Bulgaria is bubbling over with cultural events

Stephan Danailov is a Professor at the National Academy of Theater and Film Arts, Sofia. Tutor of an actor’s class. Participated actively in the public and political life of the country. Coalition for Bulgaria MP in the 39th National Assembly and chairman of the Culture Committee. Over this period, he contributed for the adoption and enforcement of a number of laws in the sphere of culture and education: The Film Industry Law, The Copyright Law, The Optical Media Law, The Chitalishta Law, The Law on Orders and Medals, amendments in the tax laws, alleviating donors and sponsors in the sphere of culture and education, amendments in the Law on Public Education, Law on Higher Education.
He is rated as the most successful minister in the coalition cabinet.

Stephan Danailov graduated Krastyo Sarafov Academy of Theater and Film Arts, Sofia, in acting. For thirty years the most popular and loved Bulgarian actor is a leading actor in the Ivan Vazov National Theater. He has performed at the other big stages in Bulgaria too. Impersonated more than 60 parts, among which: in Love and Intrigue (Schiller), Camille Desmoulins in The Danton Case by Przybyszewska produced by Andrzej Wajda, Styles in Sizwe Bansi is Dead (Athol Fugard), Edmond in Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Eugene O’Neill), Chadsky in Wit Works Woe (Griboedov), Hamlet (Shakespeare), Stavrogin in The Possessed (Dostoyevsky), Per Gint (Ibsen), Shylock in The Price (Arthur Miller), Alexandre de Medicis in Lorenzaccia (Alfred de Musset), Danton in Danton’s Death (Buchner), Trigorin in Seagull (Chekhov), Decameron, Enigmatic Variations, Jake’s Women.

Particularly exciting in the artistic career of the actor are his meetings with the Moscow audience when Ivan Vazov National Theater had guest performances, where Danailov starred in Love’s Labors Lost and in Albena.

Stephan Danailov built remarkable characters in the Bulgarian cinema and television in over 60 films and serials. His fame came with the films The Inspector and the Night (1963), The First Courier (1966), The Black Angels (1969), At Every Kilometer – 26 series (1970). He made memorable performances in Ivan Kondarev (1972), Something Out of Nothing (1977), The Tarnovo Tsaritsa (1980), 24 Hours of Rain (1982), Boris I (1984), Ladies’ Turn (1984), The Carnival (1986), I Want America (1990).

He played in seven co-productions with Mosfilm, and guest starred in two US films, The Berlin Conspiracy (1991) and Crisis in the Kremlin (1992).
Stephan Danailov is among the best liked Bulgarian actors in Italian film series, such as Octopus 7 (1995) as Don Nuzzo Marciano (RAI 1), as Vincenzo Grumo in Racket (RAI 2) (1997), Morte di una ragazza perbene (1998) as the janitor, Fine secolo as Milo (RAI 1) (1999), Caso di Coscienza (2001).
Participated in the French-Bulgarian film Vercingetorix (2002).
He was awarded a number of awards at national theater and film festivals. In 1976, he was declared the most popular actor in the then Czechoslovakia.

Prof. Danailov is knight of the highest distinction for contributions to Bulgarian culture, Stara Planina Order, and in 2002 received the Paisiy Hilendarski Award of the Ministry of Culture for extraordinary contribution to Bulgarian culture.

Prof. Danailov, you are an emblematic figure for Bulgarian culture and its promotion. You are famous not only in Bulgaria but far beyond its frontiers.
Culture is the best ambassador, it knows no frontiers, it surmounts even the language barriers.

Bulgarian culture is an integral part of the European cultural treasure. Shall we need new legislative initiatives after we join EU?
In the sphere of culture no harmonization is required of the Bulgarian legislation and the European norms, the normative basis is a national obligation of each state. Some of the operative Bulgarian laws had to be amended but this concerns mainly the free moment of people and services and is not related to the creative substance. We continue our efforts for the coining of up-to-date Bulgarian legislation in certain fields of culture. At the moment we are working on the draft of a new law on cultural heritage and museums.

1 November 2005. President Georgi Parvanov and Minister Danailov inaugurating the exhibition “Bulgaria spread before the eyes”

27 April 2005. Prof. Stephan Danailov and Ivan Todorov, manager of TODOROFF Winery, present the award of TODOROFF Gallery contest to Dimiter Rashkov

On 14 June 2006 Minister Stephan Danailov officially presented the first registration certificates of patrons and organizations sponsoring culture. On the photo: with Mr. Minko Vasilevski and Mrs. Mariana Cholakova

Can we expect any time soon the law that will update all normative acts related to the preservation and promotion of our rich cultural and historical heritage?
The current law in Bulgaria is of 1969, with many amendments and additions, some of which in compliance with the EU requirements. When I was a Member of Parliament, I found a bill of 1938, which never entered the plenary hall. One of my first tasks as chairman of the Culture Committee in the 39th National Assembly was the legislative program. It was the first thing we discussed with Prof. Abrashev, then minister of culture. We raised the question of the need of a new law before the committee leadership. After much tension and pressure, the bill in its different versions and options was discussed in 2004. There were some good points, but most things were not working. Nevertheless, the committee conscientiously pushed on with its work, but it never came to introducing such a draft.

When I joined the ministry, already in end September I started talks with the experts to renew work on this draft, because I already knew how long and complicated this process was. We appointed a committee and hopefully in the autumn we will be ready to introduce the bill into the National Assembly.
Very urgent are the issues of treasure-hunting, private collections, there are problems related not only to the movable but to the immovable monuments too. Of course, we draw on the practices and experience of the European Union countries in order to be adequate and do something of public benefit. I hope, after all the difficulties we went through, finally to arrive at a really good law.

Does Eurointegration put to new trials the preservation of our cultural identity, and what do you think is the role of the Bulgarian artists?
In the process of integration and globalization the question of cultural identity is topical for everybody. We can hardly say there is a European cultural identity, if we don’t view it solely as an aggregate of the individual national identities. The same is true of the European cultural policy. Today the attention of politicians in Europe and in the world is focused on maintaining the cultural diversity and active intercultural dialogue. This is the bridge to a better understanding of our neighbors, of the different people, the key to tolerance and respect. To have respect for the others means you have respect for yourself.

The Bulgarian artists can play a great role in the enrichment of the cultural palette of Europe. Bulgaria has a very valuable contribution to the development of the European civilization. With its becoming a full-fledged member of EU, the Community will start writing in the Cyrillic. Since 2001 our country is an equal partner and participant in the EU programs in the field of culture and audiovision, and the results are impressive – each year the number of Bulgarian projects, approved and financed by EU, is growing.

The importance of the Bulgarian cultural institutes overseas for the promotion of Bulgarian culture is growing. What is the Ministry’s strategy for their development?
I would say, not only their importance is growing but their number too. This year the Bulgarian Culture and Information Center in Skopje was inaugurated. Steps have been taken and the possibilities are explored for the opening of new institutes in Belgrade, Athens, Rome, maybe in Brussels and London.
The Ministry of Culture has an established concept for the work of these institutes. It guides their activity and monitors the financial discipline. The teams employed in all our cultural institutes abroad are highly professional and active, and have excellent knowledge of the situation in the respective country – the arts market, the consumers’ tastes. Many joint initiatives with local organizations are carried out, projects are developed with foreign cultural institutes in the same country.

Our cultural institutes abroad have become prestigious venues for the presentation of the unique Bulgarian culture, and at the same time centers providing tourist information about our country, organizing conferences on economic and political topics, presenting the modern image of Bulgaria.
The Ministry takes special care of the premises and necessary equipment of the institutes. Where they are accommodated in buildings property of the Bulgarian state (BCI in Budapest, Witgenstein Home in Vienna, Boris Christoff Academy in Rome, BCI in Paris) we try to maintain the buildings in good shape, to supply modern equipment, in short to provide all conditions for their full-blooded functioning.

On 19 January 2006, at a ceremony in the Ministry of Culture Prof. Stephan Danailov was decorated with the honorary insignia of Rosszarubezhtsentr of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for his great contribution to the development of the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Russia. The distinction was presented personally by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Sofia, H.E. Mr. Anatoly Potapov.

What are the concrete activities of the Ministry of Culture in the field of international cooperation – the building up of a positive image of Bulgaria as a reliable partner in the international cultural policy and international relations, participation of Bulgarian artists at the foreign arts market, the exchange of cultural values and products, and last but not least – the mission of culture as a means of bringing the world together?
The international cultural policy of the Ministry is extremely dynamic. Provisionally it could be divided in European integration and multilateral cooperation and bilateral cooperation. In the field of eurointegration, the Ministry of Culture directs Working Group 20 “Cultural Policy and Audiovision” and co-chairs Working Group 5 “Company Law”, which deals with the intellectual property rights. Bulgaria, through its representatives in the governing committees for culture and cultural heritage of the Council of Europe (where it is represented by the Ministry of Culture), has won the renown of an active partner, which is very instrumental for the general development of the organization. In recent years, our cooperation within UNESCO also increased noticeably.

In 2006 we place special emphasis on the Bulgarian cultural presence in the EU member states, because our aim is the citizens of these countries to get acquainted with our all-round potential as a country which will soon be one of them. To this end, we worked out a program with many events in diverse genres. I will enumerate only some of them:

• Exhibition “Cyrillic – the New Alphabet of the European Union”, designed by Kiril Gogov, to be presented in Germany, Finland, Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, France, etc., started out on May 23 in Berlin.
• Concerts of a folklore formation from the Filip Kutev National School of Folk Arts, Kotel, in Slovakia, Austria, Belgium and Germany.
• Concerts of Nikolina Chakurdukova and her group in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, etc.
• Days of Bulgarian Culture in Lower Normandy, France.
• Joint concerts with Romania under the patronage of the Austrian EU Presidency.
• Teodosiy Spasov Trio had a tour in Austria and Hungary in May.
• Chamber orchestra conducted by Naiden Todorov – Vienna, June 13, together with chamber orchestras from Austria and Romania.
• Photo exhibitions by Ivo Hadjimishev “Bulgaria – a Country of Ancient Civilizations” and “Golden Pages from the Bulgarian Middle Ages”, throughout the year in all EU member states.
• Presentation of Bulgarian culture and tourism during the Open Door Days at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
• The exhibition “Contemporary Bulgarian Fine Arts” in Poland, the Netherlands, Austria, etc.
• Participation in the Cannes film festival with a Bulgarian pavilion for the first time.
• Representative exhibitions of the Thracian treasures in Italy, Denmark, France, etc.
  It is a long list.

In end June, Bulgaria will host the meeting of the Ministers of Culture of the SEE countries. This year you are president of the council. What is expected from this meeting?
On June 22-25, 2006 the second meeting of the Council of Ministers of Culture of South East Europe will be held in Varna. This council was formed in March 2005 in Copenhagen on the model of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Its founding members are Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. The presidency of the Council of Ministers of Culture of SEE is of one-year term on the rotation principle in alphabetical order. After the Albanian presidency, on April 1, 2006 Bulgaria took up this role.

To us the dialogue with the SEE countries is a special priority and in the past few years Bulgaria deservedly won the renown of a stabilizing factor in the region, led by the understanding that it is culture and cultural cooperation that have a founding role for the sustainable development of this part of Europe.

On June 7, the Minister of Culture Prof. Stephan Danailov met with Mrs. Jimena Vidal, chairperson of the Group for Friendship with Bulgaria in the Parliament of the Republic of Chile, and MP Ramon Farias. The meeting was attended by MP Sylvia Alexieva, chairperson of the Group for Friendship Bulgaria – Chile in the 40th National Assembly.

A basic topic at the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Culture of SEE will be the Regional Program of the Council of Europe for cultural and natural heritage, which is implemented in conjunction with the European Union. The forum will also adopt the documents approved by the Opatja Summit some days ago, which is a continuation of the Bulgarian initiative “Cultural Corridors in South East Europe”. The ministers will assign the development of an action plan to experts. For the first time, the minister of culture from the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government of Kosovo will take part in the council with observer status, which is a sure sign of easing up of the situation in the region.

Alongside the serious work, we have prepared a cultural program for our guests – visit to the exhibition of Thracian treasuries at the Museum of Archaeology in Varna, visit to the Palace in Balchik, concert of the students from the National School of Choreography in the Summer Theater, etc.

How do you manage even today to combine the actor and the administrator, is it not one at the expense of the other?
No, I can’t say either one robs the other, or that the administration robs me of my better part. I haven’t given up one for the other. I am trying to balance the two, but my attention is to a great extent focused on what I am doing as an administrator. However, it is extremely difficult to administer art. I try not to sever the contact with the theater and last season I played 2-3 times a month my roles that I wouldn’t like to abandon. All the more so that I feel physically fit to continue performing on stage. At the same time, I by no means neglect my responsibilities as minister and I do my best to marry the two. I am an adherent of the live art and the balance is even harder. What happens at the ministry engages me on a much larger scale.

I hope it would not sound vain, but I am very ambitious and I have always been. My character and temperament seem to want things to happen quickly, and when I encounter obstacles, whether legislative, financial or other, I get motivated.
Speaking of financing, I think we expend the financial resources very rationally. On the other hand, we are dependent, because there is no way you can have reserves when daily appear problems requiring financial resources, which the state has to provide. And as in the last 15-16 years, unfortunately, everybody has been negligent to the material base and did only minimal maintenance, today the problems are very big. However, if we leave things as they are, the buildings, etc. will collapse.

We must preserve what has been built and created and hand it down to the generations. We have an adequate attitude to everything happening in art and literature. We support the museums, galleries, libraries… We have plans to spur on the different structures to more active work. At this stage, I can say we avoided the duplication of functions and I think we are going in the right direction.

I am clear about the national structures and to a great extent about the municipal ones, but what is happening in the private galleries, small troupes, etc. this lives in me all the time. This statistics is very significant – we have projects, even if only from the economic point of view, important for culture.
The problems are many. I shall not speak of the remuneration, copyrights etc. which we will have to deal with, too. We meet regularly with various civil associations, which help us a lot, but this is not enough.

Which are the pivotal points in your work?
Firstly, you must have a clear idea of the direction in which you are going. Some things may happen chaotically, but everything must be channeled. I am working for the renovation of the material base in the ministry too. The structure of this base and the attitude towards it has to change. I am not ready to and I don’t think I can make global reforms. The easiest thing is to start anew, but this is not the way. I do not want resort to cutbacks of personnel as in the other ministries – the administration in the cultural sphere was brought down to minimum in the last years. We tried to reduce the secondary unites – national centers and their directorates, their nature and way of operation is not changed but now their workload is greater, and this went down well. At the same time, we are setting up new structures related to eurointegration, which are also very important.

We drew a concept for future development, which has many good points. The question is, what period do we envisage? Are the projects planned for a single mandate of 4 years, won’t the next cabinet abolish, for example, an adopted strategy for control? Are we mature enough to create good strategy and succession? Another important point is the correct prioritization.

Public opinion is of great importance to me, we pay attention to it and are guided by it.
On the other hand, culture is one of the least profitable things in the world. It is not accidental that this year under the communication strategy the Foreign Ministry granted funds for many of the projects we proposed. Practically, at the moment we are trying to show in Europe our culture, history. Still, traveling to some big European cities we find that people there are unfamiliar with Bulgarian culture. In this respect, we are fighting for a state policy that would not only be willing but also be able to help preserve our cultural-historic heritage and promote it.

These are goals we have set ourselves not only because we are joining the European Union, but also to get a better knowledge of ourselves, the Bulgarians.
The achievements of the Bulgarian art and culture in the past are still at a world level. The Bulgarian talent has great potential and is appreciated in the world.
A gallery in England, for example, may not have a painting by a Bulgarian artist, but we will show them an exhibition of a Bulgarian artist and will attract the English to come here and see what else we have got. Communication is to be kept up and enhanced – unfortunately, it all involves finances.
Today the existing spaces do not have funds for renovation and cannot collect new works. In this way, the national wealth is going to waste.
Self-respecting states make great investments in it.

Concentrating on Bulgaria’s joining the European Union, don’t we run a risk of slowing down our relations with other states?
I don’t think so, on the contrary. Now, for example, we are preparing and soon we will sign the agreement for cultural exchange between Bulgaria and Russia for next year. We are working very actively with the countries in our region, Bulgaria is one of the leading countries here. The cultural dialogue and exchange is intensifying.

Do you have time for your family and friends?
My family is grieved because they lost my presence. I just don’t have the time for them. Bulgaria is bubbling over with cultural events – I am buried with invitations. Constantly something is happening. I get home too exhausted to be of any use.
My life has always been very dynamic, I always traveled a lot. I have been eager for work, but now, realizing how time flies and the years roll by and how many things are to be done – only early in the morning or late at night I can stop to think that yesterday is over and tomorrow is ahead.

I think you enjoy public interest and approval…
Maybe I am interesting for the media, but I don’t like to cause a stir. Of course, when something significant has been done and it is a fact, when something has happened, then – yes.

What do you most often wish to the young people?
Usually, I with them two things.
To seize the moment, to enjoy life and their achievements, to make the best use of their time.
To get their correct bearings in life, to understand themselves and what they can do best, in order to find fulfillment, to feel useful and happy.

Are you a happy man?
Yes, I am.