International School for Heritage Crafts
Our mission is to preserve and revitalise traditional crafts through international collaboration while providing a high quality educational product. The school will host learners and practitioners from diverse backgrounds and cultures and build an international community which can foster collaboration and exchange of knowledge, skills and lead to expansion of markets. Sharena Fabrika aims to transform a picturesque village nested in the heart of the Balkan into a thriving craft center, hosting workshops and master classes in wood carving, sculpture, furniture restoration and recycling, icon painting, weaving, felting, embroidery, folk costume making, ceramics, and pottery.
Structure
The future craft school will offer a comprehensive program, providing practical skills and knowledge of heritage crafts — their history, origins, evolution, and modern practices. Key subjects include ceramics, pottery, textiles, weaving, carpentry, and icon painting.
Alongside the main program, short courses and masterclasses will run year-round, catering to both beginners and advanced students, offering specialisations in various techniques. Experienced artisans, dedicated to preserving craft heritage, will lead the courses.
Focus
The school will feature 16 specialized studios across three floors, each equipped to support different crafts. These spaces will welcome both European students and learners from around the world, offering practical knowledge and hands-on experience in various disciplines.
Our goal is to establish Golyama Zhelyazna as a center for crafts, opening doors for those seeking to develop their skills or embark on a professional path in the craft world. Pottery, carpentry, textiles and iconography are some of the crafts featured in the school's curriculum.
The TEAM
The initiative "Sharena Zadruga" has managed to create a cohesive community of active craftsmen to unite around the idea and join the project for the future school. Each of them carefully nurtures their talent and contributes to the preservation of Bulgarian crafts. Students will have the opportunity to acquire or further develop specific skills related to our country's characteristic crafts, guided by the hands of some of the most talented Bulgarian craftsmen.
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