AN EVENING IN SUPPORT OF BULGARIA’S FIRST MUSEUM OF COMMUNISM

The way a society remembers its past says much about the future it hopes to build. Yet more than 35 years after the fall of communism, Bulgaria still has no museum dedicated to exploring this defining chapter of its history with honesty and nuance. The experiences of repression and resistance, but also of ordinary lives shaped by the regime, are gradually fading as the generation that lived through them grows older. Sofia Platform Foundation is taking on this task. We warmly invite you to join us in Palo Alto for an intimate fundraising evening in support of FACADE - Bulgaria's first museum dedicated to the history and legacies of communism. The evening will begin with brief welcome remarks by our host, Maria Stoilkova, a social anthropologist whose work has long explored how migration, memory, and history shape Bulgarian society at home and abroad. We are also grateful for the support of Pavlina Yanakieva, entrepreneur, ecosystem-builder, and co-founder of the Bulgaria Innovation Hub, who has spent years connecting Bulgarian founders with Silicon Valley and will also share a few reflections on why this initiative matters. The featured speaker is Louisa Slavkova, founder and co-director of Sofia Platform Foundation. She will present the vision behind the museum and the work already underway. The project will unfold in two formats and stages. In spring 2027, the foundation will launch a travelling museum housed in a converted bus, bringing the exhibition to communities across Bulgaria. This will be followed by the opening of the permanent museum on November 10, 2028, marking the anniversary of the fall of communism. Working under the title FACADE, the museum explores the distance between the promises of the regime and the realities of everyday life. It invites visitors to reflect not only on the communist past, but also on how Bulgaria’s communist history is remembered and recounted today, showing how that past continues to shape public memory, civic life, and the country’s future. Following the presentation, guests are invited to continue over drinks and light bites with an open conversation about Bulgaria, historical memory, and the role of culture in shaping an open and reflective society. At the end of the evening, guests will be invited to support the building of the museum. Attendance is limited to 40 guests. Registration is required, and attendance will be confirmed by the host. Supporting the museum Contributions will help to bring the entire project to life - from the mobile museum housed in a converted bus to the development and opening of the permanent museum. This includes research and the collection of materials; curatorial and architectural development; exhibitions and digital content; educational and public programs; and the technical and spatial realization of both museum formats. U.S. donors can make tax-deductible contributions through Sofia Platform Foundation’s profile with CAF America. Those unable to attend are warmly invited to donate or share the campaign with others. Learn more and support the museum About Sofia Platform Foundation Founded in 2013, Sofia Platform Foundation is a leading Bulgarian nonprofit organization working at the intersection of historical memory, civic education, and democratic culture. Over the past decade, it has engaged hundreds of educators, researchers, students, and citizens in more than 100 communities across Bulgaria, helping foster informed public dialogue about the country's past and future. Learn more about Sofia Platform Foundation