Culture under siege: The lack of regular payments as a systemic problem
Minister of Culture Nayden Miloshev highlighted one of the most painful aspects in the sector – the delay of financial flows to artists and institutions. According to him, this not only hinders work but also creates a sense of insecurity and humiliation among people in the arts.
"Ultimately, for people, it is not just the amount of funds that matters, but that they arrive on time," the minister stated firmly.
Infrastructure challenges: When roofs leak
One of the main focuses of the conversation was the dilapidated state of cultural infrastructure. Miloshev emphasized the absurd situation in which key national institutes find themselves:
- National Historical Museum
- National Library
- National Gallery
The minister stated: "We are talking about culture, yet we have to place buckets when it rains. This is not normal."
Towards the goal of 1% of GDP
Although current funding for delegated activities reaches 0.6–0.7% of GDP, the sector continues to strive for the European standard of 1%. According to Nayden Miloshev, the key to this increase lies precisely in capital expenditures for the modernization and repair of the building stock, which will stabilize the sector in the long term.