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NEWS
A CARNIVAL DAY IN GABROVO - 19th MAY, 2012
P R O G R A M M E
10.30 a.m. - Smehorancheta National Children's Festival
Vazrazhdane Hall
10.30 a.m. - Festivities in front of the Museum HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE
11.00 a.m. - Opening of MADCAP National Exhibition of Secondary Art Schools in Bulgaria
Museum HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE
11.30 a.m. - National Dressed-up Cats' Show
Orlovets Sports Hall
1.00 p.m. - Retro-Car Parade
Sports Hall - Dechkov House - ETAR Architectural and Ethnographic Complex
2.00 p.m. - Children's Mini-carnival
GABROVO Mall
2.30 p.m. - Big Band Parade
Radetska Str.
6.00 p.m. - CARNIVAL STREET PROCESSION onthe topic Animals and Humans, Humans and Animals
GABROVO Mall - Museum HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE
8.00 p.m. - Festive concert in the open (with the participation of Grafa, Bobo ่ DJ Borche, Fire Theatre, Milena Slavova and Svetlyo and the Legends group )
Vazrazhdane Sq.
8.00 p.m. - Night at the Museum
Regional History Museum, Dechkov House
IMPORTANT: On May 19th, 2012 the Museum HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE will be open for visitors from 9.00 a.m. until 8.00 p.m.
(10.05.2012)
THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING TOGETHER WITH US!
 On its 40th birthday - April 1st, 2012, pre-annouced a Doors Open Day and a Night at the Museum, the House of Humour and Satire was exceptionally delighted to welcome 2 240 visitors from Bulgaria and abroad. All day through the exhibition rooms were echoing with the lauhgter of people of all ages among whom were organized tourists from Sofia, Plovdiv, Pazardzhik, Veliko Tarnovo, Etropole, Stara Zagora, Kazanlak, Asenovgrad, Sliven, Varna, Pomorie, Shumen, Novi pazar, Ruse, Silistra, Pleven, to mention but a few. Happy to join in the festive hullabaloo were also visitors from France, Russia, Germany, Italy, Romania, Poland and Latvia. For some citizens of Gabrovo this free-of-charge visit to the museum turned out to be the first one, however, memorable, with the high-quality exhibitions, the varied entertainment programme, live music, the special birthday cake and drinks, and the general euphoric atmosphere.
The House was honoured by representatives of scores of cultural institutions, MPs, partners and friends. The formal opening of the celebration was attended by Mrs. Tanya Hristova, Mayor of Gabrovo Municipality, Mr. Stefan Ga nev from Culture Dept. to Gabrovo Municipality, Mr. Mitko Daskalov, Chair of the Committee on Culture and Ecclesiastical Matters to the City Council, Mr. Mihail Veshim, editor-in-chief of Starshel humour newspaper, cartoonists Ivaylo Ninov and Ivaylo Tsvetkov, graphic artist Plamen Penov, Associate Professors Boris Zhelev, Ivan Uzunov and Penyo Penev from St. St. Cyril and Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, as well as daughter Valeriya and grandson Nikola of cartoonist Boris Dimovski - the unforgettable, staunch supporter of the House of Humour and Satire.
To all who decided to share this extraordinary celebration together with us - our deep and sincere THANK-YOU!
(05.04.2012)
THE BEGINNING OF OUR SPECIAL DAY!
On its 40th birthday the Museum HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE send its best wishes for more joy, spiritedness and optimism, wisdom in human realtions to its fellow-citizens, fellow-countrymen and all people in the world. May we look more often on the bright side of life!
FIRST-OF-APRIL ORDINANCE ISSUED BY THE MAYOR OF GABROVO
MRS. TANYA HRISTOVA
ORDINANCE
No 1
Gabrovo, 1st April, 2012
On the grounds of Article 1, Paragraph 1 of the Humour Law of Gabrovo and pursuant to the authority of the Mayor of Gabrovo Municipality on the Law ensuring the citizens' smiles, and considering the fact that the House of Humour and Satire has rightfully deserved the recognition of being labelled the most-first-of-April place in the world for its continuing 40-year service and activities
I HEREBY ORDER
That as of today the time at the House of Humour and Satire shall come to a halt on the date of 1st April.
That each following day of the year here and solely here shall continue to be 1st April - a unique, unrivalled, full of fun and smiles festive day of Gabrovo.
Inseparable part of this Ordinance shall be a Perpetual Calendar of the House of Mirth in which each month day shall be stamped in confirmation of the order.
This ordinance shall be handed for information and application to all persons responsible for the well deserved first-of-April honour.
The control on the enforcement of the ordinance is assigned to the director of the House of Humour and Satire.
The ordinance is subject to no appeal!
Tanya Hristova
Mayor of Gabrovo Municipality
CONGRATULATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE
" Dear colleagues,
Sincere congratulations on the 40th anniversary of the Museum HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE. I continue believing that your team is a worthy champion of the cause of a contemporary museum institution that keeps on evincing that there are no unattainable goals. You breathe in life in that wonderful town and it is not a surprise that it takes such a pride in you. Wishing you health and further creative achievements, I thank you for making us part of your celebration!
Vezhdi Rashidov
Minister of Culture
CONGRATULATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
 Dear Mrs. Tsankova,
Dear citizens of Gabrovo,
Thank you for the invitation to join Gabrovians in celebrating 1st April, perhaps the town's most distinguishable and definitely the 'funniest of festivals which by no accident also coincides with the opening of the House of Humour and Satire exactly 40 years ago. April 1st is a world laughter day, but we, Bulgarians, associate the day with none other than the town of Gabrovo dubbed with every good reason the Bulgarian capital of humour and satire. Its emblem is the House of Humour and Satire - a singular cultural institute for humorous and satirical art of world importance.
Bulgaria has got good traditions in the field of satire in literature, theatre and film-making. This finding is both praise-worthy and odd having in mind, historically, the unfavourable environment and the conteracting political power. The folk wisdom "The World Lasts Because It Laughs", which is the slogan of your Museum of Humour and Satire, is possibly the right formula for survival and success.
I avail myself of the opportunity to express my veneration and profound respect to the Master of Bulgarian satire - Aleko Konstantinov - whose perishing 105 years ago is soon to be celebrated. Invaluable is the moral legacy left by the Happy Man, and I wish that every Bulgarian could attain wisdom through humour.
It's been scientifically proven that laughter is wholesome, for man's mental and physical health alike, and some countries even offer a laughter therapy major. It's also been found out that children laugh as many as 300 times a day; with adults the number of laughs goes down to no more than 20. Hence, in the spirit of my best wishes for health and personal happiness to everyone of you, I'd like to wish you to laugh longer and childishly.
Enjoy a great celebration!
Nickolay Mladenov
Minister of Foreign Affairs
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VALUABLE GIFT FOR THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE
 Eleven years after winning the Golden Aesop Grand Prix at the 15th International Biennial of Humour and Satire in the Arts Japanese graphic artist and designer KATSURO NAKAI honoured the 40th anniversary of the House of Humour and Satire with a singular gift. On the occasion of his forthcoming solo show in March Nakai published a luxury 63-page colour catalogue-album dedicating 3 whole pages on his one-artist exhibition at the House in 2003 and his visits to Gabrovo in 2001 and 2003. Touching is the Japanese artist's gesture to highlight his ties and cooperation with the Museum HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE in this way. The recognition of the museum's efforts to popularize and further world humour art and heritage is undoubtedly a high praise for the work done by the museum team.
On the threshold of the 21st edition of the International Biennial of Humour and Satire in the Arts the House has hardly dreamt of this golden opportunity to reach a wider circle of Japanese artists through the agency of a brilliant exponent of contemporary Japanese graphic art and design. It is not the first time Mr. Nakai has played the part of a selfless envoy of the House in Japan, as for years now his students have been regular entrants in the International Biennial. May everyone be blessed with such an attitude and moral support!
(24.02..2012)
MUNICIPAL SCHOOL COMPETITION & EXHIBITION on Smoking or Enjoying Good Health - the Choice Is Yours
RESULTS
On February 21st, 2012 a panel of evaluators consisting of:
Chairperson: Yordanka Shiyakova head of Fine Arts, Exhibitions & Art Collections Dept. at the Museum HHS
Members:
Evgeniya Stefanova member of Friends of Belgium Club in Gabrovo
Totka Koleva representative of Association Public Health Coalition - Gabrovo
examined 255 drawings submitted to the competition by 203 children from 10 Gabrovo schools and 52 young artists from 3 art schools on the topic Smoking or Enjoying Good Health - the Choice Is Yours.
The evaluators decided that all 255 works be shown in the exhibition, and awared a total of 20 prizes in 4 age categories provided by the organizers: Museum HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE, vzw People Serve Bulgaria:Aalst-Gabrovo (Belgium), Friends of Belgium Club in Gabrovo and Association Public Health Coalition - Gabrovo. The panel of evaluators made the decision to distinguish also four art teachers who had motivated the highest number of schoolchildren to enter the competition.
(22.02.2012)
SPECIAL PRIZE OF THE HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE GOES TO CARTOONIST IVAN KUTUZOV
For the tenth time now, on February 16th, 2012 the Museum HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE awarded its special prize at the National Cartoon Exhibition in Sofia. The prize winner at the 37th edition of this annual cartoon forum is artist IVAN KUTUZOV - KUTI ; the House's prize consists of a plaque The World Lasts Because It Laughs, a certificate and a 2012 solo show invitation. Ivan Kutuzov captured the House's attention with a series of caricatures of present-day Bulgarian political celebrities.
Kutuzov finished the Fine Arts High School in Sofia and then graduated from the National Academy of Arts. He prefers working in the field of graphic art, illustration and cartoon; for more than 30 years now he has been contributing cartoons to various national periodicals. He is an active entrant in international cartoon competitions and winner of prestigious prizes in Italy, Serbia, Iran, Romania and Japan.
The special prize of the House of Humour and S atire given at the 37th National Cartoon Exhibition is not the first one the museum has distinguished inimitable Kuti with. An entrant in the International Biennial of Humour and Satire in the Arts since 1983, Ivan Kutuzov was presented with a Biennial prize in 2003 and a prize at the National Cartoon Competition under the heading Eurosapiens. He received the latter in person in the European Parliament on April 1st, 2009. The Humour of the Peoples art collection houses 9 works of his some of which are travelling the world over as part of the exhibition CaricaTOURISTS.
The team of the House of Humour and Satire, the museum visitors and the citizens of Gabrovo are looking forward to Kuti's solo show in the autumn of 2012.
(21.02..2012)
IN MEMORIAM
If he were alive today, February 16th, 2012 Bulgarian artist EMIL POPGENCHEV would have turned 70 years. But he departed from the 'world of earthly delights' in the summer of 2010 leaving behind the indelible imprint of an original artist, a generous man and an intellectual.
Born in Gabrovo in 1942, Popgenchev loved his town unaffectedly though he had to divide his life between the mountain and the seaside. Hence his support for the cause of the Museum HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATITE never failed to be definite, durable, not in words, but in deeds. Emil Popgenchev was a regular entrant in the International Biennial of Humour and Satire in the Arts as early as 1983; in 2001 he was awarded the Prize of the town of Gabrovo - the GASCAR statuette; in 2003 he designed and painted the colourful panel on the west facade wall of the museum building; in 2007 he left the most sizeable donation ever made by a Bulgarian artist in the past 20 years to the Humour of the Peoples art collection - 43 paintings from the series Humans and Animals and Eastern World, as well as two works by his wife Snezhina Popgencheva.
The team of the House of Humour and Satire will remember Emil Popgenchev as a radiant, spirited personality, an inimitable in art style outstanding representative of the contemporary Bulgarian school of painting. Visitors can see his work This Speed Makes Me Stagger displayed in his honour in Room 3.
(16.02.2012)
RENOVATED EXHIBITION THE ROOTS OF GABROVO HUMOUR
 In the year of its 40th birthday and committed to making its expositions an ever more attractive place for both Bulgarian and foreign visitors, the Museum HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE has completed successfully a project on the entire refurbishment, thematic extention and new conceptual accents in the room that houses the most Gabrovian of all displays on show at the museum - The Roots of Gabrovo Humour exhibition.
The permanent exhibition came into being 25 years ago jointly initiated and brought off by the museum curators and the outstanding Bulgarian cartoonist Boris Dimovski whose original drawing s are preserved intact after the refurbishment of the exhibition room. At present, the interior insulation, the new PVC framework, local heating and lighting make The Roots of Gabrovo Humour a cosy exhibition space where every newcomer is initiated into the intangible cultural heritage of Gabrovo which has won the town the fame of the humour capital of Bulgaria. An illustration of the peaceful co-existence of old traditions and contemporary high technologies is the two multimedia presentations which complement and enhance the exhibits on show related to the realia in the Gabrovo jokes and anecdotes. Under the headings How Gabrovo Became a Humour Capital? and The Wonders of Gabrovo Thrift the films aim not only to follow  the chronology and history of the events that have won Gabrovo the privilege of being part of the world humour heritage, but to take visitors on a short tour of some Gabrovo sights which epitomize local traditions and mentality as well.
The team of specialists that has brought off the project includes: Tatyana Tsankova, Petyo Yordanov, Eng., Chedomir Mihaylov, Eng., Yordanka Shiyakova, Stefka Boeva, Velina Kazakova and Stefan Kazakov.
"WELCOME AND ...GOOD RIDDANCE!" as goes the typical local greeting to all visitors of Gabrovo and the House of Humour and Satire.
(08.02..2012)
RESULTS of the 13th INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CARICATURE AND APHORISM in STRUMICA, MACEDONIA
CARICATURE Section
Golden Plaque - YURI KOSOBUKIN (Ukraine)
Silver Plaque - ERDOGAN BASOL (Turkey)
Bronze Plaque - VALERY CHMIRIOV (Ukraine)
Award granted by the Organizing Board of Strumica Carnival - NIKOLA ANGELKOSKI - KOLE (Macedonia)
Diplomas go to: CONSTANTIN CIOUSU (Romania), NIKOLAY ARNAUDOV (Bulgaria), LEONTE NASTASE (Romania), ALEKSANDAR DUBOVSKI (Ukraine) and DRAGOMIR DIMIK (Montenegro).
APHORISM Section
Golden Plaque - MELAN MILIVOJEVIK (Serbia)
Silver Plaque - MILE GJORGIJOSKI (Macedonia)
Bronze Plaque - MIROSLAV BOZHKOV (Bulgaria)
Diplomas go to: LJUPKA CVETANOVA (Macedonia), VASIL TOLEVSKI (Macedonia) and ATANAS KRLEVSKI (Macedonia).
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!
(06.02.2012)
INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY (IMD) - 2012
The central office of ICOM (International Council of Museums) has announced May 18th as the International Museum Day in 2012. Its motto is : Museums in a changing world. New challenges, new inspirations.
The Museum HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE has actively engaged in the broad dissemination of all activities and events scheduled by the various museums all over the world and has submitted its special May 18th programme in English and French.
The official website of the event is: http://www.network.icom.museum/imd2012/imd-2012/activities-2012/europe.html
(01.02.2012)
We are delighted to communicate to you that the team of the Museum HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE rounded off a successful year. In 2011 the musem:
arranged and displayed 49 exhibitions featuring Bulgarian and foreign artists ;
held the 14th BLAGOLAZH National Meeting of Joke- and Storytellers and the 20th International Biennial of Humour and Satire in the Arts showcasing 956 works by 600 artists from 56 countries;
received 1 330 donations by 530 donors for the Humour of the Peoples art collection;
registered 300 new acquisitions in its book collection;
made 11 presentations and reports at scientific fora and conferences;
carried out a variety of events in partnership with 22 organizations - sponsors, supporters and partners from Gabrovo, the region, Bulgaria and abroad;
had 31 950 visitors from the country and abroad (4 600 new ones compared to 2010!); the foreign tourists came from 39 countries on 6 continents;
was awarded for the eighth consecutive time the Stara Planina Regional Tourism Association Certificate for guaranteed quality services;
was covered on a regional, national and international level in 160 press articles, 552 pieces on the Internet, 220 radio broadcasts and 31 TV programmes;
made new friends on Facebook; the House of Humour and Satire group numbers 1 313 members;
updated its website 55 times over the year and offered a new service - a virtual tour of the museum exhibition rooms ;
had 80 451 website visits ( against 12 000 in 2010).
(09.01.2012)
AN ADDRESS ON THE THRESHOLD OF THE NEW YEAR 2012
Dear artists, donors, business partners and supporters of the Museum House of Humour and Satire
in Gabrovo, Bulgaria,
On the threshold of the New Year 2012
I should very much like to wish everyone a creative and successful year, but I am fully aware that we are in for an economically and politically difficult period.
However, humour and satire can help us beat the hardships along the bumpy road forward and upward. So let us harness all our energy as people who are called upon to create and change the world for the better!
We, the team members of the Museum House of Humour and Satire, are entering into the 40th year of the history of our, but also your HOUSE and home established on April 1st, 1972. Hence, our entire cultural programme throughout the year will be dedicated to celebrating the 40th anniversary. We look forward to your greetings and wishes, and as economic Gabrovians we also cherish a hope for some donations. Please feel free to express your attitude to the home shared by humour artists, scholars and satirists from the world over
the House of Humour and Satire.
THANK YOU!
Yours,
Tatyana Tsankova
Director of the Museum House of Humour and Satire
(22.11.2011)
THE CRISIS WILL NOT HEDGE THE CARNIVAL!
 In line with the centuries-old European tradition, the date November 11th, 2011 brought together in the Long Live the Carnival exhibition room of the Museum HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE a motley crowd of dressed-up young and not so young Gabrovians, visitors from neighbouring Macedonia representing the carnival in Strumica and journalists from national and local media to say "YES!" to the GABROVO CARNIVAL - 2012. Because the citizens of Gabrovo have long learned that the best remedy for any crisis is laughter, merrymaking and optimism.
Since the carnival in Gabrovo counts on youth, the versicoloured celebration was joined by young ballerinas from Liyana Dance School to the Community Centre Gabrovo 2002, 'singing' animals from Yavor kindergarten and 5-year-old Dalya, a rising star of Talevi Music Studio, who sang the story about the Gabrovo cat. There were more songs to the Bulgarian humour capital and the Gabrovo carnival.
At 11 hour and 11 minutes sharp the newly elected mayor of Gabrovo, Mrs. Tanya Hristova, 'released' the hands of time and announced the start of all carnival preparations. Then one of the 'engines" of the Gabrovo festival, Mr. Slavi Bonev, introduced his team of enthusiastic artists, scenario-writers and carnival costume makers and revealed the topic of the 2012 carnival which is ANIMALS AND HUMANS, HUMANS AND ANIMALS.
The numerical combination of 3 pairs of 11 is said to happen once in a hundred years, hence, it is believed to bring lots of luck and happiness. Therefore, two young citizens of Gabrovo - Nikolay Dimov and Milena Nikolova - decided to take their marriage vows nowhere but at the House of Humour and Satire dressed up in the sumptuous outfit of Prince and Princess from Marialenden, Germany. The costumes were donated by JECKE MARJELINGENER Carnival Society. May laughter and fun make their life full!!
So, the CARNIVAL - 2012 in Gabrovo is on its way, scheduled to open on May 19th, 2012. Feel most welcome to join us!
(11.11.2011)
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