site.btaNational Book Centre Unveiled in Sofia

ESD 11:38:00 13-12-2014
PP1137ES.104
104 CULTURE-BOOK CENTRE-NDK

National Book Centre
Unveiled
in Sofia


Sofia, December 12 (BTA) - A national centre with Sofia's
National Palace of Culture (NDK) will support Bulgarian
literature, its translation and promotion abroad. The news was
announced by NDK's leadership at a news conference on Friday.

The centre will promote Bulgarian writers, their participation
in international forums and translation of Bulgarian literature.

The centre will be managed by a board of writers and publishers,
led by Svetlozar Zhelev, editor-in-chief of Granta magazine,
longterm director of Siela publishing house and champion of the
centre's reopening after its predecessor was closed years ago.

Writers, books and translators will be assessed by groups of
experts. The Centre expects to announce its first session at the
end of January.

The Board's first task will be to draft a comprehensive longterm
concept for the development of Bulgarian literature,
summarizing proposals by publishers and writers.

Zhelev said that Bulgarian literature has been neglected for a
long time and left to survive on its own.

"We need a clear vision on how to market Bulgarian writers
abroad. We have a very talented generation of writers, who have
never been given access to international markets," said NDK
Director Miroslav Borshosh. According to him, the centre will be
a meeting place for institutions connected with Bulgarian
literature, universities, libraries and NGOs.

The centre will be funded by NDK initially and will tap
additional funding under international and Bulgarian programmes
as well as private donations. Funding will be allocated through
competitions. LN/PP

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