A number of cultural events marked Bulgaria’s public life in 2009.

Nessebar Remains UNESCO World Heritage Site

In August, many were relieved to learn the old town of Nessebar as an unique cultural and natural heritage site will not be deleted from the UNESCO World Heritage list.

In September, the Bulgarian traditional fire dancing (nestinari) was declared a part of the world's cultural heritage by UNESCO.

The Sofia Synagogue Turns 100

Bulgaria marked the 10th edition of the European Day of Jewish Culture and the 100th anniversary of the Sofia Synagogue;

The Boyana Church Frescoes at 750

Bulgaria's National History Museum announced it would organize a campaign to celebrate the 750th year since the painting of the frescoes of the world-famous Boyana Church outside of Sofia;

Picasso and Goya in Sofia

The National Gallery for Foreign Art in Sofia welcomed visitors to Bulgaria's first ever exhibition of Pablo Picasso. The exhibition, entitled "I don't seek. I find: Pablo Picasso" featured eighty-six original works of the Spanish artist, including paintings, graphics, and ceramics.

In April, Sofia residents and visitors were able to enjoy another master – the exhibit of the "Caprichos" by Spanish painted Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes. The exhibit was hosted by the Cervantes Institute in Sofia.

In December, Diana, the grand-daughter of world-famous artist Pablo Picasso, arrived in Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, for the opening of the Museum Gallery of Modern Art.

Bulgarian Art in Shanghai and Paris

In May, the Bulgarian Art Week opened in Shanghai; dozens of Bulgarian museums and galleries joined the Night of the Museums dedicated to the International Day of Museums; Bulgaria celebrated the Day of Slavic Script and Culture and an exhibit of Bulgarian icons was launched in Paris.

In September, Bulgarian Ergin Çavusoglu became one of eight artists, who have been nominated for Artes Mundi, the UK's biggest visual arts prize;

US Pop Star Madonna, Top Performers Rocks Bulgaria

In August, US pop star Madonna rocked Sofia for 2 hours before a record audience of 60 000 in her first ever concert in Bulgaria.

In September, the legendary composer and Deep Purple co-founder, Jon Lord, performed in Plovdiv.

Also in September, Ken Hensley, best known as member of the famous Uriah Heep, and Bulgarian rock band Sunrise staged a concert in support of the Belogradchik rocks, a nomination in the world's new Seven Wonders ranking.

In October, US legendary rock band ZZ Top staged a concert in Sofia.

In June, the US nu metal band, Limp Bizkit, performed in Sofia.

In November, the Harlem Gospel Choir has four performances in Bulgaria.

In April, the New York Empire Trio and Bulgarian Virtuosi Artists were featured as artists of the month by the US President Obama Music, Arts and Entertainment Organization.

In October, pop star Miro was selected to represent Bulgaria in the 2010 Eurovision song contest;

In July, pop singer, Vasil Naydenov, received a star in Bulgaria's own Hall of Fame; Sofia hosted an international three-day folk festival.

In June, Bulgarian conductor Rossen Milanov was appointed to lead the Princeton Symphony Orchestra in the US.

“Under the Yoke”

In March, the novel "Under the Yoke" by renowned Bulgarian writer Ivan Vazov officially became Bulgaria's favorite novel. The book was selected by a vote from the 11 other finalists of the "The Big Read" campaign, organized by the Bulgarian National television (BNT), under the BBC trademark.

Books

In April, the long anticipated biography of Bulgarian Pop Diva, Lili Ivanova, finally hit the bookstores.

In June, the US Embassy in Sofia and the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation hosted Sofia’s Literary Day;

the 100th year since the birth of one of the most famous Bulgarian novelists, Dimitar Dimov, was honored with a series of events in Madrid.

In October, the novel "Apostoloff"; by Sibylle Lewitscharoff, a German writer of Bulgarian origin, which made headlines with its despiteful descriptions of post-communist Bulgaria, made its premiere in the capital Sofia;

In December, Amoz Os, the prominent Israeli writer, novelist and journalist, paid his first visit to Bulgaria to present his new book "Rhyming Life and Death“ in the framework of Sofia book fair. The same month Bulgaria marked the 100th anniversary of the death of prominent poet Nikola Vaptsarov with a unique display of priceless relics from his legacy.

Also in December, Bulgarian poet and writer Georgi Gospodinov became one of thirty-five European writers, featured in the "Best European Fiction 2010" book, which recently went on sale in the United States.

Top Bulgarian Director in Israel

In April, Dimitar Bozakov, the most successful Bulgarian theatrical director in Israel, fired up the audience at the National Theater "Ivan Vazov" during the opening night of the play "A Servant of Two Masters" of famous Italian playwright, Carlo Goldoni.

Revival of Bulgarian Cinema

In July, the movie "Dzift" was declared the Best Bulgarian Film of 2008 by the National Film Center and Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers.

In September, the movie "The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner," directed by Stefan Komandarev, became the Bulgarian nomination for the Oscars Foreign Film competition; and the Bulgarian film "Eastern Plays" of director, Kamen Kalev, a co-production with Sweden, was selected among the top three to compete for the EP LUX Prize.

In October, Kalev’s movie “Eastern Plays” was presented with the Young Jury Award for Best International Film at the 46th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival and won first prize at the International Movie Festival in Tokyo.

In November, Bulgarian movie fans enjoyed Cinemania, the long-established Bulgarian film festival; while the movie "The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner" won the grand prix at the Listopad Festival in Belarusian capital Minsk.

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