Public Discussion of the Burgas Culture Development Strategy

On March 4th at the “Morsko Casino” Cultural Center, a public discussion of the project for the Strategy for the Development of Culture of Burgas will be held, starting at 5:00 PM. The event will provide an opportunity for citizens, artists, and representatives of the cultural sector to express their opinions and make suggestions on the document.

Burgas is among the few municipalities in Bulgaria that are preparing their own strategic document in the field of culture, developed after a thorough study of the environment, intensive dialogue with the creative communities, as well as an analysis of existing problems and potentials.

The Strategy offers concrete solutions through which the accumulated local symbolic capital can be included more actively in the lives of citizens and find a wider presence beyond the city limits.

The document was developed by a team with the leading participation of Dr. Lyubomir Kutin, Dr. Nevena Dobrevа, and Assoc. Prof. Todor Yalmov. The authors outline both what has been achieved so far and the challenges facing the development of the cultural sector in the long term.

The Strategy includes three main priorities – Horizon, Networks, and Inclusion, as well as 15 specific measures for their implementation. Among them are:

• Improving the planning and coordination of cultural activities;
• Annual monitoring and public debate;
• Improving administrative and expert capacity;
• “Debuts: Burgas – territory of young artists”;
• “Burgas – creative destination”;
• “Culture for all”;
• Preservation and socialization of cultural heritage;
• Creation of joint archives;
• “Transformation with art”.

The main tools for achieving the set goals are strategic planning, transparency, and constant public dialogue.

In the context of the candidacy for European Capital of Culture

The document was developed also in the context of Burgas's candidacy for European Capital of Culture. The application process is seen as a key tool for attracting resources, creating partnerships, and activating international cultural networks. The potential winning of the title is perceived as a catalyst for overall transformation and sustainable development of the city.

The draft Strategy is published on the website of Burgas Municipality, as well as on the Public Consultation Portal strategy.bg.

Suggestions for corrections and additions can be submitted until March 13th. After that, the document will be submitted for consideration and approval by the Municipal Council – Burgas.

The Strategy is being developed under the project “Burgas – green haven of the arts”, within the framework of a grant scheme “New generation of local policies for culture for large municipalities BG-RRP-11.021” under the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan