Dates: 15th and 19th of September 2025
Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
Format: On-site
NBU announces a five day intensive jewellery workshop that invites students to explore glass as both a medium and metaphor of memory. Under the guidance of Turkish artist Omur Duruerk, participants will develop their own artistic language through working with transparent, molten, and coloured forms.
The course will balance technical learning with poetic exploration, offering a space for material experimentation, narrative construction, and bodily awareness through wearable art. Participants will complete the course with one finished jewellery piece and a reflective essay on its personal and conceptual meaning.
Course schedule:
- Day 1 – 2: – Introduction to glass as a medium in contemporary art; practical exercises in shaping and combining elements.
- Day 3 – 4: – Concept development, experimentation, and composition of final piece.
- Day 5: – Finalisation, documentation, and group reflection.
Teaching methods include: studio work, individual mentoring, collective critique, and reflective writing.
The course will be conducted in daily sessions from 10:00 until 17:00 with the mornings dedicated to practical studio-based work and the afternoons to conceptual reflection, individual mentoring, and peer feedback.
Learning outcomes:
The students will gain
- Technical knowledge as an introduction to jewellery-making with glass;
- Ability to connect personal and cultural narratives with material form;
- Skills in artistic reflection and visual storytelling;
- Deeper understanding of material ethics and embodied art practice;
- Experience working in an international artistic environment.
On successful completion, the course will award 3 ECTS.
Who can apply:
We are looking for 3 Bachelor and Master degree students who have experience in visual arts or design practice. Prior work with glass is considered an advantage but not a requirement.
Students who have previously taken part in hands-on workshops or artistic residencies will be given preference.
Place: New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Application deadline: 30th of July 2025
How to apply:
To apply, candidates must submit:
- A short motivation letter and CV in English.
- A portfolio (up to 5 works) or design sketches may be included to support the application but are not required.
Applications must be sent to: studio@mohika.bg (Assist. Prof. Monika Naydenova, Phd) no later than the 30th of July 2025.
To ensure successful delivery, please cc your application also to snikolova@nbu.bg (Slavena Nikolova).
Selection will be based on artistic interest, motivation, and previous experience in creative workshops or visual practice.
All applicants will receive a confirmation email regarding the selection results on August 6, 2025, so they can plan their travel accordingly.
Funding:
ERUA students can receive travel and accommodation funding from their home universities. Please contact your local coordinators.
