On May 22th, the results of the third consecutive edition of the national representative sociological survey “Access to Culture” were presented at the Goethe-Institut – Sofia. The survey was implemented by the “Factory of Ideas” together with the Observatory of the Economy of Culture, with the financial support of the Sofia Development Association, implemented by the sociological agency “Alpha Research” and with the communication support of the Bulgarian Music Association.

The event brought together representatives of the cultural and non-governmental sectors, municipal and state institutions, artists and researchers, who united around the need for data on which to build adequate cultural policies.

The survey covers over 1,000 people from different settlements and social groups and analyzes the main factors that influence the participation of Bulgarians in cultural life, with a focus on age, income, gender and geographical location. Svetlana Lomeva, Director of the Sofia Development Association, Diana Andreeva-Popyordanova from the Observatory of Cultural Economics and Yanina Taneva from the Idea Factory presented and commented on the key conclusions from the study.

The data is both clear and alarming. In 2024, 43.6% of respondents had not read a single book. 75% had not visited a library, 63% had not been to the theater, and nearly 83% had not seen a single opera, ballet, or classical music performance. The average number of books read in the past year fell to 8–9, one book less than in 2022.

The answers to the question of why people do not attend cultural events also reveal important trends. The most common answer is “it’s expensive,” followed by “I don’t have time,” “I don’t have access,” and “I don’t like it.” An interesting detail is that “price” as a barrier to participation has decreased as a factor compared to previous years, especially in the capital and larger cities. This draws attention to another problem – the cultural infrastructure and the geographical distribution of cultural events, which remain concentrated in certain regions.

“Culture needs research and analysis to move forward and to know what has been realized and how,” emphasized Diana Andreeva-Popiordanova of the Observatory for the Economy of Culture.

Yanina Taneva of the Idea Factory noted that the results already outline a clear trend in consumption and participation, which cannot be explained by a statistical error, but by political apathy.

Diana Andreeva-Popiordanova proposed the introduction of a cultural passport for young people aged between 6 and 26 as a concrete measure that could encourage more active participation in cultural life. According to her, such a tool could cover over 1.3 million people and stimulate the development of a new, young audience. Emphasis was also placed on the need for regional cultural policies tailored to local realities and needs. The Bulgarian Music Association supports initiatives that place culture at the center of public debate, and believes that policies based on real data can be the first step towards a fairer and more accessible cultural future.