Ceremony for awarding St Pimen Zografski Honorary Badge–a collar with a blue ribbon–of the National Academy of Art
2026.10.30
2 November 2026 (Monday), 4:00 pm, Academia Gallery
1 Shipka Street, Sofia
In observance of the Day of the National Enlighteners (1 November) and 3 November–the patron feast day of the National Academy of Art, the religious feast day of St Pimen Zografski, and the Day of Bulgarian Artists—as well as in honoуr of the 130th anniversary of the Academy, Prof. Anna Boyadzhieva, Ms Teodora Staykova, and Prof. Georgi Georgiev will be awarded the St Pimen Zografski Honorary Badge (a collar with a blue ribbon) and a certificate. This distinction is conferred in recognition of their long-standing, significant, and enduring contributions, dedication, and service to the development, educational mission, and prestige of the National Academy of Art.
The ceremony will be attended by the Academy management, faculty, staff, students, and guests of the National Academy of Art.
Prof. Anna Boyadzhieva graduated from the School of Photography in Sofia (1973) and completed a degree in Textiles at the Academy of Arts (1982). She is a member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists, the European Textile Network (ETN), the American Biographical Institute (ABI), and the International Association of Art (AIAP). Her creative and academic career is closely intertwined with the Academy; for over three decades, Prof. Boyadzhieva has served as a lecturer in the "Textile – Art and Design" program, Head of Department, Vice-Dean, Vice-Rector for Artistic and Creative Activities, and Head of Exhibition Activities. She has made a significant contribution to the development of the Academy’s artistic life, its participation in prestigious international forums, and the training of generations of artists in the field of textile art. She has held solo exhibitions, including "The Other Surface" (Sofia City Art Gallery, 2000; Irida Gallery, 2002; Sredets Gallery, 2010), "Return to the Wall" (Washington, 2002), and "Plastic Forms" (Paris, 1999; Malaga, 2003), and has also presented work at the Apollonia Festival and the Sollers Gallery. Furthermore, she has participated in and curated Bulgarian presentations at the International Triennial of Contemporary Textile Art in Łódź, Poland (2007, 2010, 2013), the 11th Triennial in New Delhi, India (2005), and the "Art and Textile" project at the Sofia City Art Gallery (2000). She has participated in forums such as the International Design Biennial in Saint-Étienne, the Lace Biennials in Brussels, the International Textile Exhibition in Kyoto, and the Paper Art Fest in Sofia, as well as in projects in Paris, Madrid, Kassel, New York, Chicago, and Tokyo. She is a recipient of the "Cristal Bobin" award from the International Textile Art Biennial in Brussels (2004) and completed a residency at the Cité internationale des arts in Paris (1998). Her works are held in museums and collections across Bulgaria, Belgium, France, Poland, Japan, Germany, the USA, and elsewhere.
Teodora Staykova, who served for many years as the Head of the Education and Methodology Department, has made a key contribution to the development, institutional sustainability, and organization of educational activities at the National Academy of Art. Her extensive expert and administrative work has encompassed the development of curricula and syllabi, accreditation procedures, and the introduction of new educational opportunities for the entire academic community. Of particular significance to the institution is her consistent dedication to upholding the unique nature of arts education, safeguarding the academic integrity of its processes, and ensuring the conditions necessary for a successful, high-quality learning experience.
Prof. Georgi Georgiev – Dzhindzhi graduated with a degree in Ceramics from the Academy of Arts in 1977 and has long been a member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists. His professional career is inextricably linked to the development of education in the field of porcelain and glass. As a long-serving professor in the Department of Porcelain and Glass Design, Head of Department, and Dean of the Faculty of Applied Arts and Design, Prof. Georgiev has made a significant contribution to the professional development of generations of artists, the continuity within the academic discipline, and the academic advancement of the Faculty. His creative endeavours include a solo exhibition at the Art Alley Gallery in Sofia (2012), as well as participation in a group exhibition at the Art Alley Gallery (2012), the Art Salon at 6 Shipka street (2011/2012), the Festival of Contemporary Ceramics at 6 Shipka street (2011), a joint exhibition with Prof. Bozhidar Bonchev at the Sariev Gallery in Plovdiv, Bulgaria (2009), the "The Wall" project on St Catherine Island (2009), and a group exhibition at the Agora Gallery in Sofia, Bulgaria (2009).