Sofia Set to Launch Bulgarian Museum of Socialist Art

Society » CULTURE | August 26, 2011, Friday // 13:31
Sofia Set to Launch Bulgarian Museum of Socialist Art: Sofia Set to Launch Bulgarian Museum of Socialist Art Bulgarian Culture Minister, Vezhdi Rashidov, says that the Museum of Socialist Art aims to teach the country's young generation about history. Photo by BGNES

In the eve of September 9, the date the Communist regime was established in Bulgaria in 1944, Sofia is getting ready to open the Museum of Socialist Art.

The museum will have on display about 100 items created during Socialist times and will be adorned with portraits and statues of Communist leaders such as Lenin and Stalin, and of paintings glorifying the working class.

The first idea, which got altered later, was to name it Museum of Totalitarian Art.

Bulgarian Culture Minister, Vezhdi Rashidov, says that the museum aims to teach the country's young generation about history. He points out many of the works have artistic value beyond the frame of common propaganda.

Bulgaria is one of the last former Socialist countries to have such museum, distantly following in the footsteps of Hungary and the Czech Republic. The investment is estimated at EUR 1.2 M.

Meanwhile, Pravets, near Sofia, birth place of Communist dictator, Todor Zhivkov, is also in feverish preparations to mark the latter's 100th anniversary. There are renovations of his house and the entire street where it is located, including sidewalks and the nearby park.

The manager of the house, which also includes an adjacent museum is quoted by the Bulgarian BGNES news agency saying that many people from all over the world, with the majority being Bulgarian, come to visit and say a few  good words about Zhivkov.

The display boasts as a focal point gifts given to the Bulgarian Communist leader by foreign officials, including a camel saddle bestowed by now-struggling Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi.

In addition, a monument of Zhivkov will be erected in the yard on September 7, his birthday.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Culture » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: Culture Minister, Vezhdi Rashidov, Museum of Socialist Art, history, Todor Zhivkov, Pravets, totalitarian

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria