site.btaBTA Director General: Golden Age Award Recognizes BTA’s Significant Contribution to Bulgarian Culture Development, Promotion

"I am grateful for the honorary distinction Golden Age, which I accept as recognition of the Bulgarian News Agency’s (BTA) significant contribution to the development and promotion of Bulgarian culture and art," BTA Director General Kiril Valchev wrote to the Ministry of Culture on Thursday from Bolhrad, Ukraine, where he is attending BTA-organized events marking the Day of the Bessarabian Bulgarians. 

The Ministry of Culture bestowed the Golden Age Award on 36 artists, performers, community centre and scientific figures from various artistic fields for their contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture and spirituality, on the occasion of the National Awakeners' Day, November 1. Among this year’s recipients is BTA Director General Kiril Valchev.

In his letter, Valchev noted that the award citation recognizes BTA as a "modern model of a national media outlet" and highlights the lasting mark it has left on Bulgaria’s cultural and digital heritage through the creation of the entirely Bulgarian LIK typeface, also used by the Ministry of Culture.

He asked that the monetary prize accompanying the award remain within the Ministry’s budget, noting that the institution supported the publication of a multilingual issue of LIK magazine dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. "I hope the Ministry will continue to support the development of this emblematic Bulgarian cultural magazine," Valchev said.

He recalled BTA’s 127-year history of safeguarding and promoting national traditions and culture, including reporting on the lives of Bulgarians abroad. "It is precisely because I am participating in BTA-organized events in Taraclia, Moldova, and in Izmail, Bolgrad, Vaysal, and Odesa, Ukraine, to mark the Day of the Bessarabian Bulgarians on October 29, that I am unable to receive the award in person at the ceremony ahead of the National Awakeners’ Day," Valchev wrote.

Valchev also noted the Ministry’s support for BTA’s mission through the participation of Deputy Minister of Culture Ashot Kazaryan in concerts featuring singer Ilia Lukov and Bessarabian Bulgarian dance ensembles, held as part of BTA’s initiatives with assistance from Bulgarian diplomatic missions.

“My name is only one among many at BTA who, each in their own way, contribute to upholding freedom of expression and Bulgaria’s cultural identity,” Valchev concluded.