Petko Gruev Staynov Foundation

The Petko Gruev Staynov Foundation (Фондация „Петко Груев Стайнов“) is a private Bulgarian cultural foundation established by the heirs and associates of the composer Petko Gruev Staynov. It was registered on 11 December 1998, following a decision by the composer's descendants and collaborators to create a lasting institutional home for his artistic and public legacy. The foundation is headquartered in Sofia at 23 Ivan Vazov Street, the home of Petko Staynov after his move to the capital, where in 1933 the Society of Bulgarian Composers 'Contemporary Music' (later the Union of Bulgarian Composers) was founded. The foundation's stated goals are to popularise the work and public deeds of Petko Gruev Staynov in Bulgaria and abroad; to promote Bulgarian musical creativity and choral activity; to support the development of Bulgarian music, performance art and musicology, especially for young composers, conductors, performers and researchers; to assist musical and other cultural activities in the town of Kazanlak; to support activities affirming the national identity of Bulgarian musical art and culture; and to organise and maintain, alone or in cooperation with the Iskra Chitalishte and Museum and Kazanlak Municipality, a Petko Staynov museum in the composer's house. Among its flagship activities are the International Choral Festival 'Petko Staynov', held in Sofia (the fourth edition took place on 13–14 May 2023), musical celebrations, publishing activity, scholarships and awards, and participation in projects. The foundation also maintains an online archive of its events and festival editions. Its website, staynov.org, serves as the main public record of its activities, including commemorations such as the 46th anniversary of Petko Staynov's death in 2023 and the 49th anniversary in 2026. The foundation operates as a non-profit cultural organisation rather than a commercial enterprise, but it functions as a brand-like institutional entity in the Bulgarian cultural sector, with a distinct name, visual identity, event portfolio and publishing imprint. Its work is closely tied to the town of Kazanlak, where the composer was born, and to Sofia's musical life.

The Petko Gruev Staynov Foundation was established by the heirs and associates of the Bulgarian composer Petko Gruev Staynov, who is regarded as a classic of Bulgarian artistic music. The idea of creating a lasting institutional home for his legacy emerged after the fall of the socialist regime, when the composer's family regained ownership of his ancestral house in Kazanlak. On 30 October 1977, following Staynov's death, the then Executive Committee of the Kazanlak Municipal Council had adopted a decision to restore the nationalised house where the composer was born and to arrange a museum exhibition there. Although the house was restored in 1982 and Staynov's sons donated his entire personal archive and library to the Iskra Historical Museum, the lack of coordination from central authorities prevented the decision from being implemented. After 1994, when ownership of the paternal house was restored to the composer's heirs, they made inquiries with the municipality and the Ministry of Culture about jointly realising the idea of a Petko Staynov house-museum and turning it into a centre of cultural life. These inquiries were unsuccessful, and by 1997 it became clear that such an initiative could not attract the interest of the continually changing authorities. It was then that Staynov's heirs and his associates, guided by the conviction that both the work of the classic of Bulgarian artistic music and his life's achievement and socially beneficial public work should be a lasting possession of present and future generations, decided to establish a private foundation bearing his name. Because some of the founders were foreign citizens, the registration procedure was prolonged, and the foundation was finally registered on 11 December 1998. The founders of the Petko Gruev Staynov Foundation were the composer's sons Grigoriy and Stefan Staynov, his sister Penka Shishmanova, his nephew Doncho Staynov, the wife of his deceased brother Violina Yankova, his close collaborators and associates Prof. Agapiya Balareva and conductor Petya Pavlovich, as well as the lawyer Aleksandar Dyankov. The foundation's seat is in Sofia at 23 Ivan Vazov Street – the home of Petko Staynov after his establishment in Sofia, where on 24 January 1933 the Society of Bulgarian Composers 'Contemporary Music' (now the Union of Bulgarian Composers) was founded. The foundation's goals, as stated in its statute, include: popularising the work and public deeds of the great Bulgarian composer Petko Gruev Staynov in the country and abroad; popularising Bulgarian musical creativity and choral activity in the country and abroad; supporting the development of Bulgarian musical creativity, performance art and musicology, and in particular of young composers, conductors, performers and researchers; supporting musical and other cultural activities of the town of Kazanlak; supporting all activities aimed at affirming the national identity of Bulgarian musical art and culture; and organising and maintaining, independently or in cooperation with the Iskra Chitalishte and Museum and Kazanlak Municipality, a Petko Staynov museum in the house of Petko Gruev Staynov. Over the years, the foundation has carried out a range of activities, including musical celebrations, the International Choral Festival 'Petko Staynov', publishing activity, scholarships and awards, and participation in projects. The International Choral Festival 'Petko Staynov' in Sofia has become a recurring event; its fourth edition took place on 13–14 May 2023. The foundation also maintains an archive of its events and of the music festivals and choral festivals it has organised. Its website, staynov.org, provides news and documentation, including commemorations of the anniversaries of the composer's death, such as the 46th anniversary in 2023 and the 49th anniversary in 2026.

• Kazanlak Municipal Council Executive Committee decides to restore Petko Staynov's birth house and arrange a museum exhibition.

• The house is restored; Staynov's sons donate his personal archive and library to the Iskra Historical Museum.

• Ownership of the paternal house is restored to the composer's heirs, who seek cooperation for a house-museum.

• It becomes clear that the house-museum initiative cannot attract official interest; heirs decide to establish a private foundation.

• The Petko Gruev Staynov Foundation is officially registered.

• Fourth edition of the International Choral Festival 'Petko Staynov' held in Sofia on 13–14 May 2023.

• Commemoration of the 46th anniversary of Petko Staynov's death.

• Commemoration of the 49th anniversary of Petko Staynov's death.

Non-profit cultural foundation dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of composer Petko Gruev Staynov and Bulgarian choral music.

• International Choral Festival 'Petko Staynov'

  Recurring choral festival in Sofia; fourth edition held 13–14 May 2023.

• Musical celebrations

  Events organised by the foundation to promote Bulgarian music.

• Publishing activity

  Publications related to Petko Staynov and Bulgarian choral music.

• Scholarships and awards

  Support for young composers, conductors, performers and researchers.

• Petko Staynov museum project

  Initiative to establish a museum in the composer's house in Kazanlak.

1. 1Фондация “Петко Груев Стайнов” – официален сайтstaynov.org
2. 2История на фондациятаstaynov.org
3. 3Petko Gruev Staynov Foundation – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Петко Груев Стайнов (фондация) – Уикипедияbg.wikipedia.org