POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES TO PROMOTE CULTURAL DIVERSITY
In recent years the cultural industries in Bulgaria are increasingly being perceived as a sector with an important contribution to local, regional and national development and having a positive impact on the local labour market.
The Ministry of Culture implemented policies and measures promoting creativity and cultural expression through the following programmes:
• "National Culture Fund";
• "Film Art";
• "Performing Arts";
• "Festivals, competitions, events and celebrations";
• "Ensuring the protection of intellectual property";
• "Supporting the development of Bulgarian culture and art of the Bulgarian book sector, libraries and community centres";
• "Promotion of Bulgarian culture abroad";
• "Training of professionals in the field of art and culture"
The Ministry of Culture has developed and implemented a programme to assist the libraries and community centres (3,635) that are a well-developed network for access to information, arts and culture across the country.
In the direction of promoting the diversity of cultural stage product and develop new audiences the Ministry of Culture held competitive sessions and sessions targeted programme to support festivals in the field of theatre, music and dance. With these programmes the Ministry of Culture gives its support and participates in the development of audiences and attracts new audiences to the performing arts and the expansion of the access of the public to higher quality artistic product.
National film industry relies on state subsidies, support from foundations, international organizations and private sponsors. Executive Agency "National Film Centre" at the Ministry of Culture manages the distribution of state subsidies on a competitive basis. Support for co-productions was also received from the European fund "Eurimages", of which Bulgaria has been a member since 1992.
The information is contained in item b.
The implementation of the financing programmes of the Ministry of Culture creates conditions for the full use of the potential of cultural and creative industries for sustainable development of the Bulgarian economy by creating new jobs, expanded internal market with quality goods and services, increased exports and increased tax receipts, as well as through the promotion of Bulgarian culture and cultural diversity.
At the same time they help the integration processes, create conditions for formal and informal lifelong learning , for equal access to human knowledge, communication and awareness, to promote cultural diversity, to tackle discrimination, racism and intolerance, to preserve the continuity between generations.
The activities with children and youth-oriented projects, the protection of intangible cultural heritage, the development of amateur art, the cultural integration of ethnic communities and people with disabilities, the Active Ageing policies, the strategy for equal participation of women and men in cultural life, etc. promote the diversity of cultural expressions.
Supporting festivals in the fields of theatre, music and dance creates conditions for the development of audiences and creating of new audiences in the performing arts.
The information is contained in item b. The funding of the programmes is realized from the annual budget of the Ministry of Culture for the relevant year.