Culture as a Catalyst for Local and Regional Development
From Local Partnerships to a Broader European Dimension.
18–19 September 2026Sofia
Bridge Makers · Sofia
Introduction
Bulgarian community centers are celebrating their 170th anniversary. A vast network of 3,597 community centers, 80% of which are in rural areas, holds immense potential—precisely the potential that the EU’s “Cultural Compass for Europe” calls on us to unleash: culture as a driver of cohesion, sustainability, and competitiveness in every region, not just in the capitals. While Bulgarian cities are preparing their bids for the European Capital of Culture 2032, the real question is whether rural and peripheral communities will be part of this story—and it is precisely the community centers where this culture is built from the ground up, every day. This roundtable brings together Members of the European Parliament, mayors, representatives of community centers, national and local authorities, the ENCC, and experts on the European Capital of Culture to put local culture back at the center of Europe’s territorial ambition. It is the third in a series of six roundtables under the ENCC’s “Bridge Makers” program, following meetings in the Czech Republic and Italy, with an upcoming event in Greece.
18 September · Day 1
Agenda
Day 1
Friday, 18 September 2026
Local time: Europe/Sofia
09:00–09:30
Registration and welcome coffee
09:30–09:50
Official opening
To be confirmedOpening remarks
- Ivo Hristov — Deputy Prime Minister for Education, Culture, Tourism, and Sports
- Vasil Terziev — Mayor of Sofia Municipality
- Teodor Stoychev — European Parliament Liaison Office in Bulgaria
- Pete Forger — ENCC Governing Board
- Yuri Valkovski — Executive Director, “Narodni Chitalishta” Foundation
09:50–13:00
PANEL 1 — Dialogue between Local Authorities and Cultural Centers/Community Centers
09:50–10:05
Opening Remarks
- Katarzyna Pongowska — Deputy Director, Regional Center for Cultural Development (WOAK), Poland
10:05–10:15
Presentation of the “Active Community Centers” Program
- Irina Dakova — Deputy Mayor for Culture and Tourism, Sofia Municipality
10:15–11:15
Roundtable (Part 1): Relations between community centers/cultural centers and municipalities—best practices and challenges
Followed by questions and comments from community center and municipal representatives in the audience.
- Silvana Suleyman — Director, Vidin “Community Centers” Foundation
- Neli Roydeva — Chair, “Community Centers with a Future – 2012” Association, Tundzha Municipality
- Donka Mihaylova — Mayor of Troyan Municipality
- Teodora Dacheva — Deputy Executive Director of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB)
11:15–11:30
Short coffee break
11:30–12:15
Roundtable (Part 2): Relations between community centers/cultural centers and municipalities—best practices and challenges
To be confirmedПоследвано от въпроси и коментари от читалищни и общински представители в публиката.
- Албена Недева — Председател на Общински читалищен съвет Търговище
- Стефан Радев — Кмет на община Сливен
- Лиляна Барганска — Председател на Народно читалище „Васил Левски – 1945“, Варна
12:15–13:00
Обяд
English translation pending
13:00–15:30
ПАНЕЛ 2 — Ролята на читалищата в Европейската столица на културата
English translation pending
13:00–13:45
Основен доклад
English translation pending
Наблюдения върху процеса за Европейска столица на културата и значимостта му за българските градове кандидати.
- Елзе Кристенсен-Реджепович — Член на Панела за подбор и мониторинг на Европейска столица на културата
13:45–14:30
Представяния на амбициите за Европейска столица на културата от градовете Бургас, Габрово и Стара Загора
To be confirmedEnglish translation pending
По 15 минути всеки.
14:30–15:15
Диалог: размисли по чутите представяния и очакванията към бъдещата българска Европейска столица на културата
To be confirmedEnglish translation pending
- Pete Forger — ENCC Governing Board
- Орлин Денков — Председател на Народно читалище „Иван Вазов – 2014“, София
- Ивайло Вълчев — Член на Комисията по култура и образование
- Никола Минчев — Член на Европейския парламент
- Христо Петров — Заместник-председател на Комисията по култура и образование в Европейския парламент
15:15–15:30
Отворен диалог с публиката
English translation pending
15:30–15:45
Кафе-пауза
English translation pending
15:45–17:45
ПАНЕЛ 3 — Културата като фактор за местно и регионално развитие
English translation pending
15:45–16:00
Встъпителни думи
English translation pending
- Пьотр Михаловски — Член на борда на ENCC, координатор на Общностната група на ENCC за култура и творчество в селските райони, експерт по териториално развитие и сътрудничество град–село
16:00–16:10
Нов модел за инвестиции в местните културни екосистеми: Фонд „Читалищна мечта“
English translation pending
- Светла Цачевска — Програмен директор „Култура“, Фондация „Лъчезар Цоцорков“
16:10–17:00
Панелна дискусия
To be confirmedEnglish translation pending
- Заместник-министър Чакъров — Министерство на земеделието и храните
- Елдер Соуза Силва — Член на Европейския парламент, Комисия по бюджети
- Цветелина Пенкова — Член на Европейския парламент
- Илия Годев — Секретар на Народно читалище „Проф. д-р Асен Златаров – 1927“, с. Смилян, област Смолян
17:00–17:15
Коментар
English translation pending
- Антон Кутев — Председател на Комисията по култура и медиите, Народно събрание на Република България
17:15–17:45
Дискусия с публиката
English translation pending
17:45–18:00
Заключение и препоръки
English translation pending
Ден 2
Saturday, 19 September 2026
Local time: Europe/Sofia
Time to be confirmed
Посещения на две читалища в София и околността
English translation pending
Сутрин.
13:00
Обяд, последван от отпътуване
English translation pending
Partnership
About the Organizers
The European Network of Cultural Centers (ENCC) brings together over 200 sociocultural centers and networks from 39 countries in Europe and beyond, connecting over 5,000 cultural organizations with diverse structures, practices, and audiences. The network promotes dialogue, training, collaboration, and advocacy among cultural operators whose work is focused on social impact and community development. The network is co-funded by the European Union’s “Creative Europe” program.
The “Narodni Chitalishta” Foundation (NCHF) was established in October 2023 with the mission to support the potential of community centers in Bulgaria so that everyone—regardless of age, gender, education, or financial status—has a place to create, stay informed, and learn, and so that every rural and neighborhood community has a home.
The event is funded by the Sofia Municipality and is implemented as part of the ENCC’s “Bridge Makers” project, co-funded by the European Union. It is organized with the hosting and support of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Bulgaria.
