The Beginning

Museum education is a specialized field with a clear mission: to develop and strengthen the educational role of informal spaces and institutions such as museums and galleries. It aims to promote public understanding and engagement with the arts and includes a variety of initiatives and programs for visitors of all ages.
The World Museum Education was established at the beginning of the 20th century. In Bulgaria, it was only in the 2000s that its foundations were laid, and it is now exclusively for adolescents.
In 2009, the Art Gallery - Ruse took its first steps in this direction with an educational project under the ``Culture`` program of the Municipality of Ruse, called ``Gallery in the Gallery.`` It includes students from ``Lyuben Karavelov`` primary school with the idea to be seted aside a space for the children where they can create and manage their own gallery.

First activities for children and students

The gallery does not currently have a specific educational program. The curators Krasimira Kirilova and Hristiyna Stomonyakova work directly with adolescents. The team is committed to introducing children to the rich world of art from an early age. They are driven by a clear objective: to develop each child's cognitive powers, activity, abilities, and talents through an individualised approach to education.
The gallery's educational activities include the ``Summer Studio in the Gallery`` program at the ``Visual Arts`` Studio of the ``Konstantin-Kyril Filosof`` secondary school, the ``Provocation and Inspiration in the Gallery`` project with students from primary and secondary schools, the National Arts School, Mathematics and Economy secondary schools in Ruse city. Study actions have successfully held exhibitions of children's drawings and art workshops in various cities of Bulgaria together with environmental protection organizations.
During these years, were established partnerships with schools and various organizations that work with youth.

Establisment of Art Workshop at the Art Gallery - Ruse

In 2015, the Art Workshop was established with the appointment of artist-pedagogue Bistra Lozanova. It offers year-round activities for students aged 6 to 12. The studio has been equipped specifically for this purpose, and a Facebook page has been created. The young people experiment with different art techniques and materials, draw, mould, play, have fun, and participate in exhibitions, contests, and projects. They are financed by Ruse Municipality and the Ministry of Culture.

The New Program

In 2019, Martin Petrov was appointed as a museum pedagogue. The groups he works with include children between 6 and 16 years old, and this age difference is a powerful tool for fostering creativity and social communication between the participants.
Have been created a program that allows children to view and amass knowledge about the works from the permanent exhibitions in the gallery, as well as explore the visiting artists who bring the spirit of modernity. Periodically, an interns and professional artists have been invated to contribute to the learning process by sharing their expertise in artistic practice.
Education now includes animation, cyanotype, set design, and workshops with visiting graffiti artists. As they gain this new knowledge, children develop aesthetic, theoretical, and technical skills, which they then apply in practice and use to achieve high results at exhibitions and competitions.

Education for Adults

In 2023, Art Gallery - Ruse boldly launched training for adults in the field of fine arts, with the clear goal of developing its audience.
The ``Introduction to Fine Arts - Certified Course for Adults`` is a comprehensive program that provides theoretical and practical training, introducing participants to the fundamental concepts and techniques in fine arts. The course includes lectures in art history and painting, as well as mentoring sessions with practicing artists. The program is created and conducted by the curator Georgi Georgiev.
Following the success of the course, the gallery plans to host a series of visual art workshops for adults. The aspiration is to create engaging, educational, and hands-on experiences that inspire creativity, foster learning, and connect participants with the institution's collection and exhibitions.