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.
THE ART CARAVANS - A FESTIVE FOR THE LOCAL INHABITANTS
The art caravans of "The Small Montmartre of Bitola" for the first time were organized in 1986. This additional manifestation was accepted with great pleasure as from the participants also from the art pedagogues. This art caravan lasts for one day, it is accommodated in many towns and villages, the participants work on traditional theme "The Old Macedonian Architecture".
The very first art caravan took place in Bukovo, the village near Bitola in 1986. It is worth to emphasize that this was a great day, a true festive for the local inhabitants of Bukovo. The local inhabitants accommodated the participants in Bukovo by the old traditional way with bread and salt. The village was prepared for this event: the streets were cleaned, the balconies were embellished with blankets and rugs, and the gates were embellished with smelly spring flowers. After the participants and pedagogues finished their work they were invited to have a lunch with Bukovo inhabitants. After the lunch, at the center of the village of Bukovo there was a special performance for their dear guests. They performed songs and dances from all parts of Yugoslavia. Many sincere friendships were born that day in Bukovo among young Bukovo fellows and caravan participants, which lasts till the present day.
There were so many caravans after that. Several times the participants went to work in the town known as the pearl of Macedonia, the museum-town and the town of the Saint Clement and that is Ohrid. Few times the participants worked and visited the picturesque and the highest town on the Balkan - Krushevo, the very place where the Republic of Krushevo was found the very first republic established on Balkan. History lessons and classes were organized in front of the most famous monuments of this town Mechkin Kamen and the monument of "Ilinden", the pupils had their opportunity to learn about some interesting details of tragic and blood shedding history of Macedonian people. Once this art caravan of "The Small Montmartre of Bitola" accommodated to Prilep- the town of tobacco. A cordially reception to the participants was organized in this town.
Blitz-exhibitions were organized in each town where those caravans were accommodated presenting the art works made during the work of caravan. This is a true attraction as for the local inhabitants as well as for the numerous domestic and foreign tourists.