In January 2017 Bulgaria marks the 10th anniversary of its accession to the European Union. What changes were made in the country's cultural sphere during that period? According to Director of Intangible Cultural Heritage Department with the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture Associate Professor Ventsislav Velev Bulgaria has had the opportunity to receive financing under various EU programmes. Earlier, we were experiencing money shortage when we intended to create a high-quality product, Associate Professor Velev told Radio Bulgaria. As a result, we were facing a series of problems. Secondly, cultural exchange between artists from different EU member states has intensified. They used to cooperate even before Bulgaria entered the EU, but after the country's accession to the union most Bulgarian artists were motivated to show that they were part of the entire cultural process in Europe and the European cultural network, Ventsislav Velev said and added:

“The penetration of non-governmental sector into the cultural field diversified the management of the cultural processes. On one hand, the state and the municipal authorities provide assistance and encourage development of culture. However, they are not engaged in the creative process. The cultural product is created by the authors themselves. The non-governmental sector also contributes to the management of the culture sphere, because it offers alternative standpoints.”

When Bulgaria became a member of the EU it started to comply with the European legislation in the cultural field. The country has already adopted various EU directives related to the media sector, copyright, audiovisual services, etc. Some EU directives will be developed further and adapted to the specific conditions in this country, Associate Professor Velev says:

“Bulgaria's cultural product can compete on a free market thanks to our EU membership. The authors can present easily their cultural products and compete with colleagues from EU and non-EU countries. The number of foreign cultural products presented in Bulgaria has been constantly increasing and the countries have been encouraging cultural exchange.”

The state authorities provide all types of assistance, including financial assistance, to Bulgarian artists travelling abroad, because the live contact is of great significance. However, culture does not only require creation of cultural products. It is also connected with the construction, maintenance and modernization of the cultural infrastructure.

“Many cultural institutions in Bulgaria have been already renovated. The new technologies, including digitalization, have also become popular in various cultural sectors. We have to take into consideration the fact that our country is part of the entire global process of cultural development. We have to follow the new tendencies not only because we are EU members, but because we are part of the common European and global processes. Our cultural development is based on those processes and all positive and negative consequences exist on the Bulgarian cultural market as well.”

The multimedia and audiovisual services have been constant part of the peoples' daily routine in the recent years due to the rapid development of the new technologies and communications. Bulgarian cinema was for many years an interesting and favorite sector in the country's culture. However, unfortunately, there was a time when most cinema halls were closed or empty. Recently that industry has revived again, Associate Professor Velev said. Many new cinema halls were unveiled in Bulgaria's biggest cities. However, we should not forget that one or two Bulgarian generations living in the country's villages did not have access to cinema halls.

The countries have been going back to their roots recently, Associate Professor Velev pointed out. On one hand, we live in times of digital technologies and appreciate all innovations. On the other hand, however, we are trying to preserve our traditions. This is not typical of the Bulgarians people only. That process influences the development of the modern processes and the cultural tourism. Currently, part of the culture is associated with that type of tourism.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov