• The "Houses of Bread" network, as part of the International Council for Cultural Centers ( I3C ), demonstrates that bread remains the essential food in the traditions and ceremonies of many cultures around the world.
International Council for Cultural Centers ( I3C ), was founded by Dr. Nadezhda Savova, a cultural anthropologist from Princeton University, during her work as a consultant for UNESCO at its headquarters in Paris. Then, following discussions with ministers of culture from various countries of the world, Nadezhda realized that it would be beneficial to establish a global organization that would bring together all community art associations from around the world, dedicated to social interaction.
Since its registration as a non-profit organization in 2008, I3C has been recognized at various UNESCO events and other UN, EU and transcontinental conferences as the global network supporting the vision of uniting community art centers and their networks around the world.
The story Bread Houses Network begins in 2009 when the founder of I3C, in search of a universal art form that can unite people from various backgrounds and cultures, arrives in Bethlehem. There he realizes that the name of the holy city in Hebrew means "House ( at ) the breads ( solder )". The deep meaning of the city's name brings with it the revelation that bread, the process of obtaining it, could be that universal activity that crosses cultural or linguistic barriers and creates a special inter-human connection.
Peace, simplicity and communion
In the city whose name is meant to unite, but which has instead become a synonym for decades of division and conflict, Nadezhda Savova realized that bread is the only food that all three of Bethlehem's great monotheistic religions can share between them, despite dietary restrictions and differences. And sharing bread with someone is a universal expression involving friendship, widely used by both Christians and Muslims.
With the aim of bringing peace, simplicity and communion around baking bread, the first Bread House was established in 2009 in Bulgaria as an innovative community cultural center, later the model inspired other communities and expanded to more than 15 countries on 5 continents.
In a world full of cultural diversity, but also of social challenges, on May 9, 2009, in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, in the old family home, Dr. Nadezhda Savova launches the ambitious project. In this cultural center, which promotes local biodiversity, bio-agriculture and ecological lifestyle, people of all ages and ethnicities gathered around a traditional wood-fired oven to knead, bake and share bread together. This experience meant more than just making bread; it was a way to stimulate intercultural dialogue and cooperation between different social groups.
Inspiration for communities everywhere
From then until now, Bread Houses Network inspired people and communities to discover and develop their creative potential, cooperating across gender, age, ethnicity and religion through unique and unifying bread-making methods. Also in partnership with Slow Food International, deploys models of taste education, conveying the message that art combined with gastronomy is one of the most effective ways to address in a holistic manner the issue of sustainable development of communities.
"Houses of Bread" operate around the world as cultural, artistic and community centers where members come together to bake bread and create art. As many participants can attest, breadmaking is an art form in itself, often passed down from generation to generation, and while baking, groups can collaborate on diverse artistic projects, from music to sewing, from storytelling to theater, or share their own work with others through poetry readings or exhibitions.
The network continues to grow and anyone inspired by its values and model can join it in order to identify and harness the creative potential of individuals and the communities they are part of to create a colorful canvas of human understanding and solidarity.
sources: Nadezhda Savova's Bread Houses: Bread-Making as Food, Art, Healing, Prayer, and International Community;
Where Women Cook magazine – Nadezhda Savova.
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor of Arta Albă
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