site.btaNational Programme to Subsidize Young Artists' Employment

During a forum on support for careers in arts and culture here on Friday, Minister of Labour and Social Policy Georgi Gyokov presented to the directors of theatres and various cultural institutions the new national programme for employment of young people graduating from secondary and higher schools in the field of culture. "This is the first time subsidized employment is provided for the career start of young people under 29 in this field," said Minister Gyokov, as quoted by his ministry.

The programme is part of the National Employment Action Plan for 2022. The budget is over BGN 1.2 million. With the funds the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy will subsidize the full-time employment of about 200 young people for a period of 6 months by providing employers with funds to pay their wages and social security contributions.

During the forum, employers in the field of culture and art were acquainted with the opportunities for youth employment under Bulgaria’s Human Resources Development (HRD) Operational Programme 2021-2027, through which the Ministry will support the professional development of about 115,000 young people. Since 2014, more than 80,000 young people have received support under  HRD, the Minister said.

The participants in the forum were also acquainted with the parameters of the Melpomene Programme, aimed at creating jobs to support the activities of theatres.

The event was organized by the Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts and the Union of Bulgarian Actors, together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the National Employment Agency and the HRD Operational Programme.