In 2026, the ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund celebrates the 45th anniversary of its establishment and 20 years since the opening of the Gabenski Gallery, its regional centre in the town of Tryavna. It bears the name ‘Gabenski’, as donors in this family gifted a collection of paintings to the Tryavna public through NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’.
The Gallery is housed in the courtyard of the National Revivalist architectural ensemble of Kalinchev’s House. The property is a massive two-storey building, with an exhibition room set up on the first floor, and a reception area and a chamber gallery on the second floor.
Acquiring the site for consideration as an unfinished construction from the Municipality of Tryavna, the Fund completed the reception area on the second floor. Following the reconstruction of the existing building, the Gallery opened in 2006 with the issuance (in August) of a certificate for bringing into use of the additional construction of the ‘Reception Room of the Gabenski Art Gallery’.
In 2024, NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ renovated the exhibition room on the first floor. On 20 September 2024, the Fund opened the first permanent exhibition, featuring a selection of the works from the International Biennale of Glass collection, owned by the ART REAL K.L.M. Association. The International Biennale of Glass (IBG) collection consists of some 200 glass works by artists from around the world. This collection is unique to Bulgaria , the outcome of the artists’ long-term efforts and dedication to the art of glass, presented across a spectrum of styles, techniques and creative visions.
In 2025, NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ renovated the Gallery’s second floor, modernising the interior with new lighting fixtures, plastering and painting the walls, and installing an adjustable picture hanging system.
The property is used in accordance with the intended purpose of the activities of NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’. Exhibitions, creative meetings, seminars, training courses, book presentations and other cultural events are organised there. Many artists who have been donors to the Fund over the years have held their exhibitions at the Gallery.
NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ expresses its gratitude to all its donors.
Photographs by:
Claudia Henao, ‘Sacred Letter’
Dan Popovici, ‘Cupping Glass’
Tai Xiao, ‘Landscape Forming’