Amid the quiet alleys and the nearness of the sea, a new space is taking shape at the State Cultural Institute Cultural Center “The Palace” – Balchik — a place where the past does not remain behind glass, but unfolds before the eyes. The project “Threads of Time” transforms traditional crafts into a living process — shared, tangible and easy to understand.
The initiative is implemented under the “Cultural Heritage 2025” programme of the National Culture Fund and places at its core the revival of the traditional sewing workshop as a cultural meeting point. Within the Palace’s “Sewing Room”, authentic objects, textiles and elements of the Dobruja way of life come together, complemented by demonstrations, small-scale events and opportunities for active participation.
At the heart of the project are demonstrations and workshops led by master craftswoman Madlena Bozhilova Amin, recognized as a UNESCO “Living Human Treasure”. Under her guidance, visitors will follow the entire journey of the thread — from cocoon and raw silk to finished textile. Silk reeling, spinning, natural dyeing, crafting silk cords, loom weaving and the making of traditional garments — knowledge that is usually passed quietly from hand to hand — will here be shared openly.
The programme unfolds through thematic weeks across the seasons:
- April 10–16 – collective weaving of the carpet “The Stars” and demonstrations of silkworm cultivation
- May 5–11 – formation of silk cocoons
- June 1–7 – silk reeling
- July 19–25 – dyeing with natural and acid dyes
- August 12–18 – weaving of a traditional apron
- September 18–24 – making a headscarf with silk fringes
Some of the events will offer opportunities for direct participation, including the creation of small handmade items inspired by tradition. The culmination will be the collective weaving of a “prayer carpet”, in which each participant will add a thread — a gesture of shared memory and community.
The project will conclude on October 29 with a presentation of the created works, including two specially crafted traditional costumes, as well as the exhibition in the “Sewing Room”, which will remain as a lasting space for future encounters with tradition.
“Threads of Time” brings together knowledge, experience and a contemporary взгляд към heritage. It is an invitation not only to observe a craft, but to feel its rhythm — slow, patient and deeply human.
