and valuable editions and kept there. Another valuable stock is the regional collection which is about 270 volumes. More than 3 000 readers are served and more than 36 000 volumes are given annually. The newest activity in the community centre's library is the automation of library- informational processes. Since 2004, the programme product Automated Library AL is introduced and there is Internet access.
Theatre
The artistic way of "Krustio Pishurka" theatre for the last 150 years strikes with respect not only with its 483 plays but also with the their titles. Among them are "Ivanko" (V. Drumev), "Hushove" (Iv. Vazov), "V Polite na Vitosha" (Javorov), "Svekarva" (A. Strashimirov), "Golemanov" (St. Kostov), "Revizor" (Gogol), "Romeo and Juliet", "Othello". Since 1971, Leontina Arditi works for free with the theatre of Lom. More than 20 plays, staged by her, brought the crew high honours and unforgettable experience for the public. The plays "Raionna bolnica" (Hr.Boychev ), "Predstavianeto na Hamlet v selo Dolno Tutkavo "(Ivo Brashan), "Gospoja Ministershata"(Br. Nushich), "Gori Tilileiski"(Elin Pelin) and "Lovchenskiat vladika"(T. Ikonomov) were awarded with prestigious awards on the national festivals in Topolovgrad and Kavarna.
Operetta theatre
The roots of the operetta art should be searched in the far past; "Velizarii's opera" is played on 12th of December, 1856 in the town Lom. The operetta theatre of Lom is found on 1st of December, 1923. The premiere of "Mamzel Nitush" operetta, conducted by Petar Evstatiev, founder of the operetta theatre, was on 13 of March 1927. Since then, 55 plays of Bulgarian and world classic are staged, many concerts etc. Brilliant proofs are the plays such as "Countess Maritza", "The Czardash Queen", "The Little Dutch Wife" and "Die Bajadere" by Kalman, "The Merry Widow" etc. For its artistic achievements, the operetta theatre is awarded with order "Cyril and Methodius", first degree, 1973, National champion-1953, laureate awards and medals from 2,3,4,5 and 7 republican festivals or artistic amateur activities and title "Representative" operetta theatre in 1983 on the 6 republican festival. The record of the anniversary performance of "The Merry Widow" for the 75 anniversary of the operetta theatre found its place in the "Golden stock" of the Bulgarian national radio.
Folklore dance ensemble "Dunav"
Folklore dance ensemble "Dunav" is established in 1976. The main artistic leader and choreographer is Parvan Parvanov. The high choreographic preparation allows the dancers to include in its repertoire dances of all ethnographic regions of Bulgaria. The folklore ensemble keeps repertoire of 20 dances which are mixed, homogenous and chamber. In the folklore ensemble there are 30 dancers and orchestra of 6 musicians. The folklore successfully participates in international festivals in Macedonia, Greece, Italy, Romania and France.
Internet centre
In 2002, the community centre became partner of "Chitalishta" project. The same year, an Internet centre is created with the purpose to facilitate the social access to modern, effective and quality information and communication services. The Internet centre has modern equipment and nice work conditions. The software used is in Bulgarian. The multimedia software for studying English, which is a property of the centre, gives another opportunity for satisfying the needs of the local communities. Trainings for basic computer literacy are taught there.
Contact information:
3600 Lom,1 Slavianska Street
Telephones: +359 (0) 971 66471, 66472, e-mail: postoyanstvo.lom@chitalishte.bg
Chitalishte (community centre) 23rd of September
Chitalishte (community centre) 23rd of September is established on 21.10.1960 as district community centre with the active participation of patriotic Bulgarian who voluntarily helped for the construction of the building – founded in 1963. Theatrical and folklore clubs exist in the community centre from the begging. A library is founded. During the years, the community centre gradually enriches and develops its activity.
In the community centre, there is Child and Youth Folklore Ensemble Hortse formed and working from 1986 till today. Child and Youth Folklore Ensemble Hortse is the most famous ensemble of Community Club 23rd of September. It is found in 1986 by Malin Maleonov who manages the activity during the first years. The ensemble includes 80-90 children and new talents are included every year. The repertory is quite rich and various, containing mainly Northern songs and dances but also dances from the other ethnographic regions of Bulgaria. Snejina Yoskova has been working with the children since 1995. A group for national music for children with head Stancho Georgiev is working jointly with Child and Youth Folklore Ensemble Hortse.
Group for source folklore Lomski Ritmi who participated in two folklore festivals was founded in 2006. The community centre is an initiator and organizer together with the Municipality of Lom of traditional children folklore contest Danube Spirits.
The Municipal Vocal Studio for development and realization of young talents with head Dafinka Borisova was founded 2006. It participated in concerts, festivals and contests of local, national and international level. Municipal Vocal Studio has won many first prizes of international festivals in Kyustendil and Pazardzhik.
In its long artistic development Hortse has created its own performing style and compositional technique. The choreographic lexis is not complicated; it is created by popular movements which have kept the style of the Northern ethnographic. The dances are characterized with naturalness in dancers' attitude, with cheerful and playful mood.
Child and Youth Folklore Ensemble Hortse has connected its artistic development with the best of the Bulgarian national treasury and takes deserved place in the cultural life of Lom. With their songs and dances, the children show their great love toward the national, the Bulgarian and carry on their interesting and original way of development.
The artistic activities of Hortse which emanate of genuine sincerity and fantasy, fascinate the audience not only in Bulgaria but abroad too. The ensemble is laureate of many national and international folklore festivals. Child and Youth Folklore Ensemble Hortse has visited Romania, Macedonia, Turkey.
We also should mention some of the multitude awards Child and Youth Folklore Ensemble Hortse has won, namely:
- honorary sign Krustio Pishurka – first degree;
- honorary sign and diploma by the Balkan Fair – Balkan folk'99 of Veliko Turnovo;
- international children Art-Forum Sofia'99;
- international children festival Sun, youth, beauty – Nesebar, Sunny Beach – 2000;
- national contest for thematic and plot dances – Children of Bulgaria, town of Razgrad – 2003;
- winner of national diploma of the National Board of the Centre for Arts and Folklore Festivals – approved for participation in international festivals;
- second international festival Primorsko 2004.
Projects:
- 2001 – Regional fair for authentic folklore Polomie, 2001 with the participation of folklore teams from the municipalities across the Lom River – Chuprene, Brusartsi, Medkovets and Lom;
- participations in Petroplavski Fair of the folklore art;
- second national fair for authentic folklore Virgin Mary's step, town of Stara Zagora;
- 2007 – folklore concert with the participation of Child and Youth Folklore Ensemble Hortse, group for folklore Lomski Ritmi and folklore ensemble Bobochka of Bailesti, Romania;
- 2008 - folklore concert with the participation of Child and Youth Folklore Ensemble Hortse, group for folklore Lomski Ritmi, folklore dance ensemble Dunav, folklore dance ensemble Severnyache and Greek dance ensemble of the town of Mudanya.
Contact information:
3600 Lom, 166 Hadzhi Dimitur Street
Telephone: +359 (0) 971 60412, Mobile: +359 (0) 899 464558, e-mail: septemvri_ch@abv.bg
Folklore and dance ensemble Severnyache
The Folklore and dance ensemble Severnyache exists from the autumn of 2004 as activity to the Centre of work with children Krustio Pishurka. The ensemble includes group for folklore singing and dancing ensemble. The repertory is adjusted with the richness of the Bulgarian music and dancing folklore, the beauty of the national costumes from North-West Bulgaria. What every child learns in Folklore and dance ensemble Severnyache is the Bulgarian tradition to sing and dance, to know and respect the national traditions. Horo dances from all Bulgarian regions are taught in the ensemble. The dancers and singers from Folklore and dance ensemble Severnyache have participated in numerous contests and festivals and have won many awards. The head of the ensemble is Valeri Goranov.
Contact information:
3600, Lom, 36 Tsar Simeon Street
Telephone: +359 (0) 971 66702, Mobile: +359 (0) 899 556391
Centre for work with children
The Centre for work with children is specialized out-of-school pedagogic system which implements the state and municipal educational policy for the free time of the children and youth. Since its establishment in 1954, hundreds of children and students have studied the different activity forms.
The activity of Centre for work with children is organized in three basic directions:
- Science and knowledge; technical and application;
- Art and creation;
- Sports and tourism.
There are 16 forms with 25 groups created in which participate above 350 children depending on their interests:
- Civil education: Children youth parliament;
- Technical and application: Modelling club;
- Foreign languages;
- Art of painting;
- Music art: vocal group Dunavski Zvyncheta (Danube Bells)
- Dance art: Ensemble for Bulgarian national songs and dances Severnyache
- Applicable art: ethnography and folklore.
Page updated: 08.03.2012
Content validity: 31.12.2012
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