On May 19, 2025, a public lecture-discussion on the topic “The Polish public and cultural policy: А conversation about strategic approach, tools and backstage” was held in the Ivan Geshov Hall of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. This was the fifth in a series of events dedicated to cultural diplomacy in Bulgaria and the Balkans, organized under the Project “Cultural diplomacy in the Balkans in the 20th and 21st centuries: Achievements, challenges, and the way forward”, funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria. The initiative is implemented by the Institute of Balkan Studies & Centre of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBSCT-BAS) in partnership with the State Institute for Culture to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria (DKI).

The public lecture-discussion was opened by the Project Manager Assist. Prof. Dr. Alexandra Milanova, the Director of the IBSCT-BAS Prof. Dr. Roumiana Il. Preshlenova and the Director of DKI Ms. Snezhana Yoveva-Dimitrova.

Special guests and lecturers were Mrs. Małgorzata Hejduk-Gromek, Minister-counsellor, Head of Consular and Polish Diaspora Section, Embassy of Poland in Bulgaria and Mrs. Iwona Jakuszko-Dudka, Director of the Polish Institute in Sofia. They presented in detail the numerous initiatives related to the Polish language, culture, literature, music and cuisine, held in various cities of Bulgaria in cooperation with local institutions and organizations. They also talked about the upcoming events until the end of the year. Their inspiring presentation was complemented by impressive videos, posters and various information materials. The lecture ended with a lively discussion and suggestions for future joint initiatives.