Our project is a multidisciplinary intervention situated along the Yantra River in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria – a city marked by rich cultural layers and complex social intersections. Through the creative activation of an underused riverside area, we aim to transform this urban void into a vibrant, interactive zone that celebrates ecological awareness, cultural dialogue, and social inclusion.

This public art installation brings together architecture, sound, visual projections, photography, and community engagement to shape a temporary cultural space. Constructed from natural and recycled materials, the riverside stage, colorful textile panels, and projection screen serve as the backdrop for a unique audiovisual experience. Central to the installation is a 360° virtual reality documentation of the project, capturing the process, interactions, and energy of the community transformation.

What makes this work powerful is not just its artistic design, but the social process behind it: local youth and underrepresented groups – particularly the Roma community and minority populations – were involved in co-creating the installation, mentored by our collective and supported by the cultural organization TAM. The inclusion of children through an open photography workshop resulted in a temporary exhibition titled Rivers of People, portraying the human–nature connection through their eyes.

At Speculum Artium 2025, we will present the VR installation of the entire event. Viewers, equipped with VR headsets, will immerse themselves in the transformation of the riverbank – feeling the pulse of people building, listening to voices of the community, and witnessing how ecology, technology, and art converge into a shared cause. The artistic director will host a short talk accompanying the experience, titled Socializing the Riverfront through Art and Technology.

Connecting digital technology with art and community. Our work demonstrates how art becomes not just a visual spectacle, but a participatory tool for inclusion and awareness – a lens through which technology narrates stories of connection and care.