Institutional Profile

New Culture Foundation (Bulgarian: Фондация „Нова култура“) is a national government entity of the Republic of Bulgaria. It is registered under Unified Identification Code (EIK / UIC) 130737641 and operates with a clear public-interest mandate in the fields of culture, education and regional development.

The Foundation was established to serve as an interdisciplinary platform bringing together journalists, artists, writers, new-media practitioners and volunteers. Its seat is in Gorna Bela Rechka, Northwestern Bulgaria (Varshets municipality), a location deliberately chosen so that cultural policy and practice remain grounded in the life of the region.

Main Goals

• Developing Bela Rechka and the Northwestern region through cultural and educational activities.
• Creating safe spaces for multicultural dialogue on memory by meeting European and local traditions.
• Collecting and safeguarding personal stories as part of a living cultural archive.
• Supporting the right of every person to culture and to the free expression of their own identity.
• Contributing to a vision of Northwest Bulgaria as a desirable place to live, create and work.

Our Place

Gorna Bela Rechka lies in the Varshets municipality of Northwestern Bulgaria. The area is known for its natural environment, thermal traditions and the distinctive character of its rural communities. The Foundation treats the locality not merely as an address but as a partner: projects are designed to respond to local needs while opening channels of dialogue with national and European cultural frameworks.

Working from the periphery allows the Foundation to test models of cultural decentralisation — ensuring that national cultural policy remains meaningful outside major urban centres.

Program Framework

New Culture Foundation organises its work into complementary program lines. Each line supports the institutional mission while remaining flexible enough to respond to emerging community needs and partnership opportunities.

1. Cultural Memory & Oral History

Systematic collection of personal narratives, family histories and local knowledge. The resulting materials form a living archive that can be used for research, education and public presentation. Emphasis is placed on intergenerational exchange and on documenting experiences that are often absent from official histories.

2. Educational Initiatives

Workshops, outdoor learning (including nature-based schools), training for cultural practitioners, and programs that link schools and community groups to the cultural resources of the region. Education is treated as a lifelong process that includes both formal and informal settings.

3. Creative Practice & Public Events

Support for artists, writers, journalists and designers; organisation of festivals, residencies and public presentations. Signature events associated with the Foundation have historically served as focal points for regional cultural life and for dialogue between local and visiting participants.

4. Regional Development through Culture

Projects that demonstrate how cultural activity can contribute to quality of life, local economy and environmental stewardship in Northwestern Bulgaria. The Foundation advocates for culture as a strategic factor in regional planning.

5. European & International Dialogue

Participation in European networks and projects that address memory, identity, periphery–centre relations and the role of culture in social cohesion. These partnerships enrich local practice and ensure that the experience of Northwestern Bulgaria is visible in wider debates.

Legal Identity

New Culture Foundation is a national government entity of the Republic of Bulgaria. It is identified by Unified Identification Code (EIK) 130737641. The Foundation’s registered seat is at 63 Parva str. / blvd., Gorna Bela Rechka, 3544 Bulgaria.

Management

Day-to-day management and representation of the Foundation are entrusted to the Manager, who is responsible for the lawful and effective implementation of the institutional mandate.

Accountability

As a national government entity, the Foundation operates under the legal and financial frameworks applicable to public-interest organisations in Bulgaria. Activities are conducted in accordance with the principles of transparency, public benefit and respect for cultural rights.

For official correspondence, partnership proposals and media enquiries, please use the contact details provided on the Contact page or write to the Manager at the address above.