FREUNDE DES HAUSES WITTGENSTEIN MISCELLANEA BULGARICA L L IT IT 24 24 www.lit-verlag.at L For anyone interested in finding out about Bulgarian cultural IT policy and unfamiliar with the processes in the country, the Alexandar Alexandrov entire period from 1995 to 2012 remains utterly inaccessible. The relationship between democracy and culture is a central Revolution and Transition topic of this book. History shows that in times of crisis culture Cultural Policy in Bulgaria, 1989-2012 has always been pushed down the list of priorities. Stabili- zing the economy generally takes precedence over cultural reforms in such cases. In Bulgaria, too, this dilemma led to considerable losses in the culture sector. Revolution and Transition Alexandar Alexandrov develops and carries out successful large- and small-scale cultural projects as well as theater and musical productions. Revolution and Transition Revolution and Transition Cultural Policy in Bulgaria, 1989-2012 Bulgaria, in Policy Cultural Revolution and Transition and Revolution 978-3-643-90814-8 Alexandar Alexandrov Alexandar LLITIT 24 9 *ukdzfe#.-,yv,* www.lit-verlag.chwww.lit-verlag.at LIT24 LIT BULGARICA MISCELLANEA FREUNDE DES HAUSES WITTGENSTEIN HAUSES DES FREUNDE Alexandar Alexandrov Revolution and Transition MISCELLANEA BULGARICA herausgegeben vom Verein „Freunde des Hauses Wittgenstein Österreichisch-Bulgarisches Wissenschaftsforum“ Band 24 LIT Alexandar Alexandrov Revolution and Transition Cultural Policy in Bulgaria, 1989 – 2012 LIT Cover illustration: Carmina Burana, oil painting by Stoimen Stoilov, 2005 With the support of Austrian Science Fund (FWF): [PUB-307-G16] With the support of the Institute of Culture Management and Culture Studies, Vienna Translated from the German by WordWorks / Neil Perkins Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de. ISBN 978-3-643-90814-8 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library © LIT VERLAGGmbH&Co.KGWien, Zweigniederlassung Zürich 2017 Klosbachstr. 107 CH-8032 Zürich Tel. +41 (0) 44-251 75 05 E-Mail: [email protected] http://www.lit-verlag.ch Distribution: In the UK: Global Book Marketing, e-mail: [email protected] In North America: International Specialized Book Services, e-mail: [email protected] In Germany: LIT Verlag Fresnostr. 2, D-48159 Münster Tel. +49 (0) 2 51-620 32 22, Fax +49 (0) 2 51-922 60 99, e-mail: [email protected] In Austria: Medienlogistik Pichler-ÖBZ, e-mail: [email protected] e-books are available at www.litwebshop.de Contents Franz-Otto Hofecker: Foreword . 1 Lazar Koprinarov: Contribution to the Cultural Policy Discourse in Bulgaria and on Bulgaria . 6 Peter Bachmaier: The Influence of the West on Bulgaria Cultural Policy, 1989–2013 . 10 1. INTRODUCTION........................... 19 1.1 Formation of the concepts of culture and cultural policy . 25 1.2 Studies on cultural policy in Bulgaria . 28 1.3 Scientific questions and methodology. 31 1.4 Cultural statistics in Bulgaria: Problems and Perspectives . 33 1.5 Selected Development Indicators since 1989 . 35 2. THE BIRTH OF BULGARIA AS A CULTURAL NATION . 41 2.1 Aspects of Social Cohesion in Bulgaria. 46 2.2 Debates on Cultural Policy . 50 2.3 Cultural Policy in Government Programmes 2001–2005 . 52 2.4 Thoughts on a Declaration, or In Step with the Times . 60 2.5 Overview of the Major Trends in Bulgaria Cultural Policy Since 1989................................ 65 2.6 Assessment............................. 74 3. CULTURAL POLICY BY CATEGORY .............. 77 3.1 Cultural and Historical Heritage . 77 3.2 Museums.............................. 80 3.3 National History Museums . 88 3.4 SofiaMunicipalMuseum. 89 3.5 PerformingArts .......................... 90 3.5.1 Theatre.............................. 90 3.5.2 Modern and Classical Ballet . 98 3.5.3Books.............................. 99 i Contents 3.6 Media and Current Developments . 105 3.6.1 TheFilmIndustry . 105 3.6.2 Television and Radio . 111 3.7 The Creative Industry in Relation to the Copyright Industry . 121 3.8 Internet and Art Networks . 123 3.9 MusicNetworks .......................... 126 3.10 Literature Networks . 126 3.11VisualArts............................. 127 3.12Theatre...............................127 4. THE BUDGET OF THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE . 131 4.1 Funding by Category 2000–2008 . 137 4.2 The National Culture Fund . 156 4.3 NGOsintheCultureSector. 163 4.4 Places and Symbols of Cultural Development . 166 4.5 The National Culture Palace . 166 4.6 TheChitalishta.. .. .. .. 169 4.7 Assessment............................. 177 5. BASIC PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF MUNICIPAL CULTURAL POLICY IN BULGARIA ...............181 5.1 The Decentralization Model . 181 5.2 The Municipalities’ Budgets . 191 5.2.1 Sofia...............................191 5.2.2 Varna...............................201 5.2.3 Veliko Tarnovo . 204 5.2.4 Ruse...............................205 5.3 Assessment............................. 206 6. SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK ...................209 7. BIBLIOGRAPHY ...........................213 References................................213 SecondarySources. 214 ii Contents 8. LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES .................235 8.1 Listoftables:............................ 235 8.2 Listoffigures............................ 238 8.3 List of abbreviations . 239 8.4 Legislation relating to culture prior to 2012. 239 iii Foreword by Franz-Otto Hofecker Institute for Culture Management and Culture Studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna I. The analyses provided by Alexandar Alexandrov in Revolution and Transi- tion. Cultural Policy in Bulgaria, 1989–2012 represent a long overdue appraisal that will not only aid an academically descriptive approach, but also support the development of analytical instruments for fact-based decision-making in the ac- tion field of cultural policy in Bulgaria. Against the background and paradigm of cultural institutions studies and supplemented by comprehensive analyses of char- acteristics of Bulgaria’s cultural industry specific to that country, the end result is an impressive account of the “state of the cultural nation Bulgaria”. Academic work generally takes places in specialist disciplines. The present work, however, breaks with this convention by adopting a transdisciplinary approach which is pur- sued with as much consistency as success and also combines theory and practice. Only in this way can the present research field be examined in a way that befits its complexity. Anyone wishing to understand and interpret the cultural industry in modern-day Bulgaria needs must become acquainted with the country and its historical specifics, and must make an in-depth study not only of the development of the cultural industry in Bulgaria since 1989, but also of the preceding eras. The hardships suffered by the cultural industry in Bulgaria, but also its op- portunities, can be adequately portrayed only with the aid of various perspectives that exhibit complex interconnections. Formulation of useful recommendations for measures to support the cultural development of Bulgaria in general is only possible with recourse to and acknowledgment of comprehensive, keenly analyti- cal in-depth studies covering the entire spectrum of the present-day cultural indus- try. In cultural institutions studies, the action field of cultural policy has a method of analysis specific to that discipline and bound by its own values. Only in this way can effects be triggered that will have a sustainable, long-term and positive impact on the dynamics of the development of the cultural industry. In the project presented here, cultural institutions studies as a set of analytical instruments and informed consideration of Bulgaria’s specific characteristics are presented as an inseparable synthesis and always appear as connected in the practical discourse. They are shown to be interrelated, and only thus are scenarios for action devel- oped for shaping the future. Alexandar Alexandrov is an agent and a protagonist in both the world of thought that is analysis of the cultural industry and in the appropriate application of this method to the real world, in this instance his case 1 study of Bulgaria. From this stem the resources of his own potentiality, and this is also the strength of the publication itself. Introductory remarks to this book must not fail to mention Alexandar Alexan- drov’s far more extensive study – or better, confrontation – with the cultural pol- icy and, by association, the future of his homeland, Bulgaria. The publication of PhD projects in the specialist field of cultural institutions studies is important as a matter of principle. The primary legitimation of cultural institutions studies as an academic discipline lies in its voice at the intersection of theory and practice, in its power to transform and shape the activities of cultural institutions. The publica- tion of Alexandar Alexandrov’s PhD project Revolution and Transition. Cultural Policy in Bulgaria 1989–2012 is a medium and an instrument that provides the Bulgarian cultural industry with a basis for discussion which is meticulously con- structed, comprehensible in its presentation of the subject matter and on a sound theoretical and empirical footing. Alexandar Alexandrov has the ambition and has built up sufficient contacts in networks to enable him to propound the evaluations and recommendations