Yesterday, the Aula of the National Academy of Performing Arts and Sciences “Krustyo Sarafov” hosted a meeting of the cultural sector of the First Forum for Sustainable Development of the Performing Arts in Bulgaria – an important meeting dedicated to the real problems and possible solutions for the future of the performing arts in our country.на на реалните проблеми и възможните решения за бъдещето на сценичните изкуства у нас.

The discussions began with the topic of festival financing. Prof. Nikolay Yordanov emphasized that festivals are a key bridge between local, national and international culture and that their sustainability requires long-term planning, at least in three, and even better five, annual cycles. The main challenges remain insufficient resources, lack of predictability and the impossibility of upgrading. The need for a separate forum dedicated entirely to the model for financing the performing arts was also indicated.

The second topic affected the regulatory framework and methodology, noting the lack of effective monitoring by the Ministry of Culture, as well as the dependence of the methodology on multiple texts in the LFRC, which makes any change difficult and slow.

The financing of the performing arts in a broader sense united the third panel. It became clear that the problems of the state and independent sectors are similar – lack of program budgeting, insufficient funds, limited flexibility and uneven funding. The proposal for a meeting in the National Assembly within 10 days was discussed, in order to use the full expert potential of the sector.

The Bulgarian Music Association emphasized the need to modernize professional music education, improve exchange between educational and cultural institutions, and introduce marketing, copyright, and music software in secondary education. The problems in the methodology, which in its current form limits innovation and does not allow for sustainable growth, were also discussed. The need for a truly working register and regulation of minimum rates for artists was emphasized.

The forum also shared key positions from theatre institutions across the country, related to deficits, lack of quality criteria, demographic challenges and the need for a clear personnel policy. The independent sector outlined its greatest needs: predictability, structural support, active dialogue and a clear definition of the sector in legislation.

The forum showed that despite the differences, the sector has common goals and a shared vision: a more sustainable, better funded and more connected cultural field. The beginning has been made, work, coordination and consistency are ahead for real change to happen.

Photo credit: Veneta Paunova