NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ encourages the excellent students at the Tsanko Lavrenov National Secondary School of Arts in Plovdiv by awarding them the prize
Slava Ivanova, Executive Director of the ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund, presented awards in the name of artist Anastas Staykov to the excellent students at the Tsanko Lavrenov School of Arts in Plovdiv.
It is remarkable that two students in the Painting and Advertising Graphics specialisms, with exactly the same overall performance—excellent marks of 5.90, were awarded in the 32nd edition of the prize.
At the end of each school year, in a tradition originating in 1988, talented graduates receive diplomas from the Fund and financial prizes from the heiress of Anastas Staykov, the first artist from the Rhodopes to receive a higher education. His daughter, Dr Maria Staykova, a specialist in autoimmune diseases at the John Curtin School of Medical Research of the Australian National University in Canberra, is a sponsor of the Fund’s donation account.
This year’s award ceremony was attended by Alexander Darzhikov, Chair of the Plovdiv Municipal Council, and Snezhana Furnadzhieva, President of the Society of Plovdiv Artists.
‘This is a prestigious prize, for it wins a name for those who receive it and opens for them a path to future development,’ stated the Director of the School of Arts, Svetlozar Chavdarov.
‘I am convinced that here, among you all, are the worthy future heirs of the artists who contributed to Plovdiv’s place as one of the most attractive of cities,’ said the Chair of the Plovdiv Municipal Council, Alexander Darzhikov.
‘When I look at you, I see our future. You are a sign from God that we shall be here tomorrow, too. We are awaiting you among the ranks of Plovdiv artists,’ added Snezhana Furnadzhieva, President of the Society of Plovdiv Artists.
‘I should like to congratulate you on successfully graduating from one of the most prestigious art secondary schools in Bulgaria. You are the future generation that will take its deserved place among the most significant Bulgarian artists. It is a vocation and honour for the National Endowment Fund to support the young talents of Bulgaria; and we owe our gratitude to Ms Maria Staykova, who, every year from faraway Australia, supports the award in the name of her father. I believe that you will bear this award with dignity, with honour and with thought for the future,’ said Slava Ivanova, Executive Director of NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’, excitedly.
And here are the names of the awarded students in the different specialisms:
Graphics: Maria Cholakova;
Painting: Alexandra Samuilova and Victoria Angelova;
Spatial Design: Ventsislav Trifonov;
Advertising Graphics: Teodora Uzunova and Yanislava Zabirova;
Sculpture: Diana Atanasova;
Icon Painting: Ivana Nacheva.