National Ethnographic Museum celebrates its 120-year history

The National Ethnographic Museum, which is part of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, offers a true journey through time to mark the 120th anniversary of its founding in 1906. The celebrations are held under the motto "120 Years – 120 Minutes at the NEM," providing visitors with even more opportunities to explore the traditions, customs and way of life of Bulgarians across different eras and regions. To mark the anniversary, the museum is offering free admission every weekend from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at its premises located at 1 Knyaz Alexander I Street.

The museum’s entire 120-year history has been quite eventful. Its building was among those most severely damaged during the air raids on Sofia. The majority of the collection was destroyed or suffered water damage, but part of it was saved. In 1953, the museum moved into its current premises—the former Royal Palace.

"We have been here ever since—that makes 70 years in the Palace," says Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mila Maeva, current Director of the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), in a special interview for Radio Bulgaria.

In addition to offering a chance to explore diverse collections, the National Ethnographic Museum (NEM) invites friends and enthusiasts to a series of special events, exhibitions and initiatives dedicated to Bulgaria’s rich cultural and historical heritage. Program highlights include the temporary exhibition "Moving to the Countryside" and the exhibition "The Starry Sky: Mythology and Science”. A bilingual album accompanying the latter is also available.

The exhibition "The Starry Sky – Mythology and Science" presents research by ethnographers, ethnologists, and folklorists regarding beliefs about the cosmos and its place in our folklore.

The exhibition dedicated to moving from the city to the countryside showcases not only daily life but also the shifts in people's perspectives and lifestyles. It addresses a universal theme about the choices made by those who decide to leave the city for small settlements and explores how a place transforms a person and their habits.

The idea behind the commemoration of the 120th anniversary of the National Ethnographic Museum is to present the entire cultural heritage to the general public in an accessible, engaging and interactive way. "When we speak about culture and ethnographic museums, we often primarily think of jewellery, ceramics, and architecture, yet ethnography is actually much more than this. It is linked to people, communities and culture. It is precisely culture that embodies the link between our nation's past and present," Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mila Maeva says.

Since its creation, one of the country's oldest museums has been dedicated to the traditional culture of Bulgarians and the communities living in Bulgaria. "It is interesting to see how the museum has shifted its focus over the years. Thanks to the long-standing efforts of various researchers, artists, and museum staff, we have amassed the richest collection in Bulgaria," Mila Maeva says.

"We plan to significantly enrich our anniversary program over the coming months. We aim at attracting a diverse audience, including children, students, young people, as well as people who have never visited our museum before. We want to make it better known and more visible. Our goal is not merely to showcase our rich collection or host various events but we aim to go further by opening our halls as a space for interaction and engagement with our cultural heritage, which is vast," the director of NEM said in conclusion.