Bulgarian Association of Communication Agencies (BACA) was established in 1995 as an independent and voluntary non-profit organization. Since 1996 BACA is a member of the European Association of Communication Agencies /EACA/*.
Bulgarian Association of Communication Agencies is the professional body for leading agencies in the Bulgarian advertising, media and marketing communications industry. The Association is the public voice for the advertising industry and upholds standards of professionalism that deliver value for members, consumers and business.
*EACA is the voice of Europe’s communications agencies and associations, promoting the economic and social contribution of commercial communications to society. Members comprise advertising, media, digital, branding and PR agencies as well as their national associations – together they represent more than 2,500 organisations from nearly 30 European countries that directly employ over 120,000 people.
In September 2009, BACA became a founding member of the National Council for Self-regulation. The activity of the NCSR is based on the National Ethical Standards for Adverting and Commercial Communication in Bulgaria (the Code), prepared by its members. The Code is a set of ethical rules to be respected by all those involved in advertising and any form of commercial communication.
The Association is focused also on developing, implementing and popularizing business standards. We believe that fidelity to the principles of ethical and socially responsible should be an important part of the success of any business.
Its work covers different types of lobbying and negotiations, guidance notes, award schemes and events.
The principal mission is to promote effective advertising, high professional standards and awareness of the contribution of the commercial communications in a free market economy.
BACA organises the key events and competitions of the local advertising industry.
The main annual activity is the Festival of Creativity and Media – FARA. Its aim is to review the achievements of advertising in Bulgaria and to honour the best among the participants in the different categories. In 2022 the Association will hold its twenty-second edition.
Since 2007, BACA has organized EFFIE® Bulgaria Awards. Effie® and “E Logo” are registered trademarks of Effie Worldwide, Inc. and are used under license by the Bulgarian Association of Communications Agencies. The Effie Awards recognize the most effective advertising efforts in marketing communications.
Since its launch in 2014, an Advertising Academy is held annually in February. The event is organized by the Bulgarian Association of Communication Agencies, the Bulgarian Association of Advertisers and the master’s program “Advertising Management and Visual Branding” at the New Bulgarian University. The academy is held on the basis of the New Bulgarian University. The academy is open for participation of students, employees of BACA member agencies, BAA member companies, as well as other interested parties. BACA member agencies have the opportunity to participate in the event with their representatives as mentors of the teams participating in the Academy.
The Bulgarian Association of Communication Agencies, as an official and exclusive representative of the International Festival of Creativity, uniting the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Eurobest European Advertising Festival, Dubai Lynx Advertising Festival and Spikes Asia Advertising Festival, organizes the Young Lions Bulgaria competition. The competition is open to young professionals up to 30 years of age working in communication agencies. The winning team wins the right to represent Bulgaria in the finals of the Cannes Lions Festival and received full accreditation for the event. The competition is held in the first quarter of the year.