Unveiling of the catalogue "At the heart of Europe" at the Representation of the European Commission in Sofia
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On 21st May at the Representation of the European Commission in Sofia, the State Institute for Culture to the Minister of Foreign Affairs unveiled is most recent catalogue, "At the heart of Europe". The catalogue reflects on two decades of work and care for the promotion and preservation of Bulgaria’s cultural and artistic heritage.
In his welcome speech, a.i. Director of the State Institute for Culture moderator of the event Mr. Yavor Koynakov underlined the question of how Bulgarian art can best and most elegantly play a role in the country’s cultural diplomacy without compromising the essence of the creative act. The event was also attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador to Hungary (2021–2026) and Iran (2015–2019) Mr. Hristo Polendakov. In his remarks, Deputy Minister Mr. Polendakov congratulated the State Institute for Culture for its work with the art collection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and highlighted the benefits of incorporating culture and art into the practice of diplomacy.
The catalogue presents works from the Art Collection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which are currently on display in various Bulgarian diplomatic representations and residencies to the EU and NATO in Brussels and, as such, incorporate Bulgaria’s daily public and cultural diplomacy “at the heart of Europe.” The collection not only presents as an aesthetic enrichment, but becomes a natural and daily partner in the diplomatic process for Bulgarian and foreign officials.
The collection features works by Atanas Mikhov, Stoyan Vasilev, Todor Dinev, Todor Panayotov, Ivaylo Mirchev, Dimitar Panayotov, and others.
Every diplomat must find their own dialogue through and with paintings, and their presence in official salons or offices contributes to the promotion of Bulgaria’s artistic heritage and art. The majority of the works depict national values, everyday life, and nature. Many of them bear witness to the aspiration of Bulgarian artists to be authentic individuals and experimenters, which aligns them with the ideal of universality in the visual arts in Europe from the early 20th century.
The event on May 21 was held to mark Europe Day - 9 May and the Day of Slavic Writing, Education, and Culture - 24 May. Representatives of the diplomatic corps, the media, public figures, and cultural figures were invited. The main contributions to the catalogue are by Bulgarian art historian Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetlana Kuyumdzhieva, and experts in the field of cultural diplomacy and international cultural cooperation.