Annual Awards of the Bulgarian National Committee of ICOM – Bulgarian National Committee of ICOM

STATUTE OF THE ANNUAL AWARD OF THE Bulgarian National Committee of ICOM

(adopted on 22.04.2025)

This Statute regulates the procedure and conditions for awarding and presenting annual awards on behalf of the ASSOCIATION “BULGARIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF ICOM”, UIC: 176346664 (hereinafter referred to as “BNC of ICOM” or “Association”). It defines the categories of the awards, the persons who may receive them and the criteria for their award.

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Art. 1. The BNC of ICOM Awards (Awards) are awarded only to members of the Association for merits in the field of museum work, museology and contribution to raising the authority and role of the Association among the International Museum Network.

Art. 2. The awards are awarded annually for activities carried out between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year.

Art. 3. The awards of the ICOM National Committee are awarded in the following categories:

Contribution to museum activities;

Contribution to museology.

Art. 4. (1) The winners of the Awards under Art. 3 are determined on a competitive basis, after a selection of proposals submitted by individual or institutional members of the ICOM National Committee.

(2) The winners of the award are awarded a diploma and a schedule.

(3) The diploma under the previous paragraph is signed by the Chairman of the ICOM National Committee.

Art. 5 The awards are awarded only upon receipt of well-argued and valuable applications, determined as such by a jury.

Art. 6. The information provided by the candidates may be used for advertising and promotion of the award.

II. CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPETITION
Art. 7. (1) The competition for the awards under Art. 3 shall be attended by specialists proposed by:

The Board of Directors of the ICOM National Council;

institutional members of the ICOM National Council, for specialists from their team;

individual members of the ICOM National Council.

(2) Institutional members may propose only one member from their team.

Art. 8. (1) Requirements for proposals in the categories under Art. 3:

a motivated proposal for contribution to museum activities, containing information on achieved results in the implementation of a permanent exhibition, temporary exhibition, creation of an educational initiative and all other activities related to the preservation and promotion of museum collections. Participation in conferences, events and initiatives of the international organization of museums, as a member of the ICOM National Council;
a motivated proposal for a contribution to museology, containing information on research and publications on museum collections, histories of museum work in Bulgaria, dissertations related to the topic, methodological aids necessary for museum activities, etc. Participation in conferences, events and initiatives of the international organization of museums, as a member of the BNC of ICOM.
(2) For participation in the competition, an application must be submitted by March 31 of the respective year using the form – Appendix No. 1.

(3) The form of Appendix No. 1 is published on the website of the BNC of ICOM, upon announcement of the competition.

(4) Proposals for participation in the competition are sent to the following e-mail address for correspondence: bnc_icom@abv.bg, and regular candidates are those who have submitted documents within the specified deadline.

Art. 9. The evaluation is carried out by a jury consisting of three members, who are elected each year by March 15 by the Management Board of the BNK of ICOM and can be both members of the Association and external specialists. In the event of a conflict of interest with any of the members of the jury, another member shall be elected.

III. CONDUCT OF THE COMPETITION

Art. 10. (1) The jury shall work no later than April 30, reviewing all applications submitted electronically. A protocol shall be drawn up for the decision, which shall be submitted to the Chairman of the Management Board of the BNK of ICOM.

(2) The Management Board shall approve the Protocol at its meeting and prepare the awards.

Art. 11. The classification as a specialist shall be determined according to the following criteria:

Category “Contribution to museum activity”
a) participation and achievements of the museum specialist in permanent exhibitions, temporary exhibitions and events implemented by the institution;

b) educational programs and initiatives from the museum/art gallery developed and carried out by the museum specialist, participation in implemented projects contributing to the museum’s promotional activities;

c) contribution to the digitization and publication of movable and immovable cultural values, in the restoration and conservation of museum artifacts;

d) participation in initiatives of the Bulgarian National Committee of ICOM;

Category “Contribution to Museology”
a) publications on research conducted on the history of museum work in the Republic of Bulgaria, research on museum collections and on the problems of movable cultural heritage and museums) participation in the preparation and publication of methodological aids necessary for the work of museum specialists (for working with audiences, for organizing museum funds, for preparing and implementing museum exhibitions, etc.);

c) defended dissertations on museum topics, participation in international meetings and initiatives related to movable cultural heritage, initiated by the International Council of Museums

d) participation in national and international conferences with author’s papers related to cultural heritage issues and in initiatives of the International Council of Museums (ICOM).

Art. 12. The Management Board shall notify in writing all members and the media in the country of the awardees and publish their names on the eve of May 18 – International Museum Day.

IV. AWARDING OF THE AWARDS

Art. 13. The ceremony for awarding the Awards shall be held at the first general meeting of the members of the Association after the competition, with the Awards being presented by the Chairman of the Management Board of the Bulgarian National Council of ICOM.

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

1. For the Awards for activities carried out in 2024, the deadline under Art. 8, para. 2 is 01.11.2025, the deadline under Art. 9 is 15.10.2025, and the deadline under Art. 10, para. 1 is 30.11.2025. The publication of the names under Art. 12 shall be carried out by 20.12.2025.
2. This Statute may be amended by a simple majority of the members present at the General Assembly of the BNC of ICOM.

For the original of the Statute, click HERE.

To download an application for participation in the competition (Appendix No. 1), click HERE.