IDEOLOGISTS & CREATORS
Mr. Kosta Hadzi Antonovski
The ideological creator of "The Small Montmartre of Bitola", Mr. Kosta Hadzi Antonovski this year marks his two important jubilees: 76 year of his life and 55 years career as a painting artist and art pedagogue educator.
Born in Bitola on 22. 05. 1935, he graduated at School of Applied Arts in a class of the most famous Macedonian fine arts artists Borko Lazeski and Lazar Lichenoski. Since 1981 he is the manager of the Children Art Studio St. Cyril and Methody - Bitola. Although since 2001 Mr. Kosta went on a deserved rest, the retirement, he continue to work with the members of the Studio and at the same time he continue to organize the festival The Small Montmartre of Bitola. These and many more obligations after his retirement he performed voluntary.
Kosta Hadzi Antonovski has given a precious contribution in the field of children education and artistic creation of Macedonian culture. He is an exceptional and very genuine person, a great enthusiast of the art, idealist but also a practitioner. At the same time he is a born pedagogue, someone with untold love for the children.
For his lasting and fruitful wirk, Kosta Hadzi Antonovski has been awarded with great number of domestic and international appreciation. He is a winner of the Ministry of Education of R. Macedonia "St.Climent award", twice he is awarded by the highest recognition of the city of Bitola, the award of "4th of November" (once for the art education and the second time for a life achivment award). For his exceptional training work he has been procalimed as a "distinguished pedagogue of Yugoslavia"…He was granted with the highest recognition - Medal of Honor of the City of Paris (France) as well as the award of the Festival Montmartre of Europe - Paris for the great contribution given by The Small Monmartre of Bitola for the multimedia festival Montmartre of Europe held in Paris. Order of Republic of France for culture,Nehru Award for culture and award by Television “Orbis” - Bitola for lifetime achievment.
For the restless art pedagogue - educator Kosta Hadzi Antonovski it is of great success that "The Small Montmartre of Bitola" exists for 30 years.
PAINTINGS OF PEACE- NATO AWARD
Among the most famous successes of the Studio encountered is the winning of the first prize on the international competition "For safer world" organized by NATO Alliance in Prague (Czech Republic). The award was granted to Stefan Popovski a 14 years-old boy, member of the Studio.
This highly recognition, the first prize by NATO wad given to Stefan Popovski, who was accompanied by his mentor Kosta Hadzi Antonovski on 29th November 2003 on the special ceremony in the Office of the President of Republic of Macedonia Mr. Boris Trajkovski. In a presence of a large number of distinguished guests the award was granted to Stefan by the Lord George Robertson General Secretary of NATO and Mr. Boris Trajkovski - President of Republic of Macedonia at that time.
The award was consist of a special diploma, signed by Robertson and a box full with presents, but also the Studio had a special gift for the Lord a master-piece from the "pearl" collection. On the Summit of NATO in Riga the Studio won 8 awards.