site.btaCulture Ministry Confers Golden Age Awards on Distinguished Bulgarian Artists

The Ministry of Culture bestowed the Golden Age Award on 36 artists, performers, community centre and scientific figures from various artistic fields for their contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture and spirituality, on the occasion of the National Awakeners' Day, November 1. The ceremony took place at the Ministry of Culture on Thursday. 

Culture Minister Marian Bachev, who presented the awards, told BTA that he has always believed that culture, education, and science go hand in hand in building a nation.

The award was given to the Director of the Regional Museum of History in Ruse Nikolay Nenov, actors Rousy Chanev and Yanina Kasheva, singer Yordanka Hristova, architect Stefan Staynov, pianist Ivan Drenikov, ballet dancer and teacher Boyko Nedelchev, opera singer Vesselina Kasarova, writers Vesela Lyutskanova Ivanova and Zdravka Evtimova, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev, film director Vladimir Kraev, cinema writer Marin Damyanov, director and writer Pancho Tzankov, the Director of the State Puppet Theater in Burgas Hristina Arsenova-Andreeva, journalist and screenwriter Zelma Almaleh, engineer Angel Angelov, writer Neda Antonova, the founder of the Yard of the Cyrillic Alphabet in Pliska Karen Alexanyan, director, designer and animator Velislav Kazakov, director Kamen Kalev, screenwriter Nevelina Popova, the Deputy Director of the Regional National Library P.R. Slaveykov in Veliko Tarnovo Ivan Angelov, scriptwriter, director and former Rector of the National Academy for Theatre and Film Art Lyubomir Halachev, writer Hristo Slavov, the Director of the National Archeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Hristo Popov, the head of the school for classical and modern dance Veronique Bratanova-Dimitrova, artist Vesela Dancheva-Bogdanova, writer and poet Maria Peeva, Folk Song Ensemble Kitna Trakia from the town of Haskovo, writer Banko Bankov, Corresponding Member Professor Vladko Panayotov, poet and journalist Venko Evtimov, poet Margarita Petkova, philologist Petar Hadzhinakov, writer Albena Furnadzhieva.

Responding to BTA’s question on what makes such awards important for Bulgaria's cultural development, Bachev replied: "After the wars of liberation, the first thing people turned to was building schools and community centres, an exceptional form of cultural and educational hubs, because they understood and appreciated the importance of culture. I am happy to be part of the team at the Ministry of Culture, where we continue to believe that culture is of exceptional importance for the well-being and meaning of human life."