TEAM
Senior Research Associate Angel Yankov
Senior Research Associate Angel Yankov, PhD, is in the field of management and scientific activity for more than 25 years. He is the director of the Regional Ethnographic Museum – Plovdiv since 1998. Angel graduated with his Master’s degree in History and Specialization in Ethnography at Veliko Tarnovo University St. Cyril and St. Methodius. In 2000, he obtained his Doctorate’s degree in Science and Education, with a dissertation on the topic, “Calendar Holidays and Customs among Bulgarian Catholics at the end of the 19th to mid-20th century.” In 2007, VAK under the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria awarded Angel the scientific title of Associated Professor. He is an honorary teacher at the Plovdiv University Paisii Hilendarski, where he gives lectures to bachelor’s and master’s students.
His scientific interests are related to historical ethnography, cultural and historical heritage, holiday calendars, and regional and local manifestations in folk culture. Angel is the author of over 100 scientific studies, articles and communications. He is also an editor and compiler of scientific collections, curator of ethnographic exhibitions, and author and consultant of ethnological maps and documentaries.
Bilyana Popova
Bilyana Popova PhD is the senior assistant at the Regional Ethnographic Museum – Plovdiv since 2005. She manages the Agriculture and Furniture and Interior funds. Bilyana graduated with a Master’s degree in History at Veliko Tarnovo University St. Cyril and St. Methodius in 1996. In 2014, she obtained her Doctorate’s degree in Science and Education at Plovdiv University Paisii Hilendarski, with a dissertation on the topic, “Bulgarian Masters of Folk Musical Instruments.”
Bilyan is engaged in the study of traditional crafts (watchmaking, craftsmen of folk musical instruments), ethnobotany, intangible cultural heritage, and ethnology of the city.
Lora Hristozova
Lora Hristozova is the senior curator since 2014. She manages the Musical Instruments and Ritual Properties fund and the Photo Library and Fine Art. She completed her Master’s degree in History at Veliko Tarnovo University St. Cyril and St. Methodius in 1996 and since then she has been a curator at the museum. Her graduation thesis is, “The Cultural Life of Plovdiv from the End of the 19th to the First Decade of the 20th Century.”
She is interested in the study of spiritual culture, festive rites, ethnology of the city, heritage and memory, digitization of museum funds, and educational programs.
Grozdelina Georgieva-Savatinova
Grozdelina Georgieva-Savatinova is a curator at REM – Plovdiv since 2007. She manages the Crafts fund and is responsible for the temporary exhibitions in the museum. In 1997, she graduated with a Master’s degree in History and Archaeology at the Sofia University of St. Cl. Ohridski, and in 2006, acquired a second Master’s degree in Economics at Veliko Tarnovo University St. Cyril and St. Methodius.
Grozdelina’s main interests are related to the study of traditional material culture, as well as the spiritual aspects of culture and art. She also works on the topic of cultic and religious continuity from antiquity to the present day.
Stanislava Grueva
Stanislava Grueva is a curator, managing the Fabrics and Clothing fund. She is responsible for the Scientific Archive in REM – Plovdiv. She has a Master’s degree in History from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski after defending the thesis “Crisis, Conflicts and Diplomacy in World Politics XVI – XXI Centuries.”
In 2016, Stanislava obtained her Doctorate’s degree in Science and Education at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, with a dissertation on the topic, “Charles de Gaulle’s Vision for a United Europe 1958-1969.”
Stanislava’s main interests are focused on material culture, as well as on cultural heritage and the processes taking place in this sphere.
Petko Todorov
Violeta Nikolova
Violeta Nikolova is the Public Relations and Administration Manager at the museum since 2019.
She graduated from Plovdiv University Paisii Hilendarski with a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Linguistics English with Spanish.
Violeta participates in the preparation and implementation of events and projects and maintains contact with various media in the country, as well as with other cultural institutions. She works to promote museum events and attract diverse audiences to the cultural institution. She is interested in the presence of museums in a digital environment and in innovative approaches to presenting cultural-historical heritage and educational activities in museums.
Svetlana Vasileva
Svetlana Vasileva is a museum pedagogue at REM – Plovdiv since 2019. She graduated from Art Academy Prof. Asen Diamandiev with a Bachelor’s degree concentrating on Pedagogy of Music Education. Her main activities are related to the preparation of educational programs for children, workshops, preparation of working materials, project activities in the museum educational sphere, and activities in a remote environment. Svetlana is interested in cultural heritage and innovative approaches to museum educational activity.