Since 2020, the Rivers of Sofia initiative, led by The Collective Foundation, has aimed to restore the artificial riverbeds of the Perlovska and Vladayska Rivers – once hidden and neglected – to become public parks and cultural venues. These waterways flow through the heart of Sofia but were previously inaccessible for over 80 years. The project now reconnects citizens with their rivers, fostering nature, architecture, and cultural engagement in urban spaces.
Building Community Through Culture
The annual Rivers of Sofia Festival brings the riverbanks to life with events such as concerts, art installations, pop-up structures, summer cinema, sports, and children’s programming—free and outdoors. These temporary activations open neglected urban areas for diverse social groups and spark civic dialogue about the city’s waterways.
Civic-Led Urban Transformation
The Collective Foundation facilitates working groups of citizens, designers, public officials, and architects. Together they develop ideas for permanent transformations—from low-impact wooden bridges to ecological urban furniture and accessible heritage walks. In 2022, the initiative won the Europa Nostra Grand Prix for social cohesion and well-being.
Environmental & Well-Being Goals
Beyond cultural programming, the initiative supports urban biodiversity and resilience. Through green corridors alongside rivers, it aims to manage stormwater better and create public nature spaces. The project also contributes to Sofia’s broader environment strategy, which includes improving green space, cycling paths, and resilience to climate change.
Scaling the Rivers Initiative Across Bulgaria
Inspired by Sofia, the Rivers of The City network now includes other Bulgarian cities like Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, and Stara Zagora. The approach is replicable: engage youth in visionary design and build temporary public interventions to reclaim neglected riverside zones.
Why It Matters
- Reconnects citizens to urban nature, making previously off-limits spaces accessible.
- Fosters civic pride and engagement, using culture as a catalyst for urban memory.
- Promotes biodiversity and climate adaptations, building ecological value within dense city cores.
- Establishes a scalable model for transformation via low-cost, participatory design and public events.
In Summary
The Rivers of Sofia initiative is more than an urban festival—it is a long-term vision of revitalizing Sofia’s riverbeds into thriving cultural and green assets. By combining community-driven design, ecological strategy, and arts-based interventions, it offers a new model for cities reclaiming post-industrial landscapes and reconnecting residents with nature.
You can read about their upcoming event here.