The First Stage Of The Project "Rethinking Cultural Cooperation In The Western Balkans" Has Been Completed
The State Cultural Institute under the Minister of Foreign Affairs successfully implemented the first stage of the project "Rethinking Cultural Cooperation in the Western Balkans", funded under the "Official Development Assistance" program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria in partnership with the diplomatic missions of Bulgaria in the region and the Bulgarian Cultural and Information Center - Skopje. The initiative aims to promote multilateral cultural cooperation in the Western Balkans and contribute to strengthening dialogue and partnership in the context of European integration.
Within the framework of this stage, an international seminar and a working visit were organized with the participation of delegations from Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro - directors of galleries, museums, theaters, representatives of local and state institutions, non-governmental organizations and independent cultural operators. The event took place in the period 6–10 October 2025 in Sofia and Plovdiv under the motto "Culture as a Bridge for Regional Cooperation and Integration".
The program began on 6 October with a welcoming evening, at which the Director of the State Cultural Institute Snezhana Yoveva-Dimitrova and the project coordinator Yavor Koynakov presented the vision and goals of the initiative. On 7 October at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the seminar was officially opened by Deputy Minister Elena Shekerletova, who emphasized the importance of cultural diplomacy as a tool for trust and sustainable cooperation in the region.
In the days between 7 and 9 October, the seminar participants had the opportunity to learn about the activities of the Art Fund and the Sculpture Park of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the current dimensions of cultural policies related to the Creative Europe and UNESCO platforms. The program included visits and meetings with the teams of the Regional Center for Contemporary Art "Toplotsentrala" in Sofia, the Drama Theater - Plovdiv and the Episcopal Basilica of Philippopolis, which presented examples of innovative management of cultural spaces and socialization of cultural heritage, as well as the long-term results of the initiative "Plovdiv - European Capital of Culture 2019".
During the seminar, the participants discussed the rethinking of international cultural relations, moving from traditional "cultural diplomacy" to a more open and multilateral model of cultural cooperation, including independent artists, civil society organizations and international networks. Emphasis was placed on the ability of "small states" to use culture to strengthen their international image, the role of technology and artificial intelligence in cultural industries, the sustainability of European cultural projects and the role of effective local cultural policies.
Key speakers in the program were: Dr. Alexandra Milanova - Associate Professor and Scientific Coordinator at the Institute of Balkan Studies with the Center for Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Mirena Staneva - Executive Director of the Bulgarian Music Association and Expert on Programs and Projects at the Regional Center for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe under the auspices of UNESCO; Veselin Dimov - Director of the RCCA "Toplotsentrala"; Martichka Bozhilova - Director of the Balkan Documentary Center and Producer of AGITPROP; Yana Genova - Founder of the NGO "Next Page" and of the House of Literature and Translation in Sofia; Kamen Balkanski - Head of the "Creative Europe - MEDIA" Bureau for Bulgaria; Radka Rubilina - Director of the Czech Center - Sofia; Viktor Yankov - Plovdiv 2019 Foundation.
The final session of the seminar took place on October 10 in Sofia, where the results achieved were summarized, the future steps of the project were outlined and certificates of participation were awarded.
Within the framework of the second stage of the project, a publication in the form of a practical manual is being prepared, which will summarize the main conclusions, good practices and recommendations arising from the discussions and exchange of experience during the forum. The manual will serve as a valuable reference material for institutions and professionals involved in regional cultural cooperation. It is also planned to present the results of the project in the Western Balkans region.
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