My presentation for the National History Museum of Bulgaria, with which I participated at the 26th General Conference of ICOM - Prague, 21-28 August 2022 The unique presence of the museum's main exposition in our cultural space is related to the visualization of the dominant national narrative of the Bulgarian historical development from Prehistory to the middle of the 20th century. The classic chronological overview is realized in five halls: Prehistory, Ancient Thrace, the Bulgarian Middle Ages, Bulgarian lands in the 15th through 19th c., and Third Bulgarian Kingdom (1879–1946). Through time-tested museological methods, not only facts and trends are presented, but also significant personalities. Masterworks of art related to the respective subjects are exhibited in each of the halls. The pan-Balkan and pan-European contexts are present in the background, but perceptibly. The exposition has not only popularizing but didactic and academic significance because it is representative from the point of view of the Bulgarian history interpretation in our national historiography. For its half-century history, the museum has organized over 200 temporary exhibitions - in its halls and in other spaces. Through them, artifacts that are not part of the main expositions are promoted. Recently acquired and restored values are displayed in a new light. A special target group of the temporary exhibitions is students and young people in general. In this regard, educational programs are supported, and modern digital technologies are now an essential part of new museological approaches. Highlighting the enduring values and high achievements of human civilization is a leading idea in every single activity of the institution aimed at a national or international audience. Due to its significant place in the cultural infrastructure of the country, the National History Museum has the potential for an even wider deployment of activities and influence. Joint international programs with other national museums would enrich the expertise of the team. Greater diversity in the digital products offered is to be ensured. The presentation of the collections in the virtual library and museum Europeana is a good approach for more tangible recognition of the institution internationally. Supplementing the main exposition with a museum narrative about the development of Bulgaria in the second half of the 20th century would be a sign of a search for completeness in the historical narrative and a critical reflection on the period of state socialism. The role of the museum in maintaining the valuable messages of the national narrative will continue to increase. All the mentioned perspectives are achievable thanks to the professional and dedicated team of the National History Museum.

1. (De)fragmenting the Past: National History Museum
of Bulgaria in a World of Global Challenges
Prof. Vera Boneva, ScD
University of Library Studies and Information Technologies – Sofia
Bulgarian National Committee of ICOM

2. The National History Museum is a prestigious
cultural institution established in 1973.
During its half-century history, the Museum has
inhabited three different buildings, and created
over 200 temporary and 2 permanent exhibitions.
With more than 650,000 artifacts, the museum is a
key repository of cultural memory and a major
engine for the preservation of historical heritage
throughout the whole country.

3. Museum treasures

4. The museum on the map of Bulgaria
The museum protects
thousands of values ​​of
national importance; 30
collections have been
created; through research
work and through
donations, the collections
are continuously
enriched; the thematic
and subject diversity of
the artifacts is extremely
rich.

5. Museum sites – main building at the foot of Vitosha mountain (left), historic steamer
„Radetsky“ in the Kozloduy town on the Danube River (right)

6. Museum sites – Bulgarian Orthodox Zemen Monastery (left), medieval
Orthodox Boyana church (right) – part of the UNESCO World Heritage
List

7. In touch with the main exhibition

8. In the artistic world of temporary exhibitions

9. The museum as a scientific center – conferences, monographs,
catalogs, and other academic appearances

10. Perspectives
The National History Museum has the potential for an
even wider deployment of activities and influence.
Joint initiatives with regional and municipal museums are
about to become more dynamic and diverse.
Incorporating a museum narrative about the second half of
the twentieth century is an important future step for
rethinking the legacy of communism.
Digital transformations of the fund and digital components
in the expositions will be of increasing importance for the
museum.
The role of the museum in maintaining the valuable
messages of the national narrative will continue to
increase.

11. Thank you for your attention!
Welcome to Bulgaria!
Welcome to our National History Museum!
v.boneva@unibit.bg