Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Archaeologists have discovered settlements dating from the 7th century BC in the area. [9] Plovdiv has been named one of the European Capitals of Culture for 2019. Being nominated as an ECC also holds promise for the Roma communities in. However, the neighbours of the Stolipinovo, most of them of Roma ethnicity, are excluded  from the designation of their city -- Plovdiv, as European Capital of Culture 2019. Many of the residents of Stolipinovo don’t have access to water or basics like waste collection [6]. Here we could say that social and environmental racism are compunded by "cultural racism".  The Roma cultural contributions are allegedly excluded amon the activities as European Cultural Capital.

 Landos street separates Stolipinovo from the rest of the district: on one side the Bulgarians, on the other the Bulgarian gypsies. As if it were a symbolic "invisible" fence [5] [8]. There are verbal and even physical aggression the Roma of Stolipinovo experience while walking around the Bulgarian-dominated spaces of the city [3] [8].

“We have had no running water for ten years,” a woman complained; and continuous: “All three of my children got hepatitis in summer 2008 as a result”[6]. 

in 2011, residents of Stolipinovo, in the Bulgarian city held a huge protest  over deplorable living conditions. Roma complain of rats, filth, smell from the sewage, while most of the apartment buildings missing windows and stairs and elevators [5].

A member of the "Plovdiv 2019" Foundation which — consisting of five civil society and four political representatives — had to prepare a program framework for the European Capital bid 2029. But the member and the other civil society representatives left the foundation after arguing that many ideas and projects the city had originally planned were now being censured by local politicians [7].

A central theme of the application was the focus on the ethnic minorities in Plovdiv, especially the Roma population of Stolipinovo. The district of Stolipinovo and the largest Roma district in the Balkans, was also designated to be part of the cultural program[7]. 

"We believe that culture has the capacity to produce social change, and most young people living in Stolipinovo have never left the neighborhood. On the other hand, the inhabitants of Plovdiv never visit this part of the city," notes the civil society member. "But those in authority did not listen". "The politicians said that we should not show our backyard to foreign audiences. "Why the Roma", the politicians said. "We also have other ethnic groups here". Therefore, the idea  of including Roma and their culture was rejected and projects were stopped [7]."

Still, some workshops would include Roma of Stolipibovo, such as "Building together: Learning from Stolipinovo - Workshops May- October 2019". The workshop' focus is on construction of a different element, artistic installation or facility. Metal and wood and transformed old doors and windows into benches, tables, and painting boards took place in May 2019. The participants sanded, grinded, welded, assembled, primed, and painted together [4].