→Core Team

Ralitsa Gerasimova

Ralitsa Gerasimova

Artistic Director and Co-founder

Ralitsa Gerasimova is an anthropologist and curator. She is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the BUNA Festival. As a cultural manager, she develops projects in the field of contemporary visual art, works with institutions and independent artists, and actively contributes to the development of the contemporary cultural scene in Varna and across Bulgaria.

Neli Valcheva

Neli Valcheva

Executive Director and Chair of the BUNA Foundation

Neli Valcheva is Chair of the BUNA Foundation. She has extensive experience in the fields of culture and cultural policy. Neli is the festival’s Executive Director and is responsible for its administrative, organisational and financial management. Through her expertise, she supports the festival’s continued development and long-term sustainability.

Sofia Dimova

Sofia Dimova

Artistic Coordinator

Sofia Dimova is a visual artist with a distinctive visual language and a clearly defined artistic position. She has been part of the BUNA team since the festival’s inception and currently serves as its Artistic Coordinator. Sofia is the principal point of contact for participating artists and is responsible for the organisation and delivery of the artistic projects.

Vasilena Kovacheva

Vasilena Kovacheva

Technical Coordinator

Vasilena Kovacheva is BUNA’s Technical and Logistics Coordinator. She has experience in organising and delivering cultural events and projects. As part of the festival, she is responsible for communication with partners, the technical delivery of projects, venues and installations, as well as a range of other coordination and communication processes.

Irina Batkova

Irina Batkova

Member of the Advisory Board

Irina Batkova is an art historian, independent curator and cultural manager with extensive international experience. She is the founder of Art Project Depot, a platform for contemporary art and culture. She is a permanent consultant and member of the BUNA Festival’s Advisory Board, contributing strategic vision and expertise in curatorial processes and international partnerships.

Irina was the curator of There You Are, a multimedia project by artist Mihail Mihaylov, which represented Bulgaria at the 59th Venice Biennale.

Radoslav Radoslavov

Radoslav Radoslavov

Video Documentation

Radoslav Radoslavov of Rad Thrill Films is responsible for the video documentation of the BUNA Festival. Through his work, the festival acquires its visual narrative, encompassing both the individual artistic projects and the wider atmosphere of the event. His videos create a living archive and enable BUNA to reach new audiences beyond its physical locations.

Neno Belchev

Neno Belchev

Technical and Operations Coordinator

Neno Belchev is a multidisciplinary artist and an established figure in Varna’s contemporary art scene. His practice encompasses video art, installation, sculpture, performance and new media. As BUNA’s Technical and Operations Coordinator, Neno supports the day-to-day running of the office and looks after its practical and technical maintenance.

Anika Koleva

Digital Content Writer and Archivist

Anika Koleva is BUNA Festival’s web content writer and archivist. She is responsible for preparing and editing content for the festival’s digital platforms, as well as organising and maintaining its archive. Through her work, Anika contributes to BUNA’s clear online presentation and to preserving the festival’s history.