The Ministry of Culture awarded 300 scholarships between 2008 and 2013. Last year, 55 young people received financial support from the Ministry and this year 40 scholarship were awarded to students to continue their education in higher education institutions in Bulgaria, Austria, Italy, France, Russia, the United States and the UK.

This was announced Friday by Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska after meeting with several scholarship holders.

"The annual programme envisages financial support for nearly 50 regular post-graduate and PhD studies and specialisation abroad and studies which are not included in our educational system have priority, such as film, theater, music, dance, literature art, cultural heritage preservation," she stated.

Majority of scholarship holders after completing their studies abroad return to Macedonia and become part of its art scene.

"Some of them are quite active as freelance artists who are successfully promoting Macedonia's culture abroad. Others also implement their experiences as employees of cultural institutions, thus contributing to the development and improvement of our culture," said the Minister.