site.btaCommunity Centre and Time Conference Held at Bulgaria’s National Library

A conference titled Community Centre and Time. Historical and Philosophic Aspects of the Beginning was held at the St St Cyril and Methodius National Library in Sofia on Thursday. The conference is jointly organized by the Union of Community Centres, the National Library and the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Southeastern Europe under the auspices of UNESCO.

The event was attended by Vice President Iliana Iotova, who said that the community centre teaches people that spirituality is not an abstraction but a daily choice. Spirituality is the biggest fortune that presents us to the world, Iotova added. Next year marks the 170th anniversary of the nationwide community centre movement, she said, and expressed her desire to participate in the initiatives, considering the cause her own as well.

According to Deputy Minister of Culture Ashot Kazaryan, the community centre has proven itself as an institution that preserves traditions. He added that the analysis of sustainable practices, which will be done during the conference, will help in planning future activities related to community centres. The results of the conference will assist in resolving issues on the topic, Kazaryan said.

Assoc. Prof. Kalina Ivanova, Director of the National Library, said that the Union of Community Centres and the National Library are called upon to safeguard Bulgarian history, educate, and persevere in the face of difficulties on the path to preserving Bulgarian identity and literary heritage. According to her, community centres are Bulgaria’s first democratic institutions, combining principles of democracy, accessibility, participation of various social and age groups, with elected and term-limited leadership bodies.

Professor Stoyan Denchev, Chief Secretary and Chair of the Board of Trustees at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (UniBIT), said he believes that Bulgaria will continue to exist as long as community centres exist. He described the conference theme as comprehensive and hopeful, emphasizing that everyone involved in community centres continues to fight for the future.

The first session of the conference was moderated by Plamen Alexandrov, chair of the Elenka and Kiril Avramovi – 1856 First Bulgarian National Community Centre. It was opened by Prof. Nikolay Doynov, chair of the Union of Community Centres, with a presentation titled Light at the Beginning. An Attempt to Fly. Prof. Plamen Pavlov from the University of Veliko Tarnovo presented G. S. Rakovski and the Enlightenment Idea. Prof. Plamen Mitev from Sofia University’s presentation was on Revolutionary Work and Community Centres from Karavelov to Levski. Prof. Ventsislav Velev from UniBIT presented The Community Centre between Tradition and Technology, Cultural Mission, Challenges, and Development. The first session concluded with Local Dimensions of the Beginnings. Research Notes – Veliko Tarnovo Region, presented by Diana Miteva from Sofia University.

The programme of the second session, moderated by Anatoli Stoyanov, chair of the Dobri Voynikov – 1856 Community Centre, included a presentation by Silvena Bayrakova, head of the National Community Centre Institute to the Union of Community Centres, titled National Research on Factors for the Development of Community Centres: Contemporary Times and Community Centres. Stella Nenova, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, presented The Community Centre through the Lens of Time – Institution and Local Community. Sofia University PhD candidate Aleksandar Alexandrov presented Krustyo Pishurka and the Beginning of the Community Centre Movement in Lom.

The national organizing committee for the marking of 170th anniversary of the Nationwide Community Centre Movement was announced at the third session. It was moderated by Nedyalka Traykova, chair of the Postoyanstvo – 1856 Community Centre.

Union of Bulgarian Writers Chair Boyan Angelov also attended the event.