About Us
Sea Art House is run by artists for artists. Passionate about art, we understand how important focus and concentration outside a busy schedule are. For that reason we have chosen this beautiful and peaceful place by the sea, surrounded by forests and greenery, to provide artists with an inspiring space to focus on their art without any distractions.
We work to nourish excellent conditions for all art forms in the field of visual art to be created and nurtured, also by providing a framework for building professional cooperation.
Our residences are process-oriented and encourage artists to craft their creative time as they wish – as experimentation, research, by focusing on new subject matters, or maybe as a creative dialogue and collaborative project with other artists. Thus the residences can be organised and structured according to the artists' intentions. Participants are free to negotiate (subject to availability) their own time of arrival and length of stay. However, Sea Art House welcomes up to five artists at any one time.
We provide the artists with the opportunity to lead workshops (subject to availability of space). Further, we offer exhibition and project management services for an additional cost. Please let us know if you are interested in exploring these options and we can provide further details. Please note that galleries often prepare their programme much ahead of time.
The residency offers three different types of residencies:
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Family residency - we welcome artists with their families for a flexible, process-oriented residency
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Visiting residences – these residencies last from 1 week to 3 months throughout the year, with flexible dates for arrival.
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Fixed-term residencies - offered twice a year and continue for a month. Additional calls are published at our website. More information about deadlines for application can be found here.
Sea Art House is situated in a beautiful and idyllic place, yet surrounded by places of cultural heritage and landmarks. Several tourist routes through a nature reserve start within a 15-minute walk from the residence. A few kilometers away is the historical village of Balchik, with its palace and botanical garden. At the same distance is the Aladzha rock monastery. The beach is only a 10-minute walk away. Read more about the surroundings and see photos here.
During your residency we can help you to arrange trips to the major interesting places.
After completion of the residence, we document artists' participation and publish a lasting legacy on our website and social media accounts.
Partners and families are welcome at a small additional cost as agreed during the application process.
What the artists will find at Sea Art House
Accomodation
Two newly decorated apartments and three separate rooms, four of them with sea view, private bathrooms, and terraces.
Studio Space
The spacious studio has cabinet space, tables, high-speed WIFI, good spotlights, and a large variety of tools and equipment.
Shared Space
In the shared space in the garden the artists cook their meals and engage in converstion. The space is equiped with barbeque.
Surroundings
Sea Art House is situated in a beautiful, tranquil setting near the sea and the city of Varna.
Accomodation
Apartments
The two newly decorated apartments are self-catering. They are equipped with a kitchen, hob, under-counter fridge, microwave, kettle, pots and pans, cutlery, plates, cups, and saucers. Each apartment has a sea view, living room/workspace, bedroom with two twin beds, internet access, kitchen, terrace, and bathroom with toilet. Fresh sheets and towels are provided once a week.
Rooms
The fully furnished residency space of Sea Art House offers three light and spacious private rooms (two of them have a beautiful sea view). All rooms have two twin beds, private bathrooms, terrace, internet access, under-counter fridge, desk, kettle, access to a fully equipped shared kitchen (hobs, microwave, coffee maker, pots and pans, cutlery, plates, cups, and saucers).
Studio Space
Sea Art House is designed to provide artists with a comfortable space for concentration and experimentation. The studio is appr. 5 m wide x 4 m long and is equipped with easels, tables, high-speed WIFI, good spotlights, and a large variety of tools and equipment. Natural light falls beautifully into the space through the windows. The studio is placed in the middle of a wonderful garden (our pride and hobby :) ).
*Please note that we still do not provide printmaking facilities. We hope to do so by the end of the year. For now, we focus on painting (acrylic, oil, watercolour, gouache, mixed media, etc.), drawing (pencil, ink, charcoal, etc.), sculpture, (clay, mixed media), video, audio and other installations, performance.
Shared Spaces
The open area has two central tables for sharing and meetings and is equipped with a microwave, coffee, tea, barbecue, and hob.
Garden
Our green garden is a place for inspiration and relaxation. We welcome residents to do their art in the garden as they wish. Necessary equipment for this is provided.
How to Get to Sea Art House
Sea Art House is located north of the city of Varna, Bulgaria. Varna Airport is about 60 minutes by car from the residency. Varna train station can be reached in 30 minutes by car, and you can also use public transport. Bus 409 goes directly to the airport (it takes around 50 mins to get there). Bus 9 goes to the train station of Varna.
Nina Pancheva-Kirkova
Founder of Sea Art House
Nina Pancheva-Kirkova works primarily in painting and installations. After completing her art education at the art academy in her home country Bulgaria, she received her MA in Fine Art at the University of Southampton in 2011. In 2015 she completed her Ph.D. at the same university with practice-based research on Contemporary art in Bulgaria and its relations to Socialist Realism. Her works can be seen in private and public collections in the United Kingdom, USA, Bulgaria, Austria, and Italy.
Among the prizes that her works have received are: shortlisted for London Art Biennale 2021, first place at 6th Open Theme Competition, Arts Show International gallery 2022; shortlisted for final exhibition of Lynn Painter-Strainers Prize; shortlisted for final exhibition of the competition ING Discerning Eye, as well as for Sunny Art Prize 2020; first-place prize for painting in the competition of Foundation “Anastas Staykov”, Bulgaria; shortlisted as one of the artists to present Bulgaria in the Henkel and KulturKontakt competition in Vienna, Austria.
More about Nina's art practice you can find on her website - www.ninapancheva.com
