In 2025, the 80th anniversary of the birth of the “heavenly wanderer” Ivaylo Balabanov will be celebrated. On this occasion, the Civic Association “Rhodopsko Utro”, the magazine for society, culture and literature “Yuzhno Utro” and the family of Ivaylo Balabanov are organizing a donation campaign to collect funds and pay a worthy tribute to his memory.
Ivaylo Balabanov, whom the residents of Haskovo and Kardzhali regions have accepted as the Rhodope knight of the poetic word, is one of those artists who are born once every 100 years. His creativity managed to exceed the borders of our native land and reached not only the whole of Bulgaria, but also Europe. We will not list the awards in the country and abroad, which testify to the talent of the “heavenly nomad”, but we cannot help but mention that in the last months of his earthly journey, he was awarded the Order of “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” – the highest recognition for achievements in the field of Bulgarian culture. As one of our greatest contemporary poets, he deserves to take his rightful place in the recent history of Bulgaria. In this line of thought, the Civic Association “Rhodope Morning” and the magazine for society, culture and literature “Juzhno Utro”, which are the heart and soul of young and established poets and writers from the Eastern Rhodopes, come up with a proposal for the implementation of the following initiatives:
“Bulgarian Writer” Publishing House of the Union of Bulgarian Writers, of which Ivaylo Balabanov was a member, to republish his two-volume collection “Songs for Old Wine” (2003) in such a circulation that it reaches every school, library and community center in the territory of Republic of Bulgaria and to the Bulgarian communities in Europe and around the world.
As one of our greatest contemporary poets, Ivaylo Balabanov should be included in textbooks on Bulgarian language and literature. Younger generations deserve to be touched by the wisdom and patriotism emanating from his work.
Streets in the municipality of Ivaylovgrad, municipality of Svilengrad and municipality of Kardjali, which declared Ivaylo Balabanov an honorary citizen during his lifetime, should bear his name.
A plaque in memory of Ivaylo Balabanov to be placed in front of his native house in the village of Huhla, municipality of Ivaylovgrad.
A bench with the face of Ivaylo Balabanov and one of his famous poems should be placed in the center of the village of Huhla, Ivaylovgrad municipality, in front of the monument to those who died for the freedom and independence of Bulgaria.
Civic Association “Rhodopsko Utro” and magazine “Southern Morning” expect financial support from local and national institutions, non-governmental organizations, relatives, friends, colleagues and admirers of Ivaylo Balabanov. The funds will be used to implement the above initiatives.
United Bulgarian Bank AD, Ivaylovgrad branch
Holder: Atanas Balabanov (son of Ivaylo Balabanov)
IBAN: BG72UBBS80021011030350
BIC: UBBSBGSF
Basis: Donation
Tags: Civic association organizes donation campaign years Ivaylo Balabanov
