“Creative Heritage in the Making” – The Case of the Creative Industries District Kapana in Plovdiv

Plovdiv was the first Bulgarian city to become the European Capital of Culture for 2019. One of the leading projects in this campaign was focused on the renovation of Kapana (“The Trap”) – a historical district in the urban center. The project for upgrading Kapana was one of the first activities in the implementation of Plovdiv's candidacy: Kapana - a creative industries district was a long-term public policy initiative that attracted audiences and representatives of creative industries from Plovdiv, the country and abroad, providing a favorable and stimulating environment. The main focus of research is on the concept of “creative industries,” which has been instrumental in developing the field of arts and crafts in the district, contributing to the festivalization of culture. Based on a material gleened from long-term fieldwork, the paper presents contemporary case studies of folk arts and craft designs recently found in the territory of Kapana (2018–2019). Two examples of handicraft heritage are presented in greater detail: Adriana & Robert Atelier founded in 1995 as a family business, producing 100% leather hand-embroidered women's belts with metal buckles [chaprazi/pafti], men's belts, leather bags and other accessories with traditional folk ornaments. The second case explores the modern application of carpentry in the context of antique furniture restoration and the reproduction of antiques.