The Dechko Stoev City Art Gallery in Pomorie turns 10 on 1 November. It is in the former Old Customs House, a building that lay in ruins until the gallery opened there in 2016.
The gallery is named after the painter Dechko Stoev, who left a strong mark on Bulgarian art and is remembered by his students and friends. Its director is Milcho Talev, an internationally recognised artist.
"The Dechko Stoev gallery has become a spiritual centre for meeting leading figures of our cultural life," Talev said.
Over the years, the gallery has held joint exhibitions with the National Gallery and the National Academy of Art. Its partners have also included the Iliya Beshkov gallery in Pleven, the Prof. Teofan Sokerov gallery in Lovech, the Prof. Nikola Marinov gallery in Razgrad, the Elena Karamihaylova gallery in Shumen, the gallery in Stara Zagora, the Petko Zadgorski gallery in Burgas and others.
In the halls of the Old Customs House, people in Pomorie have seen paintings by classic artists Vladimir Dimitrov-Maistora, Dimitar Gyudzhenov, Nikola Marinov, Markvichka, Elena Karamihaylova, Ivan Milev, Mario Zhekov, Mara Chorbadzhiyska, Iliya Beshkov, Nenko Balkanski and Dechko Uzunov.
It has also shown artists of the next generation: Dimitar Kazakov-Neron, Yanaki Kavrakov, Hristo Neykov, Anastasia Panayotova, Rumen Skorchev, Stoyan Tsanev, Ivan Vukadinov, Genko Genkov, Georgi Bozhilov-Slona, Emil Stoychev, Georgi Baev, Kiril Simeonov and Damyan Zaberski.
Modern artists also seek out the gallery because of its setting. Dozens of solo and group shows and curated projects have been held there.
In 2025, the National Still Life Biennale began in Pomorie. It is a national forum for still life painting, run jointly by Pomorie municipality, the gallery, the Ministry of Culture and the Union of Bulgarian Artists. With the biennale, the gallery is one of the few organisers of such exhibitions in Bulgaria.
In a short time, the gallery has taken its place beside the big galleries in Bulgaria that have decades of history, and the biennale has strengthened its standing among art institutions.
The gallery also hosts presentations of the work of noted artists, instrumental and choral concerts, talks, seminars and symposiums. Its team also works with schoolchildren.
"The educational role among students, opening the way to art and culture for them, fills us with satisfaction with the work we do," the director said.
Talev believes the gallery raises the spiritual profile of the town and gives people access to high-level art. In his view, it also sets a standard of a rich system of values for future generations.