26.06.2026
On 24 June 2026, the finalists in the student competition for the design of an outdoor metal art installation on the theme "Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. Always One Step Ahead" were awarded at the Academy Gallery of the National Academy of Art (NAA).
Among the participants and official guests were Prof. Georgi Yankov, Rector of the National Academy of Art; Prof. Arsen Minkov, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Arts and Design at NAA; Assoc. Prof. Emil Bachiyski, PhD, Head of the Metal Department at NAA; Assoc. Prof. Atanas Georgiev, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"; Assoc. Prof. Marina Stefanova, PhD, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration; and Vasil Harizanov, Sustainability Manager at Sofia Med AD.
All attendees expressed their satisfaction with the joint initiative and the outstanding quality of the competition entries. In his official address, Dean Assoc. Prof. Atanas Georgiev emphasized the significant benefits of close collaboration between Bulgarian universities in implementing large-scale interdisciplinary projects.
"Academia, science, and art go hand in hand, crossing the boundaries of individual teams and institutions. Through this project, the young artists challenged us to step outside our usual perspective and view FEBA through the eyes of art and local communities. For us, the initiative continues our tradition of developing projects “from students for students” and actively engaging the University in initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable urban environment".
Dean Prof. Arsen Minkov congratulated the young artists on their dedication, professionalism, and remarkable creativity demonstrated in every project.
"This competition provides an excellent opportunity for our students to gain first-hand experience in the professional environment of one of Bulgaria's leading industrial companies, Sofia Med AD, while developing projects for public spaces that take into account both the characteristics of the material and the urban environment".
Prof. Minkov also expressed his appreciation for the partnership between the National Academy of Art, the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University, and Sofia Med AD.
Representing the business sector, Vasil Harizanov highlighted the importance of the circular economy and the implementation of sustainable solutions that successfully connect contemporary design with the needs of industry.
"We are grateful to our partners from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA) at Sofia University and the National Academy of Art for the opportunity to participate in this project. We believe that initiatives bringing together science, art, and business around a shared goal play a vital role in preparing young professionals for real working environments—something that industry increasingly requires. Congratulations to all participants, whose creativity and expertise demonstrated how metals can be used sustainably to create a higher-quality and more contemporary urban environment".
Special congratulations were also extended by Prof. Georgi Yankov, Rector of the National Academy of Art, to the project team, faculty members, and students from the Metal Department.
Following the official speeches, the winners were announced during a ceremonial awards presentation. All nine students who participated in the competition received certificates of participation, presented by Assoc. Prof. Emil Bachiyski and Assoc. Prof. Marina Stefanova.
The official competition winners were:
- First Prize – Ema Slavkova, awarded €750 and official recognition. Her name will be included in the project's communication materials. The award was presented by Assoc. Prof. Atanas Georgiev.
- Second Prize – Daniil Danailov, awarded €500 and a certificate, presented by Vasil Harizanov.
- Third Prize – Daniela Radoeva, awarded €250, presented by Prof. Arsen Minkov.
The student competition is a joint initiative of FEBA, the National Academy of Art, and the FEB Foundation, implemented with the generous support of Sofia Med AD.
The competition theme was inspired by the 35th anniversary of the restoration of FEBA and aimed to encourage young artists to explore the interaction between education, art, and the urban environment. Through contemporary artistic language and sculptural forms, participants interpreted themes such as knowledge, development, sustainable growth, academic community, memory, and continuity.
As part of their preparation, students visited the park area in front of Building 3 of FEBA, as well as the industrial facilities of Sofia Med AD, where they became acquainted with the properties of the material and the technical requirements for manufacturing the installations.
A total of nine students from the Metal Department at the National Academy of Art participated in the competition, presenting 25 diverse project proposals. The students worked under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Emil Bachiyski and Chief Assist. Prof. Ventsislav Shishkov, PhD.
Photos: National Academy of Art / Yavor Kondov and Boris Ivanov