University of Toronto · Academic Electronic Journal in Slavic Studies

CREATION OF AMERICAN RESEARCH CENTER IN SOFIA

Bulgarian studies have a new center of activity.

The American Research Center in Sofia (ARCS) was established in 2004 as an organization dedicated to facilitating academic research in Bulgaria for North American scholars and collaboration between scholars from North America and countries in Southeast Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro). Cornell University is the host institution of ARCS in the United States. ARCS is registered in the United States as a not-for-profit corporation and in Bulgaria as a non-profit foundation. ARCS is exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are deductible from Federal income tax.

ARCS is a Member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria (www.amcham.bg) and a Developing Member of the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (http:/www.caorc.org).

Specific goals:

Research in the humanities and social sciences (in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, art history, epigraphy, history, philology, among others), from prehistory through the modern age.

Research on the modern languages of Southeast Europe, in the recognition that language is essential to a full and unrefracted understanding of culture. This research will promote a better appreciation of the region's literature, recent history, and civilization and should provide a helpful stimulus to the development of Bulgarian and Southeast European studies in American universities, where relatively few programs in this field exist. Classes in the modern Balkan languages will complement linguistic research at the Center.

Close communication with the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and the American Research Institute in Turkey. This should enable scholars to avail themselves more fully of the possibilities for comparative study of antiquity in Southeast Europe.

Close contact with other members of the Council of American Overseas Research Centers, and especially with American institutions dedicated to research in the humanities and social sciences in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, thus taking advantage of a vast scholarly network.

Archaeological tours of Bulgarian antiquities for students and North American teachers. ARCS will facilitate communication between North American, Bulgarian, and other archaeologists in the region and help promote joint excavations.

Hosting of lectures, seminars, conferences and other cultural events.

MEMBERSHIP

ARCS has both institutional members and individual members at large. The annual fee for both categories is $200. Those contributing more than $200 per year belong to the category of sponsors. Information on how to join ARCS can be obtained from Professor Kevin Clinton at kmc1@cornell.edu.

Member Institutions:
College of William and Mary
Franklin and Marshall College
Duke University
Cornell University
Bryn Mawr College
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Virginia Tech
Harvard University
Rice University
The Johns Hopkins University
University of North Carolina, Asheville
Vassar College
Stanford University
Rutgers University
University of California, Berkeley
Gettysburg College
Brown University
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
University of Toronto
University of Georgia
New York University
University of Cincinnati
University of South Florida
University of Pittsburgh
American University in Bulgaria
University of Chicago
University of Washington
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Emory University
Villa I Tatti, The Harvard Center for the Study of the Italian Renaissance in Florence
Cotsen Institute of Archaeology At UCLA
Grinnell College
University of Minnesota
Columbia University

Member at Large
Dr. Gregory Myers, Port Moody, British Columbia

CURRENT PROJECTS

2007-2008 Academic Program

For the academic year 2007-2008, the American Research Center in Sofia plans to offer three programs with accompanying fellowships in cooperation with various Bulgarian educational institutions: a 9-month program for the period September-May; a fall semester program for the period

September-November; and a spring semester program for the period February-April. ARCS will host the programs' lectures and seminars, provide logistical support, organize related trips, and facilitate opportunities for taking Bulgarian-language classes and access to local libraries, museums, and other educational institutions.

1. ARCS 2007-2008 Academic Year (9-Month) Program

Those interested in the 9-month program (only for graduate students) will devote one semester of their choice to independent research and travel, and participate either in the ARCS Fall Semester or Spring Semester program (described below).

2. ARCS Fall Semester 2007 Program

This program is intended for graduate and advanced undergraduate students interested in the history, material culture, and civilization of Bulgaria and the Balkan region. The term of the program is from the first Monday of September through the last Saturday of November. The program consists of lectures, seminars and trips relating to the period from antiquity to the present day. Although most scholars specialize in one historical period, we believe that for students of Bulgarian and Balkan history it will be very helpful to get a diachronic overview from local experts. The lectures and seminars will take place over the course of three weeks on Monday through Wednesday mornings at the Sofia quarters of ARCS, while the trips will occupy the rest of each week. The afternoons after the lectures and seminars will be free for research and optional language classes. The participants are expected to attend the entire program. They will choose a topic on which they will prepare an oral presentation at the end of first half of the program. During the second half of their stay, participants are expected to engage in independent research dedicated to their special fields and/or dissertation topics. The goal of the program is to engage the participants with eminent local scholars in the study of Bulgarian (and to a certain extent, Balkan) history and civilization in their continuity and facilitate specialized research in local institutions.

3. ARCS Spring Semester 2008 Program

This program is intended for graduate and advanced undergraduate students interested in religious studies and Orthodox Christian civilization, art, architecture, and music. The term of the program is from the first Monday of February to the last Saturday of April. The first half of the program will consist of lectures and seminars given by local experts at the Sofia quarters of ARCS. The lectures and seminars will provide an overview of Orthodox Christianity, with a special emphasis on the study of Orthodox Christian art, architecture, and music. The lectures and seminars will take place every morning for three weeks. The afternoons after the lectures and seminars will be free for research and optional language classes. The participants are expected to attend the entire program. They will choose a topic on which they will prepare an oral presentation at the end of first half of the program. The second half of the program will include independent research in local libraries and trips to famous Bulgarian monasteries and churches (many of which are part of the world's cultural heritage).

ARCS is engaged in a number of other projects, including the establishment of a research library with online and printed collections of books and periodicals, support of scholars for research and publications, and sponsoring cultural events.

Your suggestions and contributions are highly appreciated. If you wish to learn more about these and other projects, please e-mail or call:

Professor Kevin Clinton, Director, ARCS

42A Maria Luiza Blvd., 1202 Sofia, Bulgaria

Telephone: +359-2-983-4242,

e-mail: kmc1@cornell.edu

Web: http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/arcs

©TSQ

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