“The Splendour of Bulgaria”

In the very beginning of 2007 the Thrace Foundation organized an exhibition named “The Splendour of Bulgaria” displaying exhibits from Vassil Bojkov collection in the European Parliament in Brussel.  The exhibition was organized under the patronage of the Bulgaria’s Minister of Culture Prof. Stefan Danailov and Graham Watson, the chairperson of the Liberal Group at the European Parliament.  The exhibition was displayed in Brussel on the occasion of Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union. It was opened on 09.01.2007 in the Headquarters of the European Union in Brussel. The opening ceremony was attended by over five hundred MPs, ambassadors, diplomats, cultural figures and journalists.

The exhibition was arranged in a specially designated area opposite the plenary hall Konstantinos Karamanlis. It displayed forty exhibits from the unique collection of Mr. Vassil Bojkov.  That event had been prepared by Thrace Foundation and creators who are emblematic for the Bulgarian culture. The exhibition was opened by the chairperson of the European Liberals.

 

The organization of the exhibition was carried out for a very short time. A catalogue in Bulgarian and in English was printed for the occasion.

The cultural, historical, artistic and scientific significance of the historical records from Bulgaria was highly assessed by foreign MPs, diplomats and journalists.

The layout of the exhibits made by academician Svetlin Rusev gave an overall idea about the Thracian arts and culture since the beginning of the early Iron Age until the time of the Roman rule in Thrace.

 

The exhibition evoked admiration and also became a place for exchange of new ideas, which were discussed by MEPs and other visitors.

In the European Parliament in the very beginning of January 2007, i.e. only a few days after joining the European Union, Bulgaria, the Bulgarian culture and its rich cultural and historical heritage were widely and positively discussed. And it was a positive sign of our acceptance by the representatives of the EU Member States in their common home – the European Parliament. A time has come to realize that in the field of culture and safeguarding of our cultural heritage there is place for private and public – private initiative, of course always in compliance with the applicable law and regulations.