The Director of the Regional History Museum, Tanya Todorova, participated in a conference in Razgrad “Europe in the Balkans: Together through Knowledge”, organized by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency under a project implemented with the support of the European Commission.
“In recent years, one of the priorities of the Regional History Museum in Razgrad has been directed at educational institutions. The main idea is the preservation of local memory”, she told the audience.
And more: “The museum has good practices in the field of education. One of them is a contract from 2024 with the FLHS “Exarch Joseph” in Razgrad for joint initiatives – exhibitions, educational projects and the implementation of joint activities by opening a “Guide Service” class. The museum will play a key role here with its methodological expert assistance. My hope is that graduates of this class will later focus on working in the museum”, she added.
Tanya Todorova recalled that the museum has implemented projects with primary schools over the past year. An example is the special program “The Museum and its Role in the Search, Study, Preservation and Presentation of the Cultural and Historical Heritage of the Razgrad Region” on Museum Day, when near the northern fortress wall of Abritus, children from all Razgrad schools take on the role of: archaeologist, restorer, tour guide and custodian, and with the help of museum specialists they learn details about their professions, and can also practically try out what they actually do. And then in the Stanka and Nikola Ikonomovi House Museum they take on the role of a curator – historian, in the Ethnographic Museum – in the role of an ethnographer and in the Ananie Yavashov House Museum – in the role of a researcher.
“During the summer vacation, the fourth edition of the museum’s unique initiative for the country is coming up – the three-week educational program “Adventures in Abritus” for the children of Razgrad from 1st to 5th grade and their peers who are visiting their grandparents in the capital of Ludogorie”, said Tanya Todorova.
She recalled that last year, the presentation of mobile exhibitions in primary and secondary schools began. The vocational high school of economics has already opened a class “Tourism and agency activities” and the graduates conduct their internships in the museum during the summer months.
Tanya Todorova also announced that the museum is also actively working with the scientific community – an agreement has been signed with the Shumen University “Bishop Konstantin Preslavski”, with the Institute of Balkan Studies with a center for Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and with the National Archaeological Institute with a museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
“In 2024, we started the first doctoral readings on the problems of cultural and historical heritage – the idea is for them to become traditional”, added Tanya Todorova. This year, on May 14, the second readings are due to be held.
The Mayor of Razgrad Dobrin Dobrev presented to the conference participants some of the European projects in the field of culture implemented and prepared by the Municipality of Razgrad.
He recalled the project for the conservation and restoration of the Abritus Archaeological Reserve with the construction of an Interactive Museum and revealed that under the new program “Development of the Regions” a project is to be implemented with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture – design and creation of a thematic exhibition plan for a new permanent exhibition in RHM – Razgrad. It will provide sufficient exhibition space for the presentation of the collection of the Regional History Museum and an Interpretation Center will be built. “This project is also related to the development of tourism and the opportunities for attracting international and Bulgarian tourists who pass along the Ruse – Varna road, the goal is to make the museum more accessible and interesting for them”, said Dobrin Dobrev.
The local conference hosted by BTA correspondent Sadet Karova was also attended by: BTA Director General Kiril Valchev, the Chief Secretary of the Regional Administration Mihail Todorov, the expert at the Regional Information Center Emil Chankov, Tsveta Petrova – Senior Expert in Social Sciences and Civic Education and Religion at the Regional Educational and Cultural Organization-Razgrad, the director of the Branch of the University of Ruse “Angel Kanchev” in Razgrad, Prof. Dr. Stanka Damyanova, the director of the Kapan Ensemble Svetoslav Stoychev, the chief librarian at the Regional Library “Prof. Boyan Penev” Mila Marinova, the director of the Primary School “I.S. Turgenev” Milena Oreshkova and the deputy directors of the Vocational High School of Chemical Technologies and Biotechnology “Marie Curie” Emilia Tsvetkova and Valentina Alexandrova.
