LIK Magazine's March Issue Marks 45th Anniversary of National Palace of Culture

The March issue of LIK magazine - the Bulgarian News Agency's (BTA) publication for literature, art and culture - is dedicated to the 45th anniversary of the opening of the National Palace of Culture (NDK). The magazine revisits the past, explores the present and looks ahead to the future of the cultural institution, which has become one of the symbols of Sofia.

The issue will be presented on Monday, March 30, at the Peroto Literary Club at NDK at 6pm. The event will be held simultaneously via video link with BTA's national press clubs in Bulgaria and abroad.

The caretaker Minister of Culture, Nayden Todorov, says in the introduction to the issue: "For 45 years now, NDK has been a place where culture is free: on stage, in the halls, in the foyers and in the conversations among people who meet here. More importantly, however, it stands as a symbol of a deeply rooted Bulgarian conviction: that culture is not an ornament of our society, but its very essence. Today, 45 years after the opening of the National Palace of Culture, we are not merely celebrating the anniversary of a building. We are celebrating an idea - the idea that culture is what brings us together, what makes us stronger, and what reminds us who we are."

In an interview with LIK, NDK Executive Director Andriana Petkova outlines the events marking the anniversary, NDK's role on the cultural map of Sofia and Bulgaria, and where business and the arts intersect. "NDK's mission is to pulse as a spiritual and cultural unifier of the nation, to serve as a platform for progressive creative ideas and to offer a wide range of cultural and congress activities," says Petkova. She describes the Palace of Culture as a vast complex, almost like a small city, with its own infrastructure, daily rhythm and constant flow of people and events. "Everything we do is audience-focused. We aim to make every visit to NDK special, not just attending an event, but experiencing true culture," she adds. The team's vision is for NDK to be an institution rooted in tradition, in step with the times and confidently looking to the future.

Members of the NDK Board of Directors - Mariyana Arsenova-Vladimirova, Nina Naydenova, Emilia Petkova and Sasho Ganov - also share their views on the Palace and the significance of working for such an institution.

At just 35, architect Stanislav Konstantinov became part of the team working on the surrounding area of NDK. He is also responsible for the pylons, which have since become one of the city's popular meeting spots. "Without NDK, Sofia would have remained a provincial city," Konstantinov says in an interview with LIK. He notes that the Palace has given the Bulgarian public the opportunity to experience incredible performers. "NDK is one of the largest urban development projects in Sofia," he says, calling it "the heart of the capital's cultural life". Konstantinov recounts the challenges faced during the construction of NDK - a project accomplished in just two and a half years, which he still regards as a remarkable achievement. He also reflects on the lessons learned during that time, describing it as a school for a young architect. He says: "I cannot compare NDK to anything else - it is unique, and I consider it a worthy expression of architecture."

LIK also features an interview with the sculptor Prof. Emil Popov. "NDK houses an exceptional monumental collection of Bulgarian art, which I consider a unique event in our cultural life," he says. Among these works is the bronze panel "Bulgaria - Land of Ancient Cultures", created by Prof. Popov in collaboration with Prof. Angel Stanev. "I would say that the architectural and sculptural synthesis at NDK is of a very high standard, despite its immense diversity," Prof. Popov says. He discusses some of the most striking works and explains how they integrate into the overall appearance of NDK. These include "The Sun" (1983), a copper piece by Georgi Chapkanov located at the main entrance; the bronze sculpture "Revival" (1981) by Dimitar Boykov; the "Sun" (1981), a metal curtain of round stainless-steel elements by Prof. Dimo Zaimov; among many others.

The creators behind the National Palace of Culture share their story. "Since 1981, the Palace has hosted major stage, exhibition and congress events of national and international importance," they note. The team recalls the need for NDK and the idea for its construction, which dates back to the 1970s. "Some Sofia residents call NDK the city's second Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Both buildings are iconic for Sofia, of a similar symbolic scale for the country, and the public has played a role in their creation," they add. Highlighting its architecture and engineering, they point out that NDK remains the only building of its kind in the world where three multi-thousand-seat halls are stacked atop one another, making it a subject of study for engineering and construction institutes globally. "Another factor that makes the Palace unique is its magnificent architectural and artistic synthesis, where large-scale monumental works enhance each important space. Such integration is unmatched in Western venues," the team says. They also highlight two signature events: the Arts Salon and the New Year Music Festival.

A thematic overview highlights key moments from BTA's extensive archive, which preserves daily news from the agency's founding in 1898 to the present. Coverage of NDK begins in the late 1970s, when the Palace was still Sofia's largest construction site, planned for completion to mark the 1,300th anniversary of the Bulgarian state and host the 12th Congress of the Bulgarian Communist Party, both in 1981. BTA's archive also recalls news from NDK's opening in 1981, describing its creation as a construction feat. Even then, the Palace was called "a cultural, educational and socio-political centre unique in Bulgaria".

The overview traces decades of events connected to NDK's development, including visits by world-famous artists, prestigious conferences, structural changes, awards and initiatives. Each of these milestones reinforces NDK's role as a focal point, bringing audiences closer to art, science and entertainment.

Since January 2024, BTA's literature, art and culture periodical has been freely accessible. All LIK issues since its relaunch in 2022 can be downloaded in electronic format from BTA's website at https://www.bta.bg/bg/lik-magazine. The March issue, titled "NDK at 45", is available online in Bulgarian at https://www.bta.bg/bg/lik-magazine/74.