On December 1, an inspiring exhibition dedicated to the fight against domestic violence was opened in the Mining Directorate - Pernik.

The exhibition "Awakening Between the Lines" brings together impactful fine art born from stories of female power and transformed through the subjective gaze of the artist.

In the creation of the paintings, popular Bulgarian illustrators, multidisciplinary creators, and street artists collaborated, united by the desire to give voice to the issue of physical and emotional violence. Each of them received one or more stories, which they subsequently transformed into paintings. In this way, the works of #WomenSurvivors came to life in a new way through yet another medium of creative expression.

The exhibition "Awakening Between the Lines" in Pernik is organized with the financial support of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. The event became possible thanks to the project "Introduction of effective integrated approaches in the field of domestic violence and gender-based violence," funded under the "Justice" Program of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism - 2014-2021.

The exhibition was first showcased in May 2022 at the National Gallery Square 500 in Sofia. It is part of an inspiring series of art projects by EMPROVE, which aims to touch and change those deep layers of consciousness through creativity, as only art can do.

We are extremely happy that after our visits to Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, and other cities, this exhibition is coming to the town of Pernik.

The exhibition was opened by Mrs. Ekaterina Velewa, Chairperson of the PULSE Foundation. Among the official guests at the event were Borislav Ganchev, Chief of the Political Cabinet at the Ministry of Justice, Stefan Krastev, Deputy Mayor of Pernik Municipality, Lyudmil Veselinov, Regional Governor of Pernik, Daniel Jackson, Director of Campaign and Communication at the Embassy of the United Kingdom.

The words of Olga Mineva, a psychologist, creator, and driving force behind the Emprove Foundation, as well as the organizer of the exhibition "Awakening Between the Lines," were exceptionally impactful.

Diana Nikolova and Doroteya Mineva, authors in the exhibition and lecturers from WomenSurvivors, shared about the WomenSurvivors community, the power of community, and the significance of the exhibition. Guests at the opening had the opportunity to hear some of the stories, and against the backdrop of acoustic music performed by the Chamber Orchestra "Orpheus," they immersed themselves in the world of art and the stories of "Awakening Between the Lines."

The event was hosted by Nadia Bright, a stand-up comedian, writer, and activist against violence.

This document has been created with the financial support of the "Justice" program under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021. The entire responsibility for the content of the document lies with the PULSE Foundation, and under no circumstances can it be assumed that this document reflects the official position of the Program Operator or the Donor.

Contract No. BGJUSTICE-4.002-0007-C02