Members of the “Balkan Ethnology” Department at the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences took part in the academic conference “30 Years of the BA Programme in Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology”, held on 23–24 March 2026 at Hall 1 of the Rectorate of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.
The conference brought together scholars, researchers, and PhD students from leading academic institutions in Bulgaria to mark the anniversary of the programme’s establishment. Over the course of two days, participants presented research on a wide range of topics and engaged in academic discussions addressing both classical and contemporary issues in ethnology and cultural anthropology.
Representatives of the Balkan Ethnology Department contributed with several papers reflecting current research directions in the field. Dr. Julia Popcheva, presented a paper titled “Cultural Heritage between Anthropology, Tourism and Public Relations,” focusing on the intersections between heritage studies and public communication. Assoc. Prof. Mila Maeva delivered a presentation on “Volunteering as Social Capital: Ethnological and Anthropological Perspectives on Civic Engagement and Solidarity in Contemporary Society,” examining the role of volunteer practices in modern social contexts.
Assoc. Prof. Yelis Erolova and Dr. Behrin Shopova presented a joint paper titled “The ‘Gypsy Camp’ Bar-Variety in Golden Sands Resort between History, Politics, Art, and Tourism,” analysing the complex interactions between cultural representation, tourism, and historical narratives.
The conference programme included contributions from participants affiliated with Sofia University, the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum, the National History Museum, and universities in Veliko Tarnovo and Plovdiv. According to the organisers, the event provided a platform for academic exchange between established scholars and early-career researchers, as well as an opportunity to reflect on the development of ethnology and cultural anthropology in Bulgaria.
The BA programme in Ethnology at Sofia University was established in the academic year 1995–1996 within the Faculty of History, building on earlier traditions in ethnographic research and teaching. Since its inception, the programme has combined classical ethnographic approaches with emerging trends in the discipline and continues to play a key role in the development of ethnological and anthropological studies in Bulgaria.
