The First Art School and the Patronage of the Monarchs
Curator: Dr. Milena Balcheva-Bozhkova
In the story of the construction of newly liberated Bulgaria, the emergence of a higher art school at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries is of essential importance. When on October 14, 1896, in a small nondescript building on the capital’s “6-ti septemvri” street, the opening of the higher art school, bearing the modest name Risuvalno, was proclaimed, hardly anyone could have imagined what a decisive impact it would have on art in our country in the decades to come. Renamed years later to the State Academy of Arts, it managed to preserve and defend its position as a hegemon in the artistic life of Tsarist Bulgaria to the end.
The support of the Bulgarian crown during the first decades of the Academy of Arts’ existence was of exceptional importance for its prosperity. The close relationship between the royal family and the institution dates back to the period of its foundation and continued until the mid-1940s, with the monarchs following its development with keen interest. In the palace life, where science and the arts were held in high esteem, the Academy of Arts, this new cultural institute for our country, occupied a special place. In the days of severe trials and concerns for the preservation and complete unification of the Bulgarian people, the ambition and intellectual energy of the monarchs for the promotion and flourishing of the arts played a significant role in the place of Bulgarian culture within the European spiritual space.
This exhibition presents an unexplored topic to date, related to the historical development of the Academy of Arts from the moment of its foundation until the mid-20th century and the role of the Bulgarian royal family in its life. By virtue of its historical fate, Bulgaria does not have its own palace museums, similar to those in almost all European countries. Since the beginning of the 21st century, in the context of the new European priorities in the development of the country, museums, libraries and archives have sporadically begun to display parts of the movable monarchical heritage in temporary exhibitions. Despite these important initiatives, unfortunately, there are still a number of unknowns regarding the contribution of the Bulgarian monarchs to the cultural and educational activities of the state. One of these hitherto unexplored questions is that of the influence of the monarchs in the development of the first art school, founded in 1896. As a result of two years of research on the topic, the project presents the entire studied documentary array, consisting of archival documents, photographs, periodicals and artifacts. It seeks to answer the following questions: What was the role of Prince (Tsar) Ferdinand in the first years of the existence of the State Drawing School (today the National Academy of Arts)?; How was the Palace present in the first art exhibitions organized in the salons of the State Drawing School?; What is the role of Tsar Boris III and Tsaritsa Joanna in the development of the State Academy of Arts in the period between the two world wars?; What does the receipt of objects from the royal collection into the Museum Collection of the Academy of Arts in 1947, presented in the exhibition for the first time, include?
The planned opening date of the exhibition is February 6, 2025, since for the National Academy of Arts it is the most important in its historical chronicle - on this day in 1896, Prince Ferdinand signed the decree establishing the State Drawing School.
The exhibition is held within the framework of the museum program of the National Academy of Arts, which deals with research projects related to its museum collection, the history of the Academy of Arts and the various historical periods of Bulgarian art. The project is being implemented under the honorary patronage of Their Majesties Tsar Simeon II and Tsarina Margarita and in partnership with the St. Pimen Zografski Foundation - National Academy of Arts, State Archives Agency and Bulgarian Telegraph Agency and with the support of the National Gallery, National Library "St. St. Cyril and Methodius", Fund for the Preservation of Historical Heritage "Tsar Boris III and Tsarina Joanna", Central Library of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, National Polytechnic Museum, Regional History Museum - Sofia, Djurkovi Gallery and Liszt Institute. Hungarian Cultural Institute Sofia.
Exhibition Team: Milena Balcheva-Bozhkova (curator and project manager), Mladen Vrabcharski (exhibition space design), Nenko Atanasov (promotional materials design), Rosen Toshev (photos), Silvia Varadinova-Papadaki (restoration), Emilia Koleva (restoration), Silvia Miloslavova (editor), Dimitrina Spasova (public relations), Victoria Yordanova (associate) and Elisaveta Dragomirova (associate)
The exhibition is held under the honorary patronage of Their Majesties Tsar Simeon II and Tsarina Margarita.
The project was implemented within the framework of the Competition for Financing Projects for the Inherent Scientific and Artistic Activity of the National Academy of Arts for 2024 and with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Opening: February 6, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
Place: Academy Gallery, 1 Shipka Str., Sofia
Closing: March 9, 2025
Source: NHA
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