The cultural observers of the previous two editions declare the festival as one of the most interesting new forums for art. With the clear goal of establishing a tradition and an iconic event in the cultural calendar of Sofia, we inaugurated the third edition. SPAF was selected in Sofia's bid for the European Capital of Culture, as one of the four key projects for contemporary art. Its broad democratic platform with an ecological tinge positioned it as a platform for multinational, polyvalent, independent and group expressions, without restrictions of religion, social status, race and age. The project addresses humane, ecological, social and spiritual messages to contemporary society and its problems. Inspiration, creativity and enthusiasm are in harmony with high professionalism, new achievements of human civilization and ancient traditions from all over the world.

The Biennial for Paper Art is a major section in the third edition of the SPAF. Founded in 2011, it now presents 127 artists from 32 countries in 23 exhibition spaces. The main goal of the 2013 Biennial is to present the great diversity of artists from all over the world and to unite human differences through art. Particularly important are the messages of unity and balance in the global picture of human relationships, where racial and religious differences melt away through art and make us better. A relevant medium even today, the paper is one of the greatest human discoveries and the carrier of our memory, it is the one that captures all the thoughts and dreams of centuries of human history.

The representation of an individual country in a solo exhibition highlights local art and traditions, putting the focus on trends in contemporary art. The exhibitions representing entire geographic regions, featuring artists from different countries, have a global purpose that goes beyond the characteristics of each country.

Sofia Paper Art Fest presented 23 exhibitions with 560 artists and four travelling formats across Europe, distinguishing this edition as the largest and most diverse up to date.

For the fifth consecutive year, Amateras Annual Exhibition/Competition for Paper Art took place, an exhibition bearing the name of the foundation and giving birth to the idea of the festival. The event was held at the Art Alley Gallery between 24 April and 25 May. 61 artists from 23 countries were selected in the competition!

Jury:
Jan Fairbairn-Edwards, France
Ray Tomasso, USA
Todor Todorov, Bulgaria

Awards:
Amateras Grand Prix: Richard Sweeney;
Prize for Innovation: Jo McDonald;
Prize for Emerging Artist: Sun Young Kang;
Prize for Bulgarian Artist: Laura Dimitrova;
Certificate for Art on Paper: Mari Carmen Ruiz Ruiz;
Certificate for Versatility of all 3 Artworks: Yoshio Hasegawa;
Certificate for Honorable Mention: Kathleen Loomis, Kathrin Dardel, Galina Dokova, Susanne Holzinger, Zdravka Kostadinova, Irene Rammensee.

The selected artists in the 2013 competition are:
Argentina: Eva Toker, Alejandra Koreck;
Austria: Elmar Peintner;
Bulgaria: Anita Penova, Galina Dokova, Denitsa Mandieva, Desi Deneva, Eleonora Hadjinikolova, Krasimira Drenska, Laura Dimitrova, Michaela Padeva, Maria Zlatanova, Nina Kostova, Nikola Terziev, Polina Tsoneva, Simeon Panayotov, Tina Zlatina, Valentin Balev, Velika Prahova, Zdravka Kostadinova, Zlatka Andreeva;
Chile: Carolina Larrea;
China: Juan Wang;
Finland: Anna Maija Bergman, Laina Koskela, Liisa Malkamo;
France: Marcelle Benhamou;
Germany: Anita Brendgens, Brigitte Pfaffenberger, Gerlinde Hofmann, Irene Rammensee, Marie Schirmacher-Meitz, Susanne Holzinger;
Greece: Aria Komianou;
Italy: Angela Simone;
Indonesia: Karina Ashrimaya;
Japan: Atsumi Murata, Yoshio Hasegawa, Miki Nakamura;
Korea: Kumnam Baik, Kunyoung Chang, Sun Young Kang;
Latvia: Dace Lucia Kidd;
Norway: Kirsti Grotmol;
Poland: Marek Sendyk;
Spain: Mari Carmen Ruiz Ruiz;
Scotland: Jo McDonald, Charmian Pollock;
Slovakia: Flora Sekanova;
Sweden: Asa Bostrom, Kristina Hall;
Switzerland: Elisabeth Jobin Sanglard, Kathrin Dardel;
UK: Alison Dear, Josephine Coy, Richard Sweeney;
USA: Kathleen Loomis, Kathy Guest, Kelly O'Brien, Mishelle Samour, Sandra Johnson.

Exhibitions:
• Carnival, official opening of the festival, SOHO (25 April – 19 May);
• Western European Art, Altera Art Center (24 April - 2 June);
• The Paper, a competition for young talents from the National School of Applied Arts St. Luka, Boris Hristov Music Centre (24 April – 2 June);
• Unspoken, a solo exhibition by Danail Kondikov (13 May – 2 June), Artamontsev Gallery;
• The Art of the Handmade Book (30 April – 2 June), National History Museum – Sofia;
• European Art (2 May – 2 June), Icarus Gallery;
• The Incarnation of Paper (9 May – 20 May), Academia Gallery;
• Northern European Art (8 May – 2 June), Forum Art Centre;
• Exotic Art (9 May – 27 May), Photosynthesis Gallery;
• World Paper Art (10 May – 2 June), MFA Exhibition Space;
• The Handmade Book and the Book Separator, curatorial project by Michaela Pudeva (13 May – 23 May), Sofia City Library;
• My Paper Dreams (14 May – 2 June), National Museum of Natural History;
• Bulgarian Paper Art (14 May – 30 May), Union of Bulgarian Artists;
• Jan Merczicka (14 May – 2 June), Czech Cultural Institute;
• In the Title Role - the Paper, selection from the International Poster Triennial (24 April - 2 June), Ivan Vazov National Theatre;
• Far Eastern Paper Art (15 May – 30 May), Finesse Gallery;
• Japanese Paper Art (16 May – 2 June), Mazda Gallery;
• Paper Sculpture (17 May – 2 June), Andrei Nikolov House Museum;
• Messages of Light (16 May – 2 June) Sofia City Art Gallery;
• Ancient Traces (29 April – 2 June), Arena di Serdica Hotel;
• On the Edge, solo exhibition by Ina Damyanova (17 May – 25 May), Fabrika 126.

Accompanying еvents:
• European Night of Museums (18 May);
• The Paper Street, in front of the Sofia City Art Gallery;
• “Stars”, ballet by Iv Dance.

Theatre:
• “The Legend of the Wandering King”, State Puppet Theatre;
• “The Story of a Seagull and the Gang of Tomcats”, Lumiere Cinema and Photosynthesis.

Screenings:
• Paper Love, a project with screenings of Bulgarian and foreign films at the Goethe Institute and the Center for Culture and Debate – the Red House;
• "The Wonders of Paper", Alma Mater's documentary about the SPAF 2012, SOHO;
• "Paper Traces of Serdica", two lecture screenings of the virtual museum of Serdica Ulpia, Arena di Serdica and Photosynthesis;
• "Late Antique Serdica", lecture series with screenings, Arena di Serdica.

Workshops:
• Photograms, Photosynthesis;
• Paper Puppets, SOHO;
• Art Book, Sofia Library;
• Paper Technique by Jan Merczicka, Czech Cultural Institute;
• Recycled Paper, Ina Damyanova, Fabrika 126.

Presentations:
• “The Puppet Theatre and the Innovation in Paper”, SOHO;
• Presentation of IAPMA, Altera Art Center;
• “The Role of Elitist Art”, Center for culture and debate – the Red House;
• “Paper from Potatoes”, Union of Bulgarian Artists, Antalis;
• “The way of the Recycled Paper”, Sofia City Art Gallery;
• “China: the Birthplace of the Paper”, lecture, Sofia City Art Gallery.

Amateras Foundation thanks to all participants who played a role in the Sofia Paper Art Fest 2013!

In “Unity in Art”, SPAF 2013, 150 artists from 32 countries participated:
Australia: Gail Stiffe, Jessica Wong;
Argentina: Alejandra Koreck, Eva Toker Jawerbaum, Patricia Alvarez;
Austria: Harald Metzler;
Brazil: Eliana Anghinah;
Bangladesh: Tayeba Begum Lipi;
Bulgaria: Adelina Rakovska, Ani Boyadjieva, Anelia Alexandrova, Antonia Duende, Antonia Tabakova, Atanas Gadjev, Borjana Stefanova, Boriana Tzentner, Galina Dokova, Daniela Knejevich, Daniela Todorova, Danail Kondikov, Desislava Deneva, Eleonora Hadjinikolova, Hristina Chaneva, Krasimira Drenska, Laura Dimitrova, Lili Koleva, Maya Petrova, Mariya Angelova, Mariya Zlatanova, Mihail Artamontsev, Michail Petkov, Mihaela Padeva, Milena Decheva, Nia Decheva, Nikola Terziev, Nikolai Bojinov, Penka Nikova, Ralitza Ivanova, Rumen Rachkov, Rumen – Popa, Snejana Simeonova, Stefan Popov, Stefan Vladimirov, Simeon Panayotov, Sonia Kovacheva, Tatiana Antonova, Tina Zlatina, Teodora Draganova, Todor Todorov, Tsvetan Stoyanov, Tsveta Petrova, Valentin Balev, Velika Prahova, Viktoria Georgieva, Vladimir Palev, Zdravka Kostadinova;
China: Qin Chong, Juan Wang, Lu Yan Gracely;
Czech Republic: Jan Mericka;
Denmark: Camilla Augustinus, Henriette Tougaard, Ida Guldhammer, Kate Skjerning, Lisbet Lark, Yngve Lately;
Finland: Elina Forsti, Jimmi Puuli, Liisa Malkamo, Laina Koskela, Meri Pauniaho, Tiina Lamminen;
France: Aidee Bernard, Anne-Lise Studer, Cagdas Kahriman, Jan Fairbairn-Edwards, Jean Michel Letellier, Sapin Veroniqie;
Germany: Anita Brendgens, Bodo Korsig, Eva Wilke, Helene Tschacher, Josephine Tabbert, Irene Hoppenberg, Irene Rammensee;
Hungary: Eszter Bornemisza;
Iceland: Hrafn Árni Hrólfsson, Ragnhildur Stefansdottir;
India: Ankur Kumar;
Italy: Anna Onesty;
Japan: Kihachiro Nishiura, Kumoi Yadjima, Atsumi Murata, Yoshio Hasegawa, Chikako Sato, Mami Kawai, Kakuko Ishii, Naoyo Yamamoto, Ayako Abe Miller, Yuko Nishimura;
Jordan: Dalia Al Kuri;
Lithuania: Elvira Katalina Kriauciunaite, Loreta Valuziene, Andrews Erminas, Ieva Babilaitė;
Korea: Mae Lee, Sun Young Kang, Huang Seung Woo, Kumnam Baik, Lee Gun Hee;
Mexico: Renata Girlero;
Malaysia: Hock Aun Teh, Juan Wang;
Netherland: Ferry Staverman, Greetje Van Den Akker;
Norway: Vibeke Fuglsang Damgaard, Ellen Ringstad, Kirsti Grotmol, Peter Esdaile;
Poland: Marek Sendyk, Magda Sobon;
UK: Charmian Pollock, Fiona Hutchitson, Brenda Parson, Jo McDonald, Jenny Smith, June Carey, Josephine Coy, Richard Sweeney, Liz Doughlas;
Spain: Mary Carmen Ruiz;
South Africa: Mbongeni Buthelezi, Vusi Mfupi;
Sweden: Asa Boström, Margareta Mannervik, Kristina Häll, Cecilia Levy;
Switzerland: Kathrin Dardel, Lilo Shaer, Gerda Garilu, Suess May-Lusi;
Turkey: Yurdagul Pakalin, Nurtag Ozler, Cagdas Kahriman;
USA: Ray Tomasso, Bill Pangburn, Renee Magnati, Meda & Veda Rives, Kathy Guess, Karen Hardy.

38 artists from 19 countries participated in Art Book Section, Biennial for Paper Art Sofia 2013:
Austria: Elmar Peintner;
Argentina: Raquel Rabinovich;
Bulgaria: Antonia Duende, Galina Dokova, Krasimira Drenska, Kristina Yakimova, Martina Vacheva, Maria Nalbantova, Simona Kasabova, Milena Atanasova, Snejina Biserova, Tina Zlatina, Tsveta Petrova;
France: Jan Fairbairn-Edwards;
China: Juan Wang;
Finland; Liisa Malkamo, Anna Maija Bergman;
Germany: Gerlinde Hofman, Elke Schirrmacher Meitz, Brigitte Pfaffenberger, Josephine Tabbert, Eva Wilke;
Israel: Laura Behar;
Japan: Mami Kawai;
Hungary: Eszter Bornemisza;
Korea: Mae Lee;
North Macedonia: Ridvan Aliti;
Malaisia: Wang Jiabin;
The Netherlands: Aliza Thomas, Els Van Baarle, Mariëlle Van Den Bergh And Mels Dees, Maria Diduch;
Norway: Barbara Czapran;
Poland: Marek Sendyk;
Spain: Mari Karmen Ruiz;
Sweden: Asa Bostrom;
USA: Kathy Guest, Keri Cushman.

Amateras Foundation is sincerely grateful to all institutions, sponsors, spaces and media partners who supported Sofia Paper Art Fest 2013!

Institutions:
Ministry of Culture, Bulgaria
National Culture Fund
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bulgaria
State Institute for Culture
Ministry of Environment and Water, Bulgaria
Sofia Municipality
Association for Development of Sofia
Embassy of Austria in Bulgaria
Embassy of Germany in Bulgaria
Embassy of Denmark in Bulgaria
Embassy of Finland in Bulgaria
Embassy of Norway in Bulgaria
Embassy of Sweden in Bulgaria
Embassy of South Africa in Bulgaria
Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria
North Culture Fund
Japanese Foundation
Goethe Institut
Makhaya Art Village
Czech Cultural Institute
French Cultural Institute

Museums and galleries:
National History Museum
Sofia City Art Gallery
National Museum of Natural History, Sofia
“Boris Hristov” Museum
Art Alley Gallery
Mazda Gallery
Andrey Nikolov Museum – the Red House
Union of Bulgarian Artists
Altera Art Centre
Forum Art Center
Artamontsev Gallery
Mazda Gallery
Missiyata Gallery
Finesse Gallery
Ikar Gallery
Academia Gallery
Photosynthesis Gallery
Sofia Library – Gallery
Arena di Serdica
SOHO – co-working space
Fabrika 126

Educational Institutions:
National Academy of Arts, Sofia
NATFA
New Bulgarian University
National High School for Applied Arts “St. Luka”
American College in Sofia
144 High School 144

Theatres:
Ivan Vazov National Theatre
Sofia Puppet Theatre

Private companies:
Mazda
Antalis
Committee of the International Triennial of the Theatre Poster
Arte Hotel
Katarzyna
Number ONE
Buldok
Stagemasters
Schenker
Eve Dance

Media partners:
Bulgarian National Radio
Jazz FM
JazzFM Lounge
Darik Radio
Alma Mater TV
Metroreklama
Osem Magazine
Geo
Idealen Dom
Sofia Live
My Destination
Dekor