Bridge Makers rountable three: Culture as a catalyst for local and regional development
Hosted by our member the Narodni Chitalishta Foundation, the third gathering in the Bridge Makers cycle will shine a light on the Bulgarian cultural ecosystem.
As Bulgarian cities prepare new bids for the 2032 European Capital of Culture, the real test is whether rural and peripheral communities are part of that story - and Chitalishta are where that culture is built bottom-up, every day.
This roundtable will bring together MEPs, mayors, Chitalishta representatives, national and local authorities, and ECoC experts to put rural territories back at the centre of Europe's cultural policy agenda.
This is the third in a series of six roundtables under the Bridge Makers programme, following gatherings in the Czech Republic and Italy.
Discover more about Bridge Makers here
The Narodni Chitalishta Foundation was established in October 2023 with the mission to support the potential of chitalishta in Bulgaria, and to offer everyone - regardless of age, gender, education, or financial status - has a place to create, to be informed, and to learn, and so that every rural and neighbourhood community has a home of its own.
The event is co-funded by the European Union and the Sofia Municipality. It is realised with the hosting and support of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Bulgaria.
Friday, September 18th
09:00 Registration and welcome coffee
09:30 Official opening with welcome words by ENCC and local authorities
PANEL 1: Dialogue between local authorities and Chitalishta
09:50 Opening remarks
10:05 Presentation of the "Active Chitalishta" programme
10:15 Round table discussion (part 1): The relationship between chitalishta / cultural centres and municipalities - Good practices and challenges.
11:15 Coffee break
11:30 Round table discussion (part 2): The relationship between chitalishta / cultural centres and municipalities - Good practices and challenges.
12:15 – 13:00 Lunch
PANEL 2: The role of Chitalishta in the European Capital of Culture programme
13:00 Keynote on the Bad Ischl–Salzkammergut experience as 2024 European Capital of Culture
13:45 Presentations of European Capital of Culture ambitions by the cities of Burgas, Gabrovo, and Stara Zagora
14:30 Reflections on the presentations heard, and expectations for the future, followed by a Q&A with the audience
15:30 Coffee break
Panel 3: Culture as a factor for local and regional development
15:45 Introductory remarks by ENCC
16:00 A new model of investment in local cultural ecosystems: the "Chitalishte Dream" Fund.
16:10 Panel discussion
17:15 Discussion with the audience
17:45 Conclusions and recommendations
Saturday, September 19th
Morning Visits to two chitalishta in and around Sofia
13:00 Lunch and departures