site.btaCaretaker Culture Minister Proposes Changes in Way Cultural Institutes Are Financed

Caretaker Culture Minister Nayden Todorov proposed changes in the way cultural institutes are financed, he said in Ruse, specifying that one of the reasons for the proposal were  accusations for embezzlement of public funds in state-owned theatres in Razgrad, Northeastern Bulgaria, Smolyan, Southern Bulgaria, whose directors have been charged.

Todorov said that inspections in all theatres will begin soon, but noted their goal is to prove that not all people from the guild are looking for ways to break the law and earn on the backs of others. "I am convinced that the results of the inspections will be positive for artists," said Minister Todorov.

He added that the General Inspectorate of the Council of Ministers will undertake a thorough inspection of the Ministry of Culture itself. "I am convinced that if there were problems in the Ministry, they were not intentional. Rather, it may be about an oversight, which should not happen, because the funds in question for Razgrad and Smolyan were not released as large amounts at once," said Nayden Todorov.

"What should happen is that the funding is based on the activity of the institutes, but also on the quality," said the Minister.