PLOVDIV, BULGARIA – The historic city of Plovdiv recently served as a vibrant classroom for the next generation of European cultural managers. From January 11 to 20, 2026, 46 young professionals from nine countries gathered for the intensive “School of Culture” training course, an initiative aimed at equipping youth with the professional tools needed to navigate the evolving creative sector.The project, coordinated by the Center for Projects – Plovdiv (CPP), brought together participants from Bulgaria, Serbia, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Ukraine, Lithuania and Spain.

A Masterclass in Management

Under the guidance of lead trainer Mag.Phil. Leonie Hodkevich, PhD(c), the program delivered a rigorous curriculum of 10 modules. Key topics included European Project Management, Social Justice through Cultural Management, and advanced Audience Development strategies designed to eliminate "guesswork" in cultural marketing.The training featured a high-profile lineup of guest speakers, including:

• Dr. Chris Baldwin, theatre director and curator, who explored the impact of AI on culture and politics.
• Viktor Yankov of Plovdiv 2019, discussing regional cultural policy as a diplomatic tool.
• Gina Kafedzhian, who presented urban games as a method for cultural engagement.

Additional specialized sessions covered Cybersecurity with David Mitov and Digital Marketing with Kristina Dimova, ensuring participants left with a modern, tech-savvy skill set.

Beyond the Classroom

The "School of Culture" balanced theory with practice through a series of site visits. Participants engaged directly with professionals at the Drama Theatre of Plovdiv.The program concluded with a ceremony where participants received certificates, marking the official launch of a new European network of cultural managers.

About the Project

“School of Culture” is a Youth Exchange (KA152-YOU) funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme and co-financed by Bulgaria’s Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC). The project aims to bridge the gap between academic education and the practical demands of the creative industries, fostering social cohesion through cultural innovation.