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To be competitive in the cultural offer of Bulgaria’s capital Sofia, a uniqueness and sophistication is needed in what is presented to the public. The Macedonian Cultural and Information Center has been tireless in its attempts to retain audiences, and to attract new young people, who will get to explore the Macedonian culture through our creative work.
A lot of cultural events have been taking place in Sofia over the last few months, and through the works of our writers, artists and musicians we managed to match the cultural offer of developed countries who have culture centers in Bulgaria.
This was the case with the event ‘European Night of Literature’, and with the concerts of Vlatko Stefanovski, ‘Foltin’, Simon Trpcevski…as was with the great interest to translate the works of Macedonian authors in Bulgarian.
On these matters, Telegraph.mk had the opportunity to discuss these matters with the director of the Cultural and Information Center of Macedonia in Bulgaria-Vasko Sutarov, who said that the point of cultural diplomacy is to establish long-lasting and fruitful cultural relations which will actuate new partnerships and new projects.
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T: Over ten years have passed since the establishment of the Cultural and Information Center of Macedonia in Bulgaria. Has it managed to continually attract audiences?
“Thank you for the question, which will give me the opportunity to express my gratitude to the previous mangers of the center, which opened in 2005. What we represent today, a cultural center that serves to promote Macedonian culture, is owed to the huge amount of effort and energy by the current and former teams of the center. To gain the trust of the audience, and to attract new audiences, is by no means a onetime effort.
Trust is built over time, with constant investment in establishing a best possible cultural offer, and the support from our Ministry in the selection of our program is crucial. Luckily, we have been able to reciprocate this trust from our institutions, by having a constant, competent and noble audience, which is getting larger with every new event. It is comprised not only of Bulgarians or Macedonians that work and live in Sofia, but of many foreigners, who have not had the chance to attend a cultural presentation from our country, so through our program they are getting to know the culture of Macedonia.
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T: The Center organizes a variety of events which usually occur during the high season of cultural events. Sometimes many events overlap. How do you manage to keep up?
“The cultural offer in Sofia deserves respect. Firstly, there are many offers by the numerous Bulgarian cultural centers, private cultural initiatives, foreign cultural centers and embassies here in Bulgaria. We have a rich and dynamic cultural offer, but during the peaks of the cultural season, like in April, May, October and November, our program must compete with really significant cultural events to which even I would go.
I often say to my two coworkers from the center, in a cultural arena like Sofia and in peak seasonal months, the battle to attract an audience is truly gladiator-like. Like any other institution, we are nothing without our audience and it is of extreme importance to keep the interest of the constant and the new audiences. Despite our competition, every seat at our events was filled.
T: Macedonian artists and authors are being promoted through the center’s program. Does the support you provide help them in succeeding in Bulgaria?
“The presentation of our artists, authors, and cultural workers, plus their contact with the audience, above all with their colleagues and potential collaboration partners is extremely important. Often, individuals and cultural institutions, who have already established a regular cultural cooperation, are presented. We support them and facilitate their connection with those established contacts. The challenge is immense, when those contacts are lacking.
It is our greatest pleasure when an artist gets another event offer in Bulgaria or an offer for a publishing deal upon a first appearance. Last year, several Macedonian authors received offers in Bulgaria after their first presentation. Your question, in fact, encompasses the essence of every cultural diplomacy – building long-lasting and fruitful cultural relations will actuate new partnerships and new projects.
T: You have been chief of this institution for several years. What excites the visitors and do you have a constant audience?
“I can say that I am fairly familiar with what the audience in Sofia and Bulgaria wants and expects from our cultural offer. It demands, above all, everything that is typically Macedonian, both in traditional and modern creations. This includes traditional music and concerts, such as those of Vlatko stefanovski, Tavitjan Brothers, Foltin, and Simon Trpcevski. Our literature is also received well, our book promotions of Macedonian authors are always well attended and covered by the media.
Artists also have a constant audience which is interested in Macedonian contemporary art. Musical events promoting classical music are very well received, and the audience is always ready to hear an interpretation of a contemporary Macedonian piece. Adaptations of plays by Macedonian authors are included in theater repertoires, while the archaeological and ethnological exhibits are always well attended. Recently an exhibit of medieval Macedonian frescoes opened in cooperation with the Museum of Macedonia. On the same night, there were a dozen other events, but our event was the most visited.
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T: What events are in the works?
“Right after the opening of the exhibit of Macedonian frescoes on May 26, we leave for the Francophone Festival in Sozopol. Last year, our art exhibit opened the festival, and this year we will take part with a music concert by Momchilo Kufoyanakis and Vesna Angelova and with an art exhibit by the ‘Connection’ group, which is comprised of Macedonian artists and sculptors living in Bulgaria. In June we will take part at the music festival ‘Vasil Hristov’ with 3 concerts. The fall program is already under way, and we will treat the Sofia audience with several jazz and contemporary music concerts and a few very interesting exhibits. Our program will be rich, and audiences in Sofia will be pleased.