Page by Page...

127 Years: Library Collection of National Academy of Art

19 January – 17 February 2023

 

Opening: 19 January 2023 (Thurs), 6:00pm

Academia Gallery, National Academy of Art, 1 Shipka St., Sofia

 

Curators of the exhibition: Dr. Milena Balcheva-Bozhkova and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nenko Atanasov

 

In the interesting historical development and establishment of the Academy of Arts in Sofia, its library collection, collected and preserved for many decades, has its place and merit. In terms of its content, it is considered the oldest library with the richest specialized fund of fine art literature. Looking back to the beginning of the first higher school of arts in Bulgaria, we note with respect that even back then, its minimalist model provided for the separation of a library collection. And this is a significant step that directly contributes to the realization of the institution's academic mission in the coming decades.

 

With its 127-year history, the collection of the Academy of Fine Art of publications on fine arts matters stands today with dignity on the Bulgarian information map – long established as the leading information institution of the plastic arts in the country. It is unique in its specificity, as it owns multi-volume editions on art history, most of which are bibliographic rarities, and hundreds of extremely valuable books and albums.

 

The exhibition PAGE BY PAGE ... focuses on the creation of a specialized library collection and its development over time. This is a still little-studied process, which, however, represents an essential part of the history of the educational institution. The exhibition of preserved archival documents, photographs and rare editions of fine art is not just a step back in time, it is an attempt by the curators to clarify a number of unknowns. Significant stages and aspects are presented – the establishment of a library collection in 1896, its organising it as a modern scientific library and its enrichment over the years, its contribution to shaping the Academy of Arts as one of the first cultural and educational centres after the Bulgarian Liberation and the first half of the 20th century.

 

The exhibition project is financed under the Programme for the Scientific and Artistic-Creative Activities of the National Academy of Art for Year 2022.

 

Team: Dr. Milena Balcheva-Bozhkova (project manager and curator of the exhibition), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nenko Atanasov (curator of the exhibition and author of the sign, design and layout), Sen. Lect. Dr. Rossen Toshev (photographer), Anelia Georgieva and Liliana Ivanova (library archive research and selection of publications), Sylvia Miloslavova (editor, proofreader, translator), Didi Spasova (Public Relations)