The United Buddy Bears in Sofia
21st Exhibtion
From 3rd April until 13th May 2011, 120 United Buddy Bears visited the Bulgarian capital Sofia in the context of the German Weeks in Bulgaria.
Every day around the clock, the 2m tall bear sculptures that promote tolerance and international understanding worldwide were presented in the centre of town, on Sveta Nedelya (Place of the holy Nedelya) Square. The entrance to the exhibition was free of charge.
The exhibition was jointly organised with the German Embassy and the municipality in Sofia.
Impressions of the Exhibition
Festive Opening Event
On 3rd April 2011, Yordanka Fandakova (Mayor of Sofia), Matthias Höpfner (German Ambassador) and Klio Karadim (the artist who created the Bulgarian bear) launched the exhibition during a festive opening ceremony – together with Eva and Klaus Herlitz (the initiators oft he project).
Within the circle of United Buddy Bears, the guests enjoyed the opening ceremony in bright sunshine, with folklore, dance and music. The absolute highlight among all the performances on stage was the presentation of Bulgaria’s contribution to this year’s Eurovision Song Contest by Poli Genova.
Photo Competition
United Buddy Bears and visitBerlin.de award prize for best exhibition photo
We are looking for the greatest Buddy Bear fan of all times: United Buddy Bears and visitBerlin.de are joint organisers of the photo competition accompanying the current United Buddy Bears exhibition in Sofia. Win a flight for two from Sofia to the German capital with the most original photo of the exhibition on Sveta Nedelya. The winners or the second and third prize receive a Buddy Bear miniature each.
Participation is very easy: Participants (18 years old or over at the time of entry) can send their photos stating their name and complete postal address to photo(at)buddy-bear.com until 09th May 2011. We will decide on the winners on 13th May 2011. The 1st prize is a trip for two from Sofia to Berlin, including the flight. The lucky winners can look forward to a nice hotel in the heart of Berlin and unlimited mobility on public transport is guaranteed with two Berlin WelcomeCards. The closing date of the competition is Monday 09th May 2011 at 18:00.
Eligibility requirements: With the participation in the photo competition, the participant transfers unlimited and exclusive rights of use and exploitation of the submitted photo - in particular the publication rights - to the Buddy Bär Berlin GmbH free of charge.
The participant pledges that he / she personally took the photo and is thus the sole holder of all rights. In addition, the participant pledges that no third-party rights - in particular personal rights of people who may be displayed in the photo - are infringed upon or affected by the participant’s rights. The participant exempts the Buddy Bär Berlin GmbH from all third-party claims, objections and demands. Any recourse to courts of law is excluded.
Paying out the prize in cash is not possible.
Photos of the Competition
Partners & Sponsors
The exhibition owes its origin and the possibility to be visited all over the world completely free of charge to the committed work of many institutions, organisations, administrative bodies, companies and individuals.
Special and hearty thanks go to DB Schenker Bulgaria, who supports the logistics as well as the set-up and the dismantling of the exhibition in Sofia.
