SOIL DNA

SOIL DNA: SOil Information and Literacy through contemporary DaNce and Awareness

Location of activities and scope

Sofia, Bulgaria

Bulgaria – Festival animation

 

Executive Summary

This project merges science and the arts to create an innovative, interdisciplinary performance focused on soil awareness. By blending storytelling, music, video, and contemporary dance, it aims to foster emotional, intellectual, and kinetic engagement with soil’s ecological and cultural importance. The project targets youth (14–29), empowering them as soil ambassadors through creative, embodied learning, while also engaging youth workers to ensure long-term impact. The resulting performance and reusable video tool will directly involve at least 50 participants and reach an audience of over 800. The project promotes environmental responsibility, accessibility, and inclusion. As a festival animation, it invites the wider public to connect with soil issues and supports the EU Soil Mission by encouraging sustainable behavioral change and active citizenship.

Motivation Statement

Soil, though not a direct focus of our work at SDA, is deeply connected to everything we do – urban farming, climate action, biodiversity, food, and cultural heritage. It’s a silent foundation beneath our cities and communities yet often overlooked – a blind spot. We are active in cultural policy, innovation, regeneration, citizen science, and social justice, and we see the urgent need to integrate soil into these agendas. Soil is pride and legacy – from Homer’s mention of Thrace’s richness to Bulgaria’s incredible diversity: 24 of Europe’s 32 soil groups are found here. But this treasure is under threat – 40,000 dka of arable land are lost yearly to construction, and another 300,000 to mining. Many impacts are irreversible. We must urgently bring soil to the center of public attention and apply soil science through interdisciplinary, art-science approaches. Soil is not just ground – it is ground for action.

Sub-project objectives

• Creating an artistic performance, blending scientific knowledge, storytelling, music, video and contemporary dance.
• Enhancing public awareness of soil significance in its natural and cultural context and encourage activism.
• Creating and disseminating a reusable material.

Challenges and how they will be addressed

One key challenge is translating complex soil science into accessible, engaging content for young audiences without oversimplifying. We will address this through close collaboration with soil scientists and professional science communicators, ensuring accuracy while using creative, embodied storytelling to enhance understanding.

Another challenge is sustaining youth engagement beyond a one-time performance. To mitigate this, we will develop a replication material and involve youth workers who can embed soil literacy into long-term educational practice.

Reaching diverse and underrepresented groups may also present barriers. Building on SDA’s and Helios’ inclusion expertise, we will ensure accessibility (sign language, inclusive outreach, physical access) and actively involve marginalized communities.

Finally, coordinating interdisciplinary partners requires strong management; this will be ensured through clear timelines, defined roles, and regular coordination meetings.

Expected outcomes

The project will significantly increase soil literacy and awareness by directly engaging 50 young people in workshops and production, providing them with hands-on learning and creative involvement. A wider audience of 800 will experience a powerful performance that combines scientific facts with artistic expression to highlight the importance of soils, the threats they face, and the urgent need for action. The project will embed soil literacy into public consciousness and inspiring communities to adopt more sustainable behaviours, such as composting, reducing soil degradation, and supporting regenerative agriculture. The project will enhance the visibility of the Soil Mission. Finally, the project will encourage artists to venture into science domains with multi-layered interdisciplinary projects.

Meet the Project Team

Sofia Development Association

Sofia Development Association (SDA) is a non-profit organisation in public benefit, founded by a decision of the Sofia Municipal Council in 2010. It serves as a resource centre for research, analysis, innovation and experimentation and promotes dialogue and cooperation between civil society, business, academic institutions and Sofia Municipality. SDA contributes to urban policy development, strategic planning, public education and outreach and manages local and European projects in areas such as sustainable development, entrepreneurship, culture, digital transformation and environmental solutions.

Contact – Sevdalina Voynova.

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Sofia Development Association

Helios – Sofia

Helios-Sofia a cultural nonprofit association focused on supporting and developing contemporary dance, choreography, and the arts. It functions primarily as an organiser and facilitator of artistic programmes, including a creative laboratory for young choreographers. The association aims to provide knowledge, enhance artistic skills, and strengthen the cultural sector, particularly for free-lance artists and cultural operators, as part of its broader mission to promote cultural activity, artistic education, and creative exchange locally and internationally.

Contact – Albena Nacheva

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