The French Minister of Education has conferred the Order of Academic Palms of the Republic of France (L'ordre des Palmes académiques, grade de chevalier) for 2025 upon Prof. Roumiana Preshlenova from the Institute of Balkan Studies with Centre of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. This is one of the highest distinctions, testifying to France's recognition of her contribution to the French-Bulgarian cooperation in the field of university education and scientific research. The order was presented by H.E. Ms. Marie Dumoulin, newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France to Bulgaria, at a solemn ceremony on November 12, 2025 at the French Embassy. “This is a high award for me as well as for all colleagues and partners with whom we [...]

Within the framework of Serbia's presidency of the Central European Initiative (CEI) in 2025, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia has invited member states to contribute to a digital exhibition dedicated to the connection between intangible cultural heritage and industrial design. The exhibition showcases traditional cultural elements brought to life on utilitarian objects and demonstrates the richness of living traditions in the region. Thirteen countries are participating: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Serbia. The Bulgarian participation has been prepared by a team from the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum at BAS (IEFSEM-BAS) and includes two elements related to traditions and skills in the field of [...]

  Сн. Министерство на културата Photo: Ministry of Culture Corresponding member Vladko Panayotov and the director of the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at BAS, Assoc. Prof. Hristo Popov, were awarded a plaquette for “Contribution to the Development of Culture” and a certificate for their significant contribution to the development and promotion of Bulgarian culture and art. The annual “Golden Age” Awards of the Ministry of Culture were presented at an official ceremony today by Minister Marian Bachev. On the occasion of the National Enlighteners Day, the minister congratulated the artists, scientists, and cultural figures honored for their contribution to Bulgarian spirituality. Corr. Memb. Vladko Panayotov – writer, scientist, public figure, and musician. Author of over 45 scientific books, monographs, and collections, as [...]

A public meeting-discussion on “Germany in Dialogue: Cultural Exchange in a European Context” was held at the “Prof. Alexander Fol” Institute of Balkan Studies with the Centre of Thracology at BAS (IBSCT-BAS). It is part of a series of events on cultural diplomacy in Bulgaria and the Balkans, organized by IBSCT-BAS in institutional partnership with the State Institute for Culture under the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria (SIC). The initiative is implemented within the project “Cultural Diplomacy in the Balkans in the 20th and 21st Centuries: Achievements and Challenges in the Present Time” funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science. The public meeting-discussion was opened by the Director of IBSCT-BAS, Prof. Dr. Roumiana Preshlenova [...]

The "Living Bridges Across Time. 12th Joint Conference of Bulgarian and North American Scholars / Живи мостове във времето XII-та съвместна конференция на български и американски учени " collection was presented at the Institute of Balkan Studies & Center of Thracology on October 14. The publication is a collaboration of the Institute of Balkan Studies & Center of Thracology, the Council for Foreign Bulgarian Studies at BAS and the Bulgarian Studies Association of the USA. Published by the "Prof. Marin Drinov" Academic Publishing House, the collection is edited by Alexandre Kostov, Anissava Miltenova and Tracy Speed and includes a foreword as well as 21 articles, the product of the bilateral scientific conference held on 15 and 16 June 2024 in Sofia in which Bulgarian and [...]