site.btaBulgarian Academy of Arts Branch in Burgas Noticeably Changing City's Cultural Landscape, Says Its Director

The branch of the National Academy of Arts in Burgas has been establishing its presence in the seaside city for the sixth year, gradually changing the cultural landscape and attracting more and more young people to art, Branch Director Prof. Svetozar Benchev told the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) in an interview on Thursday.

In the interview, Benchev talked about the upcoming complete renovation of the Graphic Base in Burgas, which will create a contemporary art centre with a gallery and studios, about the influence of the academy on the cultural life of Burgas - through student projects, competitions, exhibitions and the active inclusion of a young audience, as well as whether he has time left for personal creativity and his plans for a new solo exhibition. 

One of the main reasons for our interview is the news about the preparation of new Master's programmes at the branch of the National Academy of Arts in Burgas. Could you tell us a little more about them and what distinguishes them from what the academy in Sofia offers?

– At the branch, we continue to create new programmes that are entirely for Burgas. At the moment, there are already three of them. In addition to Cultural Heritage of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, which is not offered in Sofia, we are also developing a master's programme Stained Glass, which will be implemented jointly with Burgas State University (BSU). This is a very interesting programme, because it will combine the knowledge of chemistry and glass technology that our colleagues from BSU have with the competencies of our specialists in mural painting and stained glass, who teach in an artistic and compositional sense.

The other programme, which has passed all levels of academic discussion and is about to be opened, is Restoration and Underwater Archaeology, which we will implement in partnership with the Centre for Underwater Archaeology. It is particularly important for the region because our restorers and specialists in stone, paper, icons, works of art will work together with underwater archaeologists. They will not dive personally, but will have the task of preserving and restoring the recovered artifacts. This will give Burgas a special advantage, because there is a need for this type of restoration activity and conservation all over the Black Sea coast. Museums would also benefit from such specialists.

Will the two new master's programmes start from the next academic year?

– Yes, from the academic year 2025/2026. We expect the procedures to be completed in time to announce admissions in June. The admissions for the existing master's programmes Photography, Cultural Heritage of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and Art Therapy are currently underway. The application for them is from September 1 to 12, and the entrance exam is on September 16 in Sofia, which guarantees that we maintain the same criteria and quality.

When selecting the new master's programs, do you conduct preliminary research on the needs of the local environment?

– Of course. This was also the case when the branch was opened. There was no art academy in this part of Bulgaria, and the research showed that there was a significant need for one. We have been graduating students for six years now. The Master's programmes that we offer (...) are aimed at people with clear interests. Photography is particularly important, today everyone takes pictures, but not everyone makes art. Our emphasis is not on the perfect photo and the technical part, but rather on understanding photography as a means of expression in contemporary art.

When you took office as director of the branch, you announced that one of the main focuses of your work would be the renovation of the Graphic Base in the Sea Garden. What is happening with this project?

– We have won the procedure, currently the deadline for submitting documents from companies is running. If there are no appeals, the base will probably be ready in about a year. We will have a modern art centre with its own gallery, new equipment, an expanded graphic part and a new ceramic studio with a ceramic kiln. This will give additional opportunities to artists from Bulgaria and all over the world to come and implement their project on the seashore. The base will provide conditions resembling a creative residency and we count on the fact that at some point we will be able to invite major names with whom we have contacts at the academy level. When we provide this material base, this will be a good occasion for artistic exchange.

So is there a chance that the base will already be a fact by the end of 2026?

– We hope so. This is a project with which I strongly identify. We work together with Burgas Municipality and have their support, but administrative procedures sometimes slow down the process.

With all these commitments, is there any time left for personal creativity?

– It’s difficult, because there are many commitments both during working and non-working hours. But I manage to combine them. When I have a vacation, I go into the studio full-time. I already have a lot of work accumulated, but I want to see more paintings so that I can form a complete exhibition. For me, each exhibition is a completed thought, not just a number of paintings. It should form an overall concept that unites them in a common direction. It’s like writing a novel. It should have a story, a plot.

Do you think that Burgas lacks a curatorial perspective and can the Academy compensate for that?

– Curatorial work is starting to gain ground. More and more authors are looking for an outside perspective. This is important because the artist is often addicted to his works and often emotionally prefers some paintings over others. A curator or even a colleague can rearrange the focus and form an overall concept.

In the six years that the Academy has been present in Burgas, have you felt a change in the city's art scene?

– Yes, and it's tangible. Our graduates participate in exhibitions of the Society of Burgas Artists, as well as in national forums. Some already work in advertising and have visible interventions in the urban environment, which are becoming more competent and more aesthetic. Especially those who study poster design, visual communication, as well as books, illustrations or printed graphics. (...) Our fashion design students also presented a show, which had many interesting things. These interventions in the real environment may not become visible quickly, but they are starting to accumulate and be felt, since the audience in Burgas now has access to more and more quality art content.

Young people bring fresh ideas and this is tangible. The halls are now filled with a young audience, including our students. This is the big change, as young people are starting to be part of the cultural life of the city. I am personally pleased with the way things are developing here, both in terms of the atmosphere and the reaction from the students.