On 20 June 2026, the Anastas Staykov Prize was presented at an official ceremony, organised by the Tsanko Lavrenov National Secondary School of Arts, and held in the Plovdiv Municipality Council Hall.
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund and the Tsanko Lavrenov National Secondary School of Arts awarded the prize in the name of Smolyan-born artist Anastas Staykov. It is a sign of recognition for the talent and achievements of young artists.
In 1988, by will of the donors, a donation account for an award in the name of Anastas Staykov was established in the ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund. To this day, the account is maintained by the artist’s daughter, Dr Maria Staykova, who is a sponsor and benefactor of the Fund. Dr Staykova, a specialist in autoimmune diseases, has worked for many years at the John Curtin Institute for Medical Research of the Australian National University in Canberra.
Annually, the school’s Pedagogical Council approves the winners of the Anastas Staykov Prize. These are alumni—excellent pupils in various specialisms in the secondary school. They are awarded diplomas and financial prizes.
The winners of the 2026 Anastas Staykov Prize are:
Painting – Nelly Ivanova;
Graphic Art – Elena Starchenko;
Advertising Graphic Art – Stela Naneva;
Spatial Design – Ema Petrova;
Mural Painting – Desana Pavlova;
Iconography – Anna Chipilova.