In 2026, in connection with the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s establishment, the third ‘Threads of Time’ Plein-air Event was made possible with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture.
On 3 July 2026, at 5:30 p.m., an exhibition of works from the third, 2026 ‘Threads of Time’ Plein-air Event in Samokov, organised by the13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund, jointly with the Municipality of Samokov and the Retro Art Gallery in Samokov, opens at the town’s Prof. Vasil Zahariev Art Gallery.
The plein-air event is held from 29 June to 3 July 2026 in the town of Samokov. This year, it features artists—including Gergana Minkova, Georgi Georgiev, Galab Galabov, Dolores Dilova, Ivan Milushev, Mimi Dobreva and Rumen Atanasov—all working in the field of painting and aquarelle.
‘Threads of Time’ corresponds fully with the donative mission of NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’, as the Fund will purchase one work by each artist to donate to the Prof. Vasil Zahariev Art Gallery in Samokov. In this way, the Fund will continue to contribute to the enrichment of gallery’s collection of contemporary Bulgarian art. The Fund will also donate four works by the eminent Bulgarian artist, Ruska Marinova, who was originally from Samokov.
The exhibition can be viewed until 17 July 2026.