site.btaCulture Minister Lays Out Vision and Strategies for Shaping Future of National Culture

Culture is an integral part of a nation's security, said caretaker Culture Minister Nayden Todorov, presenting his vision for Bulgarian culture to the media in a detailed address here on Thursday. Todorov's vision includes an analysis of the sector and a roadmap to overcome obstacles.

Navigating the cultural crisis: "I have developed several options to emerge from the cultural crisis, which involves everything happening in our society. Each of these options is viable on its own, but they are linked to the political direction Bulgaria wishes to take - whether we want a right-wing, left-wing, or centrist development in culture. Remarkably, each of these options can work," Todorov said.

A decision for the National Assembly: The National Assembly will ultimately decide the direction, Todorov noted, once a regular government is elected. At that point, Todorov will present a condensed version of his analysis. "The question here is whether the state should be the main driver, a regulator, or simply create conditions for cultural development. My vision is not tied to these three paths but to what needs to be done, regardless of which path we choose," he added. Todorov noted that Bulgaria still lacks a cultural development strategy, despite previous efforts. He estimated that his proposed programme would require a one-time investment of BGN 240 million.

Reforming funding and oversight in performing arts: Todorov proposed changes to the Protection and Development of Culture Act, focusing on the funding philosophy in the performing arts. He suggests that revenues and expenditures should be planned over longer periods to improve oversight by the Ministry of Culture. He also advocated for a unified system for record-keeping, accounting, human resources and ticket sales within the state cultural sector to enable real-time monitoring.

Adjusting labour standards in the cultural sector: Another proposed change involves recalculating working hours in the cultural sector. "Can you imagine a singer performing eight hours a day, five days a week? These are the conditions under the Bulgarian Labour Code," Todorov said, noting that people in the cultural sector often work around the law to align with global standards.

Supporting arts in underrepresented areas: Todorov suggested mapping Bulgaria to identify and support areas where the arts are underrepresented. He also proposed categorizing state cultural institutes, introducing evaluations for managers and employees, and separating administrative from artistic leadership.

Preserving endangered cultural professions: An updated list of endangered professions in the cultural sector is urgently needed, Todorov said. He pointed out that only two violinists applied to the National Academy of Music last year. “We are not merely staring into the abyss; we already have one foot in and are on the brink of falling,” he added.

Supporting the independent sector: "Do you know how many people in the Ministry of Culture are responsible for the independent sector?" Todorov asked rhetorically, answering, "None." He advocated for changes in the National Culture Fund, municipal culture funds, and the Patronage Act, which he described as currently non-functional.

Expanding Bulgarian literature's reach: In literature, Todorov stressed the need to initiate discussions with foreign universities to establish Bulgarian studies programmes, focused on training translators from Bulgarian. "The goal is not just to translate into Bulgarian but also from Bulgarian into other languages - to show that Bulgaria has a rich culture," he said.

Promoting Bulgaria's heritage on the global stage: The Minister underscored the importance of hosting the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, despite concerns about Bulgaria's capacity. He suggested new sites for nomination, including the salt pans in Provadia, the Great Basilica in Plovdiv, and the ancient capitals of Pliska and Preslav.

Creating 'Brand Bulgaria': "We urgently need to create a unifying framework for projects and sites that contribute to the image and self-esteem of our nation. 'Brand Bulgaria' is precisely this framework," Todorov said, noting that the idea originated from former foreign minister Mariya Gabriel.

Unifying Bulgaria's cultural policy abroad: To strengthen Bulgaria's cultural diplomacy, Todorov proposed the creation of a single Bulgarian Cultural Institute, with the existing 11 cultural institutes abroad becoming branches of this central entity to ensure a cohesive approach.