The Czech Centre in Sofia has announced the conclusion of its operations in the Bulgarian capital. The institution stated that the closure was decided by the Director General of the Czech Centres network, marking the end of its cultural and educational activities in Bulgaria. According to the announcement, scheduled events will proceed until the end of May.
The Centre holds a significant historical standing, being recognized as the oldest Czech institution of its kind abroad and one of Bulgaria’s longest-operating foreign cultural organizations. Its 77th anniversary falls on May 5. The facility traces its origins back to May 5, 1949, when an art and craft shop, Ceskoslovenska tvorba Orbis, was established in Sofia under an intergovernmental cultural agreement between Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria.
Following the establishment of the independent Czech Republic and Slovak Republic in 1993, the Czech Centres were instituted to succeed the former Czechoslovak cultural centers abroad. In response to the planned closure, the Academic Council of Sofia University issued a statement supporting an open letter. The Council expressed profound concern regarding the decision, urging for a reconsideration of the matter.
They emphasized the enduring historical and cultural significance of the Centre, highlighting its vital role in maintaining long-standing cultural ties between the Czech Republic and Bulgaria within Sofia.
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