17th edition of the European Night of Museums will take place on Saturday

The 17th edition of the European Night of Museums will take place on July 3 this year. The initiative was launched for the first time in 2005 by the French Ministry of Culture. In just a few years, it has spread successfully throughout Europe. Bulgarian museums and galleries have been includded since its first edition.

The national programme to mark the traditional European initiative, prepared by the Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Museums and Fine Arts at the Ministry of Culture, includes thematic exhibitions, concerts and various art events dedicated to the Night.

42 museums, art galleries and their branches from 21 districts in the country are included in the inititive. State and municipal museums and art galleries are participating.

As part of the tradition, in the recent years, in Sofia alone, the European Night of Museums feautures more than 50 museums and galleries that welcome thousands of visitors free-of-charge.

In its format, the European Night of Museums is a wide-open programme for the widest possible circle of people who have the opportunity not only to see the exhibits and works displayed by museums and galleries, but also to feel their messages. The concept of the initiative is to reach a large circle of people, particularly the young audience, by presenting an unusual and attractive programme, which in addition to the opportunity to get acquainted with the cultural heritage, offers other cultural events.