Research division
Cultural-historical Heritage and National Identity
Institutes and Academic Specialized Units
Mario Ivanov
Scientific secretary of division 8. Cultural-historical heritage and national identity
mivanov@cu.bas.bg
National Archaeological Institute with Museum
The research in this division is aimed at studying, preserving and popularizing the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage as part of the common European cultural tradition and history.
The main spheres of research in the humanities are: Bulgarian studies, Balkan history, Thracology, Cyrillo-Methodian Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Historiography, Medievalism, Musicology, Dramatic Art, Fine Arts, Screen Arts, Architecture, Ethnology, Folklore, Cultural Anthropology, Archaeology , Museology and others.
Information technologies, electronic publishing and digitization of bulk information of the cultural, historical and scientific heritage are implemented, and digital repositories are created to systematize the samples of this heritage and to make effective access to them.
Planned, rescue and emergency archaeological researches and field studies are carried out, and active participation is taken in the preparation to realize national infrastructure projects – highways, gas pipelines, oil pipelines, coal and mineral mining as well as in projects related to the organization of cultural tourism.
Analyses of phenomena related to ancient, medieval, traditional, new, contemporary and modern culture in the context of its specific role in building national, Balkan and European identities in a globalizing world are made.
News
“The Forgotten Deities” come to life in an exhibition at the National Archaeological Museum
“The Forgotten Deities” temporary exhibition at the National Archaeological Institute with Museum of BAS offers visitors the chance to journey through over 6,000 years of spiritual history and to reflect on the ways in which [...]
Exhibition on the April Uprising at the “Rozhen” NAO
National heritage and modern science came together at the largest astronomical complex in South-East Europe “The April Uprising of 1876 and its Impact on the Lives of Members of the Bulgarian Learned Society” exhibition opened [...]
Summer on the Cobblestones at the National Ethnographic Museum
The yellow cobblestones are one of Sofia’s most recognisable symbols. The area around the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, the Royal Palace, the City Garden and Prince Alexander I Square form [...]
Renowned foreign scholar of Bulgarian studies visits CMRC
Prof. Marzanna Kuczyńska from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań is visiting the Cyrillo-Methodian Research Center of BAS in July. The visit is taking place as part of the “Development and Promotion of Bulgarian Studies [...]
Southeastern Europe and the Middle East take center stage at an international conference
The “European South–East and the Middle East: At the Crossroads of Entangled Regions, Cultures, and Religions” international scientific conference was officially opened today in the “Prof. Marin Drinov” Hall of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. [...]
BAS presents an exhibition on the April Uprising in Parliament
The President of BAS, Corresponding Member Evelina Slavcheva, and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mihaela Dotsova, opened today in the Marble Foyer of the Parliament the “Bulgarian Revolutionaries and Men of Letters on the [...]
Contemporary art at BAS: “Color Resonances” exhibition by Lyuben Genov
Lyuben Genov’s exhibition, titled “Color Resonances,” is on view at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences through July 31, 2026. This is the third exhibition in the “Contemporary Art at the BAS” series, an initiative of [...]
BAS presents: the “Boryana vs. Geratsite” documentary film
A screening of the documentary film about Elin Pelin and Yordan Yovkov, “Boryana” vs. “Geratsite”, took place on June 17 in the “Prof. Marin Drinov” Hall of BAS. The event was part of the “BAS [...]
A documentary film about the women of the April Uprising tells the story of these unsung heroines
The new documentary film “Women in April: The Unknown Heroines of the April Uprising” was presented to the academic community in the “Prof. Marin Drinov” Hall of BAS. The Academy’s initiatives to mark the 150th [...]
Assoc. Prof. Nadya Filipova is the director of the Institute for Historical Studies
Assoc. Prof. Nadya Filipova, Ph.D., is the newly elected director of the Institute for Historical Studies. Assoc. Prof. Nadia Filipova’s research focuses on Bulgarian foreign policy, the Arab world, international relations, and minority issues. She [...]
Bulgarian children are researching the impact of the April Uprising abroad
p The winners of a student competition dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising were announced today at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences by Vasil Vasilev, chairman of the All-Bulgarian “Vasil Levski” Committee. [...]
The second module of “Art Readings 2026” has ended
The “New Art” module of the international academic conference “Art Readings 2026,” held at the Institute of Art Studies of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences from April 23 to 25, ended. Young and established [...]
Provadia-Solnitsata receives the prestigious European Heritage Label
Photo: Eric Herchaft On April 22, 2026, the European Heritage Label (EHL) marked an important milestone with the 2026 Label award ceremony, marking the initiative’s 15th anniversary and officially welcoming Europe’s earliest salt-producing [...]
Historians from BAS participate in an academic session marking the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising
A commemorative academic session marking the 150th anniversary of the April Uprisin, featuring scholars from the Institute for Historical Studies at BAS was held today at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.” Representatives of the historical [...]
Prof. Kamelia Nikolova receives the IKAR 2026 award for fundamental historical research
Prof. Kamelia Nikolova, DSc, was awarded the IKAR’2026 award for her book “Българският театър 1856-2026. Репертоарни политики. Постановъчни практики” (Bulgarian Theater 1856–2026: Repertoire Policies. Staging Practices). The publication is by the Institute of Art Studies [...]
Presentation of an anniversary collection dedicated to Corr. Memb. Ivanka Gergova
On March 30, the book „Историята на изкуството като призвание. Сборник в чест на чл.-кор. проф. д.изк. Иванка Гергова по повод на нейната 70-годишнина“ (Art History as a Vocation: a collection in honor of Corr. [...]
Presentation of the book “Cultural Diplomacy and the Balkans: achievements and challenges in the present time”
The Institute of Balkan Studies with the Center for Thracology at BAS presented the “Cultural Diplomacy and the Balkans: achievements and challenges in the present time” publication (ed. Alexandra Milanova, “Prof. Marin Drinov” Publishing [...]
Image and Text Award
On February 26, 2026, the Image and Text Award was presented for the first time. established by the Bulgarian-European Cultural Dialogues Centrе оoundation in recognition of the significant contribution of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ruzha Marinska [...]
European Heritage Label for Provadia-Solnitsata
The European Commission has awarded the prehistoric salt-producing and urban center of Provadia-Solnitsata with the European Heritage Label, a recognition given to sites of exceptional importance to European cultural identity and the safeguarding of common [...]
The Cyrillo-Methodian Research Center celebrates the feast of St. Cyril’s Repose
The scientific collection “Loqui diversis linguas nolite prohibere”, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the prominent medievalist from the Cyrillo-Methodian Research Center of BAS Prof. Dr. Slavia Barlieva, was presented on February 12 in the [...]
New exhibition and album with artworks from the collections of BAS
A new exhibition of artworks by academicians and corresponding members of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences was presented in the Winter Garden Hall of the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum of [...]
Mobility and Heritage: a new multidisciplinary project at the National Ethnographic Museum
On February 2, the National Ethnographic Museum of BAS opened the “Symbols of Mobility” exhibition presented by Bulgarian artist and master Dr. Niki Collier who lives and works in Ireland. She is known as [...]
A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Art
The President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), Corr. Memb. Evelina Slavcheva, and the Rector of the National Academy of Art (NAA), Prof. Georgi Iankov, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation today at BAS. We [...]
The project “What is written remains. Write correctly!” holds two language quizzes at Sofia University
On January 9, participants in the project “What is written remains. Write correctly!” held two language quizzes at the invitation of the Faculty of Slavic Philology and the Faculty of History of Sofia University [...]