site.btaSecond Forum on Sustainable Performing Arts in Bulgaria Highlights Funding, Legal, and Infrastructure Challenges for Artists
The Second Forum for the Sustainable Development of the Performing Arts in Bulgaria was held Wednesday in the concert hall of the National Academy of Music (NAM). The event was organized by the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) – Center for Media Research, Audiovisual Policy and Cultural Industries; the Union of Bulgarian Artists; the Varna Summer International Theatre Festival; the Bulgarian Music Association; and the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts. The forum continues the dialogue between academic institutions, professional organizations, government bodies, and the independent sector on key issues such as the Artist Status Law, the 2026 state budget for performing arts, and proposals for new legislation and funding models. Prof. Dimitrov stressed that the cultural sector should not be in a position of petitioners asking for support, but rather should be empowered to create, with the state fulfilling its commitments and ensuring the integration of national and European cultural values.
The main challenge facing the development of performing arts in Bulgaria is not a lack of ideas, but rather the opportunities for their realization and the availability of funding, according to the rector of the National Academy of Music, Prof. Sava Dimitrov. He emphasized that both state-supported and independent artists share a common struggle: navigating complex bureaucratic processes to secure the resources necessary to bring their creative visions to life.
Dr. Ekaterina Kancheva, Director of the Performing Arts and Arts Education Directorate at the Culture Ministry, said, "We need to create conditions that allow us to produce the art that Bulgarian audiences deserve”. Reflecting on her seven months of experience at the Ministry, she noted that while processes, deadlines, and tasks exist on paper, many of the challenges faced today mirror those tackled by colleagues decades ago. Over the years, numerous staff changes and shifts in the Ministry’s functions have altered how the sector operates. Kancheva emphasized the need to properly manage the Ministry’s extensive material and technical resources to provide artists with suitable working conditions, fair remuneration, and the infrastructure necessary for high-quality artistic production. She called for the forums’ representatives to submit an official, detailed letter to the Ministry and stressed that the sector must maintain calm and collaboration to actively address its challenges.
National Theatre director Vasil Vasilev raised the question of why the National Theatre can tour in Europe but not Bulgarian cities, thus putting the limelight on inadequate infrastructure. He highlighted the urgent need to address the poor condition of performance venues in Bulgaria, warning that current infrastructure not only limits artistic potential but also endangers the safety of performers and audiences, and called for a comprehensive restart to ensure secure and functional stages nationwide. Reflecting on the changing role of the Ministry of Culture, he noted that while it once guided theatres on their future and artistic goals, today it is the theatres that must explain their activities and ambitions to the Ministry. Vasilev criticized the prioritization of finances over creativity, emphasizing that for two decades theatres have been restricted to their local cities, while their European counterparts enjoy mobility and access to suitable stages.
Neli Nedelcheva, acting director of the National Culture Fund, said that within a week, every effort will be made to begin the payments due in the performing arts sector. She explained that the Fund will engage in discussions with the Finance Ministry regarding requests to extend existing contracts. "You have my word that we will do everything possible in this situation to resolve what has happened," Nedelcheva said, referring to delayedpayments. She also stressed her openness to dialogue on any issues with the Fund and emphasized her goals of stabilizing the institution and initiating a competition to appoint its new permanent director.
"The Performing Arts Act is the missing piece in Bulgarian cultural policy," said Dr. Diana Andreeva-Popyordanova, director of the Observatory for the Economics of Culture. She urged the forum to push for a legal framework that addresses social, labor, and tax needs for cultural professionals and aligns with EU standards. Andreeva-Popyordanova also highlighted regional funding gaps, especially in Northern and Northwestern Bulgaria, where demographic decline threatens cultural sustainability.
"Providing a strong working environment for artists is our top priority," said Dr. Mirena Staneva of the Bulgarian Music Association. She called for a law ensuring labor rights, social protection, creative freedom, and lifelong professional development, aligned with EU and UNESCO standards. European models show that rehearsals should also be recognized and paid, guaranteeing minimum protections and respect for performing artists.
"Set designers are a vital part of every creative team," said Prof. Dr. Mira Kalanova, representing the Association of Set Designers in Bulgaria. She noted that many set designers work in the independent sector and face challenges such as understaffed production processes, limited workshop capacity, and poor working conditions that discourage skilled professionals. Kalanova also highlighted a critical gap in preserving theatrical memory, as scenographers’ contributions are often excluded from archival practices.
"We will actively engage in public dialogue on the status of artists and the work of the Ministry of Culture," said Iva Evgenieva, board member of the Independent Cultural Sector Association. Founded on February 16, the association aims to represent the voices of both small and large organizations, enhance the administrative and creative capacities of professionals in the independent sector, and expand opportunities for artists to perform across Bulgaria and Europe.
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