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Professional associations are currently lobbying the Parliament for favourable social and labour legislation for their respective professions, as well as for passage of specific legislation facilitating the emergence of a market for works of art. Artists association maintain social funds offering members lump-sum aid or monthly supplements to recipients of pensions below the poverty threshold. Members of professional associations are entitled to discounts on goods and services from association-owned shops, enterprises or recreation facilities. Some associations negotiate threshold rates of payment for certain professions with potential employers. Only a few associations have a special fund for creative support which pays... read more →

The important positive role of NGOs in the transition period has become obvious in the past five years. Recent data shows that there has been an increase of third sector support for cultural projects. Foundations offer three main forms of support to artists including: talent scouting and arranging exhibitions, shows, competitions and other forums for young hopefuls; creation and improvement of working and training conditions (facilities, workshops, courses etc.); and grants for education or special training abroad. The Open Society Institute, Future for Bulgaria Foundation, Ss Cyril and Methodius Foundation, the 13 Centuries Bulgaria Fund, and since 2000, the National... read more →

The National Culture Fund (NCF) was established by the Protection and Development of Culture Act and began operating in November 2000. Its main goal is to support the development of culture in accordance with national cultural policies outlined in the state programmes for the corresponding period and spelled out in the Protection and Development of Culture Act. The governing body of the NCF is a Management Board whose chairman is the Minister of Culture. Members of the Board are distinguished cultural figures, representatives of unions of artists and a representative from each of the municipalities, the Ministry of Culture and... read more →

Information is currently not available.

The national strategy towards decentralisation is vested in the Protection and Development of Culture Act, which has changed the status of cultural institutions in Bulgaria. The Act classifies cultural institutions as "state institutions of national importance" (financed wholly and with priority by the Ministry of Culture budget); "state institutions" (financed by the Ministry of Culture and municipalities); "departmental institutions" (financed wholly or partly by the respective department, when they are institutions of a government department); "municipal institutions" (financed by the municipal budget); "regional cultural institutions" (financed by the respective municipality on whose territory they are located, by municipal contributions and... read more →

Table 1: Cultural institutions, by sector and domain Domain Cultural institutions (subdomains) Public sector Private sector     Number (year) Trend last 5 years (In %) Number (year) Trend last 5 years (In %) Cultural heritage Cultural heritage sites (recognised)           Archaeological sites         Museums Museum institutions 173 (2014) 145 (2018) -16,1%     Archives Archive institutions - - - - Visual arts Public art galleries / exhibition halls 31 (2014) 29 (2018) -6,4%     Performing arts Scenic and stable spaces for theatre  60 (2014) 60 (2018)* 0% 12 (2014) 15 (2018)... read more →

As a result of the dominance of the state, public cultural institutions have retained their leading role and main responsibility for the development of culture in Bulgaria for years. At the same time, by steadily cutting annual public spending on culture, the state gradually relinquished its former absolute responsibility for culture, thus jeopardising the very survival of some cultural institutions. In the past few years, the state has given priority to the reallocation of public responsibilities to the local level, however, without changing the status of public cultural institutions. There is no specific statutory framework and clear agenda of cultural... read more →

In the Republic of Bulgaria there is a lack of systematic information on private financing of culture and cultural activities.

Table 7: Direct state cultural expenditure and transfers (central level)*: by sector, [2018], in 1000 of national currency Field / Domain / Sub-domain TOTAL of which: Direct expenditure**(of government or its agencies) of which: Transfers ** in 1000BGN in % to other levels of government to NGOs, companies, individuals I. Cultural Heritage           Historical Monuments 7 554 2,45 7 554     Museums 13 100 4,44 13 100     Archives           Libraries           Intangible Heritage / Folk Culture           II. Visual Arts  ... read more →

Table 6. Public cultural expenditure by level of government, 2018 Level of government Total expenditure in national currency Total expenditure in EUR* % share of total State (central, federal) 195 199 773 99 846 431 42% Regional (provincial, Länder, etc.) - - - Local (municipal, incl. counties) 272 425 094 139 347 874 58% TOTAL     100% Source: Ministry of Culture budget report for 2018, 2019Note: * At the date of expenditure