American Research Center in Bulgaria Inc.

“Name: arc in sofia foundation address: 75 vasil petleschkov st., cash contribution: 31,396”

“Expenses meals and catering 718 total 718”

“The purpose of the american research center in bulgaria, inc. (arcb, inc.) is organized is to provide support to: (1) the american research center in sofia, a non-profit foundation organized, registered, and operating under the laws of bulgaria; (2) support american scholars and academic researchers in the field of the humanities and social sciences in bulgaria; (3) facilitate collaboration and cooperation between scholars from north america, bulgaria, and countries from southeastern europe (including romania, greece, albania, kosovo, macedonia, serbia and montenegro, and turkey).”

“Support to the arcs academic program with grants provided by arcb, arcs hosted several north american and eastern european scholars and students at its facilities in sofia, providing them with the logistical support necessary to conduct their research in bulgaria. The 2018 academic program of arcs (the arcs pre- doctoral and the arcs residential fellowship for southeast european ph.d. Students and junior postdoctoral scholars) accepted four graduate students (three in the spring and one in the fall term). Students attended lectures, presented their research, and participated in academic field trips around bulgaria.”

“Conferences february 2018 on february 1 and 2, 2018, arcb sponsored the second interdisciplinary conference titled mirabilia: miraculous and magical. The conference was hosted by arcs and co-organized by the balkan studies institute and center of thracology at the bulgarian academy of sciences. It featured ca. 40 presentations by renowned scholars in the humanities and social sciences from several research and educational venues in bulgaria. On february 3, 2018, arcb and arcs co-organized a presentation by dr. Evelina kelbetcheva, professor at the american university in bulgaria and a long-term supporter of arcs, titled where is bulgaria now: historical memory and perception of important events in bulgarian society. Professor kelbetcheva focused on bulgaria's achievements during the past three decades and showed a fascinating documentary dedicated to the bulgarian mission in antarctica. June 2018 on june 23, 2018, arcs and arcb co-organized an evening of bulgarian poetry, with the participation of internationally acclaimed poets, such as vladimir levchev, lyubomir nikolov, polly mukanova, and other authors. The event was held in manassas, va and was followed by a dinner reception and a lively literary discussion. July 2018 on july 9, 2018, arcs and arcb co-organized an award ceremony under the patronage of the ambassador of the republic of bulgaria to the united states h.e. Tihomir stoytchev. The event posthumously honored eugene schuyler for his significant role in aiding the liberation of bulgaria from the ottoman empire. Mr. Schuyler v. Grant received the award ("golden bough" medal) on behalf of the schuyler family. Brief presentations describing eugene schuyler's remarkable contributions and the activities of arcs and arcb were given by h.e. Tihomir stoytchev; dr. Nora dimitrova clinton and professor kevin clinton, co-founders of the american research center in sofia foundation; and mr. David herlihy, co-biographer, with professor patricia herlihy, of eugene schuyler. Eugene schuyler (ithaca, new york, february 26, 1840 - venice, italy, july 16, 1890) was an american diplomat, scholar, writer, lawyer, and humanist. As american consul general in constantinople he played a key role in publicizing a report about atrocities in bulgaria in 1876 during the april uprising. On april 4th, 1879, exarch anthim i of vidin, president of the national assembly of bulgaria, sent schuyler one of only three telegrams of gratitude dispatched to foreign dignitaries on the occasion of bulgaria's independence: "the free bulgarian nation hastens to thank you heartily for your great service and to assure you that your name will hold an enviable place in the history of the liberation of our nation." november 2018 on november 12, 2018, arcb, arcs, and the embassy of the republic of bulgaria to the united states, organized a premiere of arcs's publication, revisiting the beginning of the bulgarian transition: 25 years after the first udf government. The event underscored the book's profound and illuminating analysis of recent bulgarian history and the accomplishments of its author, dr. Philip dimitrov, prime minister of bulgaria in 1991- 1992, ambassador of the republic of bulgaria to the united states, ambassador of the european union to the republic of georgia, current constitutional judge and member of the prestigious venice commission of the council of europe. Revisiting the beginning of the bulgarian transition combines the author's expertise as internationally recognized professor of political science with his unique perspective and knowledge as a protagonist in the events.”

“Other supported projects in 2018, arcb continued to support martin koenig's project "sound pictures from bulgaria." martin koenig is an international folklorist recognized for his photographic, audio, and video work capturing life in the balkans in the 1960s and 1970s, most notably folk music and dance. In this particular project, martin koenig partnered with smithsonian folkways records to issue "sound pictures from bulgaria," presenting unique recordings of authentic performances of music and dance from remote bulgarian villages over several decades. Websites over the past year, arcs and arcb continued to actively develop and enrich the content of "the immigrant's suitcase: virtual museum of the bulgarians in north america" (www.immigrant.bg). New stories were published on the website by bulgarian immigrants in the united states. The virtual museum received substantial media coverage in both bulgaria and the united states. Arcb continued to provide support for the online portal "victims of communism in bulgaria" (http://www.victimsofcommunism.bg/en/), launched by arcs in 2009. The goal of the project is to prepare a complete database of the individuals who were subject to communist totalitarian repressions and their biographical information, thus filling a significant gap in our historical knowledge. The information from the website has been shared with the bulgarian state archives and will result in an official publication of the records.”