The Academic Council of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski has unanimously endorsed an open letter advocating for the continuation of the Czech Centre in Sofia, following the announcement that the institution is ceasing its operations in the Bulgarian capital. The Centre informed the public on Monday that, by directive from the Czech Centres network Director General, the Sofia branch would close, concluding its cultural and educational activities in Bulgaria.
Planned events are scheduled to continue through the end of May. The Czech Centre in Sofia holds a significant historical position, being the oldest Czech institution of its kind abroad and one of Bulgaria’s longest-operating foreign cultural organizations. The centre will mark its 77th anniversary on May 5.
Its origins trace back to May 5, 1949, when an art and craft shop named Ceskoslovenska tvorba Orbis opened at 100 Rakovski Street in Sofia, established under a cultural agreement between Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria. Following the establishment of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic as independent states in January 1993, the Czech Republic established the Czech Centres to succeed the former Czechoslovak cultural centres abroad. Given this background, the Academic Council of Sofia University voiced strong concern regarding the planned closure.
The council urged a reconsideration of the decision, emphasizing the centre’s considerable historical and cultural value and its ongoing role in sustaining long-standing cultural ties between the Czech Republic and Bulgaria within Sofia.
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The Academic Council of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski has unanimously endorsed an open letter calling on Czech authorities to reconsider the closure of the Czech Centre in Sofia. This advocacy
What are the potential consequences for students and academic programs if the Czech Centre in Sofia permanently closes?