Museum of Socialist Art

The Museum of Socialist Art opened its doors on September 19, 2011 in the presence of the Prime Minister and government representatives and in the presence of state officials, journalists and foreign observers. Also on this occasion, the opening speech highlighted the opportunity the new institution offered to make the past history and finally bring the communist era into the museum space, where it was supposed to be.

At the same time, the Museum of Socialist Art also contributes to the enhancement of the cultural space of the city and its status as a major tourist attraction, in keeping with similar themed museums that have been established. established in many cities of eastern Europe. The Ministry of Culture also reviewed and decided that this place is a branch of the National Art Gallery.

The museum, built at a cost of 1.5 million euros spread over an area of 7,500 square meters (81,000 sq ft) on the outskirts of Sofia, has been displaying works of art from the Socialist period in Bulgaria since 2005. 1944 - 1989.

The museum consists of three main parts - a statue park with 77 monumental sculptures from the communist era, an exhibition hall with an area of more than 550 square meters with 60 paintings and 25 statues on display based on the principle. The content and themes show modern ideological art, a video room to show documentaries and news movies from the communist era. As was proudly announced in interviews with its director and staff, the museum also has a souvenir shop - authentic objects from the era (slogan, photos, books) ), as well as contemporary artifacts, such as glasses featuring the leaders, postcards, and t-shirts with communist symbols.

Visitors are greeted by a large pentagram at the entrance - the star that headed the Party House in Sofia from 1954 to 1984. Statue Park is the most iconic part of the museum, including a bust and statue. of famous communist activists and leaders, monuments of poets and sculptures within the framework of socialist realism. Monuments that are impressive for their size (such as the Lenin monument that once stood in the center of Sofia) are interspersed with smaller exhibits (such as the bust of Todor Zhivkov and members of his family) he) along with other works on related topics of the same period.

In the museum hall there are sculptures of communist leaders Todor Zhivkov, Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin along with a number of supposed representative works of many famous sculptors of the communist regime. Many paintings made by artists during the communist regime are also displayed together with oil paintings with the theme symbolizing the "eternal friendship" between Bulgaria and the Soviet Union in the lobby of the Museum of Socialist Art. socialist society.

The Museum of Socialist Art is a pride of Bulgaria and a testament to its strength. And as journalist Georgi Lozanov has noted, the museum is the place to tell new generations the story of a period of communism that never came to fruition again.

Website : www.nationalgallery.bg

Phone : +359 2 902 18 62

Hours of Operation :

Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 - 18:00

Ticket price :

Adults: 6 BGN

Students, students and pensioners: 3 BGN

Thursday: 2 BGN