site.btaDiscussion in Kazanlak Explores Links between Pencho Slaveykov, Modernism, and Town’s Cultural Heritage

A discussion at BTA’s National Press Club in Kazanlak, part of BTA’s Pencho Slaveykov Today initiative, dedicated to the 160th anniversary of the birth of the poet from Tryavna and a leading figure of Bulgarian modernism, took place on Thursday. The event coincided with the fourth anniversary of the reopening of BTA’s renovated press club in Kazanlak and took place during the city’s Rose Festival celebrations.

Addressing the discussion, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev said that Kazanlak is one of Bulgaria’s strongest examples of continuous modernization built upon a foundation of tradition. Valchev said that Pencho Slaveykov was among the key figures who laid the foundations of modern Bulgarian literature and embodied the idea of modernizing Bulgaria and the Bulgarian nation. He explained that the discussions held across different cities as part of the initiative focus not only on local expressions of modernism in various fields, but also seek to answer the broader question of what it means to be modern today.

Kazanlak Mayor Galina Stoyanova said that the spirit of Bulgarian modernism can still be found in Kazanlak - a city that preserves the memory of artists such as Pencho Slaveykov, Chudomir, and Ivan Milev. According to Stoyanova, Pencho Slaveykov remains one of the most significant figures in Bulgarian culture, whose ideas continue to provoke reflection today. She noted that the topic of his work often causes concern among high school graduates. This confirms the fact that the misunderstood poet Pencho Slaveykov continues to be misunderstood in Bulgaria. According to her, Slaveykov’s fate is an example of the attitude toward individuals who are ahead of their time.

Poet, literary scholar and critic Yordan Eftimov, who moderates the discussions that are part of BTA’s Pencho Slaveykov Today initiative, underlined that Slaveykov was one of the key figures who, at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, sought both to modernize Bulgarian culture and preserve its unique character. According to Eftimov, one of the central themes throughout the series has been Slaveykov’s attitude toward Bulgarian folklore. The literary scholar recalled the poet’s essay Bulgarian Folk Song, in which Slaveykov described the genius of the Bulgarian people as unparalleled and emphasized the importance of folk creativity for the development of Bulgarian literature.

Eftimov said that the subject has so far been discussed mainly in academic circles and less frequently in a broader public context. In his opinion, greater attention should also be paid to the relationships between Pencho Slaveykov and the other leading representatives of Bulgarian modernism. He also drew attention to the connections between literature and the other arts. Eftimov highlighted Kazanlak’s significance as a city with rich traditions in the visual arts and expressed hope that the discussion would help establish new links between Pencho Slaveykov’s literary legacy and the achievements of Bulgarian painters and artists.

BTA’s Pencho Slaveykov Today initiative is taking place in all 33 national press clubs of the agency across the country. The first discussion dedicated to Pencho Slaveykov was held in his hometown of Tryavna on April 27, marking the 160th anniversary of his birth.

The December 2026 issue of BTA’s LIK Magazine will also be dedicated to Pencho Slaveykov and will feature reports from the discussions, as well as contributions of 160 words by 160 people marking the anniversary.