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.
Starlit successes of "The Small Montmartre of Bitola"
EXHIBITION IN STOCKHOLM - CULTURAL CAPITOL OF EUROPE
During its 30 years of existence "The Small Montmartre of Bitola" present its exhibition in many European cities and around the world. One of these presentations will remain written with golden letters in its abundant history. It is the visit of Stockholm cultural capitol of Europe 1998.
"The Small Montmartre of Bitola" attend to the manifestation Stockholm - cultural capitol of Europe on the invitation of the Organizing Board, actually on the suggestion of the Macedonian Embassy in Sweden and the ambassador Tihomir Ilievski.
In Stockholm "The Small Montmartre of Bitola" presents 60 creation of the members of Bitola's manifestation. The exhibition was opened from 30th March till 2nd April and it was accommodated in one of the most representative art halls of the Congress Center of Stockholm. This event was organized as a part of the Conference of Culture of UNESCO headed by the General Director Federico Mayor.
The opening ceremony was the central cultural event on the first day of the Conference of UNESCO. On the ceremony, beside the government delegation headed by the ambassador Tihomir Ilievski and Ministry of Culture Slobodan Unkovski many individuals involved in culture from Macedonia were present: Goran Stefanovski, Dimitrie Buzarovski, Zaneta Vangeli, Zoran Kostov, Lidia Topuzovska and many others. Ambassadors and ministries of culture from more than 20 European countries attend on the opening ceremony. The presence of the Greek ministry Mr. Evangelos Venizelos and Turkey Ministry of Culture Istamahin Talay drew a special attention when they made a toast with a glass of Macedonian wine.
The presentation in this cultural capitol of Europe Stockholm is not only a great success for "The Small Montmartre of Bitola", this should be also understand as a presentation of the cultural history of Bitola and Republic of Macedonia.