BeleneULG organization and work IAP dynamics Roadmap Articulation with Kairós transnational work plan IAP main orientation Small scale actions Risk assessment

Kairós

Kairós is an URBACT network on Cultural Heritage as a driver for sustainable urban development and regeneration. The ambition is to roll out an innova- tive policy framework maximizing the integrated approach, able to respond to different local needs and circumstances. To meet this challenge, the Kairós model pursues the proper assemblage of five key dimensions - Space, Economy, Social Cohesion, Attractiveness and Governance.

Kairós is working at two levels. Locally, network cities will co-produce an Integrated Action Plan (IAP), activating inter-departmental coordination and stakeholder mobilisation. Internationally, a learning and exchange itinerary has been set up, including baseline study, webinar series, thematic workshops, key study visits and peer-reviews. This work plan is running from May 2020 to August 2022.

1 IAP Roadmap Belene

Activating both cultural and natural heritage as drivers for growth, with a focus on the development of the river waterfront

2 Introduction

Тhe Belene Kairós project is aimed at еstablishing a common approach to all heritage sites along the Danube river bank and the abandoned municipal properties between and around them, through the creation of a Danube Park, which will connect the natural, historical, cultural and business assets into a place for recreation, tourism, attractions and entertainment.

Belene`s local roadmap for the Kairos project allow us to know what we have to do, step by step to reach our final goal of getting a relevant Integrated Action Plan, with the involvement of a local group of stakeholders – the URBACT Local Group [ULG].

3 Belene IAP Roadmap ULG organization and work dynamics Articulation with Kairós Belene transnational IAP Roadmap work plan

IAP Risk main assessment orientation

Small scale actions ULG organization and work dynamics Membership Belene is a small municipality in and therefore we had the chance to appoint key people for the town and the whole municipality in a multi-stakeholder process.

Vanya Karleva - Center of Community Support Stela Kostova - Kinder garden Mechta ElkaArnaudova - Kinder garden Zname na mira AneliyaBeeva-Angelova - Kultural Center HristoBotev 1982 Lyudmila Lazarova - Kultural Center Izgrev 1927 – v. Kulina VodA AlbenaLyubenova - Kultural Center Razvitie 1921 – v. Tatari Emil Evlogiev - Kultural Center Napredyk 1903 - v. Petokladentsi Natasha Georgieva - Kultural Center Videlina 1897 – v. Dekov RositsaPetrova - Kultural center Vyzrajdane 1924 – v. Byala voda Anna Nestorova - Ethno-center Danube Foundation Stela Bozhinova - Nature Park Persina Aneliya Genova - High school D. Debelyanov ElkaDuleva – Kunova - Primary school Vasil Levski Miroslav Razhgev - Hotel-restaurant Prestige Darina Dobrancheva - Center of Social Rehabilitation and Integration Mihail Mihaylov - Belene Island Foundation Malina Pangestrova - Local action group Belene-Nikopol [LEADER Initiative] DimitrinaProdanova - Local action group “Belene-Nikopol [LEADER Initiative] Alexander Mirchev - IRUT Bulgaria – Institute for Sustainable Development of

A steering group has been established including the following members: Svetlana Paskova - European Programmes Dept. Municipality of Belene, Project manager Krasimira Petrova - European Programmes Dept. Municipality of Belene, Local coordinator Petya Kyurcheva - Financial and accounting activities Dept. Municipality of Belene, Finance manager Martina Vakinova - Belene Municipal Council, ULG coordinator Alexander Mirchev - IRUT Bulgaria [Institute for Sustainable Development of Тourism], ULG main Facilitator

The steering group will keep all ULG members punctually informed on the developments of Kairós at network level, especially in regard to the transnational thematic workshops that could be also attended by some ULG members according to their specific expertise.

5 Belene IAP Roadmap ULG organization and work dynamics

Third party involvement

We aim to involve officers from the regional administration with experience in tourism and heritage, together with business and professionals in a number of related fields, such as hospitality sector, cultural heritage management, architecture and urban planning, etc.

Theme-focused ULG meetings will count on theme experts (social cohesion, attractiveness, economy, urban planning) who will highlight problems and possible solutions.

Role of elected representatives

The Mayor, Deputy Mayors and the Counsellors from Belene Municipal Council are always invited to ULG`s meetings. In this way, when decisions are made, we get all the points of views, the citizens and the authorities. Both talk freely for what could be done for improving and make the most of our heritage values.

In particular, Milen Dulev [Mayor of Belene], PetarAngelov [Deputy Mayor], MalinaEshekova [Deputy Mayor] and Bistra Pavlovska [Chairman of the Municipal Council].

Creating time and space to work and discuss together will allow us to conceive better ideas and ways to make our hometown a more attractive place both for residents and visitors and to thereby improve the social-economic conditions of its citizens.

6 Belene IAP Roadmap ULG organization and work dynamics

Motivation and means of legitimation

During Kairós Phase 2, ten ULG meetings are planned to held. • Five of them will be theme-focused: Social Cohesion, Attractiveness, Economy, Space and Governance. Meetings will take place two weeks after Kairós Тransnational Thematic Workshops. • Three meetings will be dedicated to planning, organizing and reporting on the results of the Small Scale Actions. • One meeting will be dedicated to the review of the IAP first draft • One meeting will be dedicated to the review of the IAP final draft.

The idea is to keep the meetings short – about two hours - helping the ULG members to stay concentrated, active and to get the best of their ideas. At some point of, splitting into small groups will be helpful to get quality discussion.

After ULG meetings, the steering group will report on the work progress and organize next steps. Before ULG meetings, the ULG coordinator sends the invitation, agenda and list of topics to discuss about.

Meetings will start with the steering group reporting on the work progress. The steering group will post in Facebook regularly on the activity carried out by the ULG.

7 Belene IAP Roadmap ULG organization and work dynamics Articulation with Kairós Belene transnational IAP Roadmap work plan

IAP Risk main assessment orientation

Small scale actions Articulation with Kairós transnational work plan 2020 SEP-OCT May Ad-hoc Online Online URBACT Kairós IAP exchanges Re-starting meeting e-University thematic ROADMAP Malbork meeting IAP roadmaps warm-ups Roskilde

2021 MAR APR JUN SEP NOV

TW Space TW Economy TW Attractiveness TW Social cohesion IAP Draft IAP PRW Heraklion Roskilde Malbork Ukmergé PRELIMINARY Mid-term Reflection Key Study Visit Key Study Visit Vilnius DRAFT Meeting Athens Cesena Key Study Visit Bologna 2022 MAR August Ad-hoc online IAP Final IAP Meeting IAP URBACT exchanges with LE on FINAL Mula FINAL City the IAP drafts DRAFT VERSION Festival

9 Belene IAP Roadmap Articulation with Kairós transnational work plan

The schedule of Belene´s ULG meetings is closely synchronized in time and themes with the Kairós work plan at network level.

Belene ULG has English-speaking members. They are active and full of ideas and will be invited to participate in Kairós transnational events as appropriate.

Participants from Belene in Kairós transnational activities will be asked to present a report of the main outcomes taken from those events, in the perspective of Belene´s action plan. This report will be published on the Facebook page and presented at the next ULG meeting.

Information about ULG and transnational activities will be published on the Belene Municipality website and on the local newspaper Danube News.

10 Belene IAP Roadmap ULG organization and work dynamics Articulation with Kairós Belene transnational IAP Roadmap work plan

IAP Risk main assessment orientation

Small scale actions IAP main orientation

Target area and main challenge

We will focus on the heritage sites along the Danube river bank, having the Roman castle Dimum and the Memorial Park of the concentration camp as landmarks.

Main challenge is to connect the heritage sites with the Prestige hotel complex, the pier with fishing and tourist boats, the visitor center of and the abandoned municipal properties in between, by creating a Danube Park that will articulate the natural, historical, cultural and business assets in a place for recreation, tourism, attractions and entertainment.

In this view, we are considering branding our IAP as “Follow your Dreams by the Riverside”

IAP progress October 2021 First draft of the IAP to be submitted to Kairós network for peer-review. Context

March 2022 Problems Vision Final draft to be presented at the Kairóa final IAP meeting in Mula. Draft IAP May 2022 Final version of the IAP. Ideas Actions Refine

12 Belene IAP Roadmap ULG organization and work dynamics Articulation with Kairós Belene transnational IAP Roadmap work plan

IAP Risk main assessment orientation

Small scale actions Small scale actions

Small scale actions

We are addressing the small scale actions as a way to experiment new forms of civic engagement and demonstrate that implementation is affordable.

We will focus on a specific part of the target area - the beach connecting the Roman castle Dimum and Hotel Prestige. Our initial brainstorming resulted in the following ideas:

• Cleaning the place from waste and unnecessary vegetation. • Closing the access point for motor vehicles, placing prohibitive and informational signs. • Open consultation on how the place should look like. • Painting the retaining wall with the help of local artists and volunteers.

The ULG steering group will organize two open days in front of the Belene Municipality building. On these events, ULG members will hand out brochures and explain the project aim. Citizens will be encouraged to express their opinions and make suggestions.

14 Belene IAP Roadmap ULG organization and work dynamics Articulation with Kairós Belene transnational IAP Roadmap work plan

IAP Risk main assessment orientation

Small scale actions Risk assessment

Risks and mitigating measures

Lack of interest and motivation from the appointed ULG members. Medium probability, high impact. • A key role of the ULG steering group is to involve only motivated members. All ULG members will be assigned personal tasks and responsibilities.

Lack of citizen support and participation. Medium probability, high impact. • Citizen participation is extremely relevant for a successful IAP in Belene. The steering group will make a conscious effort to disseminate all ULG activities through social media, Municipality's website and newspaper and the Open Days.

Insufficient financing of the actions considered at Belene´s IAP. High probability, high impact. • The implementation of the Belene IAP must have the support of the whole community, not only of the municipal administration. In addition to the necessary mobilization of national and European funds, private investors must be attracted likewise.

16 Belene IAP Roadmap Belene IAP Roadmap