The Municipality of Burgas will announce in March 2015 the first call for its Fund for financing of cultural projects.
On public financing has been functioning well in a number of Bulgarian cities
Last year, the Fund approved 13 artistic and curatorial projects in different cultural disciplines which had to be organised by local artists and organizations and to take place on the municipality’s premises. The Fund’s rules and regulations were initiated by the independent creative sector; they were recognised by the administration and were developed by a working group by both parties’ representatives. This process was a good illustration of the possibility for independent agents to work in collaboration with local authorities. S uch cooperation on public financing has been functioning well in a number of Bulgarian cities. In some places it has been due to the municipality’s long-term cultural strategy, in others its efficiency and benefits are yet to be measured on a local level.
But why is it important to fund independent art with public money?
The first study on the impact of creative and cultural industries, cultural tourism and heritage on the GDP in Bulgaria was conducted a few years ago. Despite it being based on passive countrywide data and “active” stats mainly from the capital, the research revealed the need to start a dialogue on the actual impact of culture on the national economy and the vast potential the sector has.
The substantial withdrawal of human capital from the cities is ever more evident the further the location from Sofia. This is another reason for the the lacking (or often absent) alternative financing of cultural initiatives in many cities. It has been only a year since the launch of the Fund for support of independent projects in Burgas, yet the increase in partnerships between the nongovernmental sector and the local authorities is already evident, as are the recognised potential of creating new work opportunities, the search for new methods to boost the municipality’s image through creativity and culture, and the potential of cultural tourism development.
These processes happen at a low pace
But this is mainly due to the small size of the Fund, which is based on the municipality’s budget surplus from the expenses of its pre-set yearly cultural agenda. However though, in a city with virtually no options for external cultural funding such public fund is essential for the futre development of cultural and creative industries on a local level. On the other hand, the attracting of experts on a national level as jury members for the fund upgrade the released projects’ level and the knowhow in cultural management in general.
Even though it is the most important component in this process, the constant strive for development from all parties is still lacking. Attracting external support and upgrading decision-makers’ expertise are key to the creation of a truly sustainable model which could be adopted by other municipalities. And why not apply it in other sectors such as education, sport and ecology?
Margreta Kostadinova
Gret is MOVE.BG's ambassador in Burgas
Margreta is a board member of the Association ‘Hamalogika’ and is one of the founders of the ‘See!’ Network (Editor of Culture for ‘See! Burgas’ and ‘See! Varna’). During 2013 she was part of an expert group in the Civil Council that develops regulations in support of independent cultural projects in the Culture Department of the Municipality. As a member of the ‘Hamalogika’ Association she was involved in developing the concept of the Burgas bid for European Capital of Culture 2019, and was also involved in some of the projects in the Plovdiv bid, that won the title. Margreta is involved in cultural management and cultural policy with an interest in contemporary art.
Image: Стеноgraffika
