ON THE DAY OF BULGARIAN EDUCATION AND CULTURE BULGARIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE IN MOSCOW GOT A NEW HOME

The festive signing of the Agreement for cooperation between Bulgarian Cultural Institute and "M. I. Rudomino" Russian State Library for Foreign Literature was held on 24 May 2011 in Moscow. According to the terms of this Agreement Bulgarian Cultural Institute will continue its activities in the house of the Library after leaving the building on Leningradskiy Prospect in March due to the beginning of a large scale reconstruction.  

The date for signing the Agreement - 24 May was not chosen by chance. This was another way to underline the paramount significance of the role of Bulgaria concerning the Holiday of the Slavonic literature and culture which is traditionally celebrated in all Slav countries. Mr. Plamen Grozdanov - Ambassador of Republic of Bulgaria in Moscow, officials and authorities from the Ministry of culture of Russian Federation, cultural figures and journalists attended the ceremony.  

The Agreement was signed by Mrs. Buriana Angelakieva - Director of Bulgarian Cultural Institute and Mrs. Ekaterina Ghenieva - Director General of the State Library for Foreign Literature.  

The quick solution of the issue connected to finding a new and suitable place for development of BCI activities is a result of the successful visit of the official delegation of Bulgarian Ministry of Culture in April 2011. Then a meeting between Mr. Vezhdi Rashidov - Minister of Culture of Republic of Bulgaria and his colleague Mr. Alexander Avdeev - Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation was held. During the conversation along with the other issues of the mutual cultural exchange between the two countries the issue of finding a new home for the BCI in the Russian capital was also discussed.  

During his visit Mr. Rashidov together with His Excellency Plamen Grozdanov and the other members of the Bulgarian delegation visited the Library as one of the possible solutions for the problem of BCI. The members of the delegation looked at the numerous halls and reading-rooms and had a conversation with the Library Management.  

According to the signed Agreement Bulgarian Cultural Institute will have at its disposal a total area of 260 square meters as well as an exhibition hall and a conference hall. There is a big multifunctional hall in the complex which would be placed at out disposal for organizing cultural events.  

"M. I. Rudomino" State Library for Foreign Literature is an extreme cultural center where you can find originals of world literature masterpieces and translations in many foreign languages. Representatives of more than ten foreign cultural institutes, foundations and educational centers such as the British Council and BBC, the French Cultural Center, the American Center, the Dutch Educational Center, the Japanese Cultural Fund, the Information Office of the Council of Europe, etc. also work here.  

Bulgarian Cultural Institute is the first Slavonic cultural institute which will act together with these prestigious international organizations in one and the same building. There was no other cultural center of a sister nation in this building before, Mrs. E. Ghenieva - Director of the Library said. On the other hand Mrs. B. Angelakieva - Director of BCI expressed her hope that the new place popular all over Moscow will attract more attention and interest of the Russian audience to the events organized by Bulgarian Cultural Institute.