Sister Cities: Sofia, Bulgaria — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
On April 26, 1993, the Mayors of Sofia, Bulgaria and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania signed an agreement making the Bulgarian capital of Sofia and Pittsburgh sister cities. A vivid example of this partnership is the Bulgarian Macedonian National Educational and Cultural Center (BMNECC) in Pittsburgh which fully embodies the spirit of cooperation fostering cultural and educational ties.
The Center was founded in 1930 in West Homestead, Pennsylvania. The oldest Bulgarian organization in the United States, the BMNECC was the center of social and cultural life for immigrant families from Bulgaria and the geographical area of Macedonia who settled in the Pittsburgh region in the early decades of the 20th century. The organization provided a lively gathering place, with its regular schedule of social, cultural, educational, and sports programs. It offered important services to immigrant families to help ease their integration into American society.
The BMNECC’s mission is to preserve, present, and promote the cultural values and rich traditions of the people from Bulgaria and the geographical area of Macedonia. The organization offers a comprehensive source of historic and educational information and contributes to the cultural landscape by presenting unique artistic events and performances.
For more than 85 years, the Center has offered the local and regional community a host of activities — from live music and dance events, to art exhibits, plays, film screenings, sporting events, and lectures. Throughout the year, the Center provides lessons in the Bulgarian language, and classes in dance, history, geography, music, and craft making for children of all ages. Its historic facility, built in 1935, houses the largest collection of Bulgarian art, audio recordings, films, videos, costumes, jewelry, textiles, books, and artifacts in the United States. Its award-winning Otets Paissii Folk Ensemble perpetuates Bulgaria’s rich music and dance tradition by performing regularly at regional events, such as the Pittsburgh Folk Festival.
On October 14–15th 2016, the BMNECC hosted the second annual two-day Bulgarian Folk Festival “Na Megdana” focusing exclusively on Bulgarian dance and music.
