The unconventional exhibition “Hug me on the road Workshop” is open for all who are interested until March 28th 2014. Free entrance.

Camillo Zuccoli, Levon Hampartzoumian and representatives of a number of diplomatic missions attended the opening ceremony

Modern Art UniCredit Studio Gallery will house an interesting children’s exhibition: “Hug me on the road Workshop”. The exhibition is a result of the joint project of the Sovereign Order of Malta and UniCredit Bulbank which started in the summer of 2013.

The two collaborating organizations for the implementation of this charity event organized a journey for fourteen children from three institutional care facilities who were accompanied by two social workers. In the course of ten days the children visited seven cultural and historic sites in Bulgaria, part of UNESCO World Heritage: Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo in the village of Ivanovo, Ruse District; the tomb near the village of Sveshtari, Razdrad District; Madara Rider in the village of Madara, Shumen District; the old town of Nessebar; the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak, Rila Monastery, Boyana Chirch St. Nikola and Panteleymon.

Equipped with brushes, pencils, cameras and binoculars the children discovered worlds of the past and learned about the ancient Thracian, Hellenic, Roman, Slavonic and Old Bulgarian civilizations whose legacy in our native land includes extremely valuable artistic and architectural works of art.

Inspired by the journey and with the help of the artists and social workers children created their own travel guide and travel stories – a collection of their memories, impressions and drawings from the unforgettable experience in the summer of 2013.

The travel guide was funded by UniCredit Bulbank. It includes some of the best drawings and photographs telling the story about this exciting experience.

The travel guide and the stories were presented at an exhibition especially organized at Modern Art UniCredit Studio Gallery. Camillo Zuccoli, the Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta, the CEO of UniCredit Bulbank, Levon Hampartzoumian and representatives of a number of diplomatic missions attended the opening ceremony.

“The Children’s Exhibition at Modern Art UniCredit Studio Gallery is a continuation of our collaborative work with Hug Me Association. The idea of the original and important travel guide became reality during the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the Sovereign Order of Malta and Bulgaria, and the 50th anniversary of Bulbank which is now known as UniCredit Bulbank. Today’s latest news is that the bank and the association decided to continue running the project with visits to more important places of historical interest in Bulgaria and more exhibitions. I would like to thank UniCredit Bulbank and all donors of these initiatives for the generous support and that we will continue working together”, said Camillo Zuccoli, the Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Bulgaria.

“Hug me on the road Workshop is a very successful project which will afford us the opportunity to see Bulgaria’s heritage through children’s eyes. There are numerous cultural and historical layers in Bulgaria formed in the course of three or four thousand years. All people who chose these territories as their fatherland found that this place was good for living, which speaks for itself. All these people did not have a reason to complain about living in these territories. We have a lot to be proud of. Shunning ostentation UniCredit Bulbank tries to counteract negative emotions, indolence and passivity we sometimes encounter through worthy initiatives. We will continue providing support to talented, confident and hard-working individuals in constant pursuit of perfection”, said Levon Hampartzoumian.

Modern Art UniCredit Studio Gallery is located in Batenberg Business Center (12, Knyaz Aleksandar Batenberg I Str.). The exhibition is open for visitors every working day from 10 am to 6:30 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Free entrance.

More information for clients:

UniCredit Bulbank, Call Centre

Phone: 0700 1 84 84

More information for media:

UniCredit Bulbank, Identity & Communications Department

Viktoria Blajeva, Phone: + 359 2 9264 993, wjlj/ebwjepwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Ekaterina Ancheva, Phone: + 359 2 9264 963, flbufsjob/bodifwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Magdalena Ivanova, Phone: + 359 2 9232 528, nbhebmfob/jwbopwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch