In its fourth edition, Sofia Paper Art Fest has the main mission to present Sofia's candidacy for the European Capital of Culture, welcoming the invitations of several European countries - France, Finland, Italy, the UK and the Czech Republic, where the interest in the event is heightened.

The Foundation owns a collection of over a thousand works in large and small scale, multimedia works, films and recordings of performances. Through lectures and presentations that share its experience, the Amateras Foundation shows a selection that best illustrates the aims and achievements of the paper festival. Under the title "Share Ideas", this year's festival is in line with the main motto of Sofia's candidacy for European Capital of Culture in 2019.

Another focus of the festival is on the Bulgaria's biggest support for the past 55 years and its contribution to the paper art - Japan. Many projects in Sofia include Japanese participation and a logical continuation of the traditional presentation of Japanese art in Sofia Paper Art Fest is part of this year's programme.

Each year the exhibitions are open to the public on the European Night of Museums, and the most striking event is the Paper Street. Japanese paper art techniques, a fashion show of paper clothes and accessories, artifacts, shadow theatre, and a carnival are all part of the programme. An important destination adjacent to the National Palace of Culture is the Mazda Gallery, where a joint program is being held with the Nihon Tomono Kai “Friends of Japan in Bulgaria” Club, of which the Amateras Foundation is a member.

Last but not least, the festival shows an exhibition and Paper Street in the city of Pernik, aiming to spread paper art through decentralization of events and participation of local artists and students in the event.

For the sixth 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 31 April and 30 May. 67 artists from 21 countries were selected in the competition!

Jury:
Dimiter Delchev, Bulgaria
Stefan Popov, Bulgaria
Todor Todorov, Bulgaria

Awards:
Amateras Grand Prix: Atsumi Murata;
Prize for Innovation: Yoshio Hasegawa;
Prize for Emerging Artist: Larissa Cox;
Prize for Bulgarian Artist: Dessislava Deneva;
Certificate for Art on Paper: Eliana Anghinah;
Certificate for Versatility of all 3 Artworks: Viviane Colautti-Ivanova;
Certificate for Honorable Mention: Alejandra Koreck, Bara Lehmann-Schulz, Helene Tschacher, Tammi Minnamarina.

The selected artists in the 2014 competition are:
Argentina: Patricia Alvarez, Alejandra Koreck, Eva Toker Jawerbaum;
Brazil: Eliana Anghinah Raicher;
Bulgaria: Adelina Rakovska, Violeta Apostolova, Desislava Deneva, Denitza Mandieva, Krasimira Drenska,
Kristina Radoslavova, Laura Dimitrova, Mariyana Raynova, Nadezhda Dzhanova, Tsveta Petrova, Tsvetislava Koleva, Veselкa Nikolova, Zdravka Kostadinova, Zlatka Andreeva, Hristo Ivanov, Vladimir Palev, Gloria Shugleva;
Estonia: Anne Rudanovski;
Finland: Liisa Malkamo, Tammi Minnamarina;
France: Jan Fairbairn Eduawards, Marcelle Benhamou, Viviane Colautti-Ivanova;
Germany: Bara Lehmann-Schulz, Beatrice Kicherman, Helene Tschacher, Elke Schirrmacher Meitz, Elisabeth Happekausen, Eva Wilcke, Irene Rammensee, Josephine Tabbert, Susanne Holzinger;
Greece: Aria Komianou, Aris Stoidis;
Italy: Alice Visin;
Japan: Atsumi Murata, Yoshio Hasegawa, Ayako Tajima, Fukiko Nakabayashi;
Korea: Paula-Jiun No, Sun Young Kang, Kumnam Baik;
Lichtenstein: Ursula Batliner;
Norway: Kirsti Grotmol;
Poland: Monika Mazurkiewicz;
Spain: Mari Carmen Ruiz;
Slovenia: Metka Pepelnak;
Sweden: Asa Bostrom, Kristina Hall;
Sweden/USA: Mona Waterhouse;
Switzerland: Kathrin Biffi, Elisabeth Jobin-Sanglard;
Turkey: Ayten Mungan, Susan Tepe Ylmaz;
UK: Charmian Pollok, Jane Walker, Jo McDonald, Josephine Coy, Agnes Johnstone, Alison Harper, Anna Berry, Larissa Cox;
Slovenia: Marjeta Pepelnak.

Exhibitions:
• The Best of Sofia Paper Art Fest, photographic exhibition (7 May – 21 May), City Garden, Sofia
• Messages in Paper, solo exhibition of Laura Dimitrova (8 May – 26 May), Photosynthesis Gallery
• Transformations, solo exhibition of Valentin Balev (15 May – 1 June), Rimini Gallery
• Shared Paper Ideas (9 May – 14 May), Krakra Gallery, Pernik

Theatre:
• “The Tempest”, Sofia Puppet Theatre;
• “We, the Sparrows”, Sofia Puppet Theatre;
• “The Collector”, 199 Theatre.

Screening:
• “Auto Tales”, Czech Cultural Institute

Workshops:
• The Fire and the Paper, Valentin Balev, Rimini Gallery;
• Japanese Techniques, Mazda Gallery;
• Day of the Paper Innovations, Ivan Vazov National Theatre.

Presentations:
• Elemental Sculpture, Todor Todorov, Sofia City Art Gallery;
• Awarded Shows by Katya Petrova – Icarus, Rimini Gallery;
• Japanese Paper Techniques in the Contemporary Art, Daniela Todorova, Mazda Gallery;
• Laura Dimitrova and Her Way to the Recycling, Photosynthesis;
• Paper Clothes from Japan, D+, Mazda Gallery.

Accompanying events:
• Night of the Museums (17 May);
• The Paper Street, in front of Sofia City Art Gallery;
• The Paper Street in Pernik;
• Fashion Show, National Academy of Art
• “Martial Arts from Japan” Performance

Amateras Foundation thanks to all participants who played a role in the Sofia Paper Art Fest 2014!

In “Share Ideas”, SPAF 2014, 72 artists from 23 countries participated:
Argentina: Patricia Alvarez, Alejandra Koreck, Eva Toker;
Brazil: Eliana Anghinah Raicher;
Bulgaria: Valentin Balev, Adelina Rakovska, Violeta Apostolova, Desislava Deneva, Desislava Ivanova, Denitza Mandieva, Krasimira Drenska, Kristina Radoslavova, Laura Dimitrova, Mariyana Raynova, Nadezhda Dzhanova, Tsveta Petrova, Tsvetislava Koleva, Veselкa Nikolova, Zdravka Kostadinova, Zlatka Andreeva, Hristo Ivanov, Vladimir Palev, Gloria Shugleva;
Estonia: Anne Rudanovski;
Finland: Liisa Malkamo, Tammi Minnamarina;
France: Jan Fairbairn Eduawards, Marcelle Benhamou, Viviane Colautti-Ivanova;
Germany: Bara Lehmann-Schulz, Beatrice Kicherman, Helene Tschacher, Elke Schirrmacher Meitz, Elisabeth Happekausen, Eva Wilcke, Irene Rammensee, Josephine Tabbert, Susanne Holzinger;
Greece: Aria Komianou, Aris Stoidis;
Italy: Alice Visin;
Japan: Atsumi Murata, Yoshio Hasegawa, Ayako Tajima, Fukiko Nakabayashi, Kihachiro Nishiura, Yuko Nishimura, Naoyo Yamamoto;
Korea: Paula-Jiun No, Sun Young Kang, Kumnam Baik;
Lichtenstein: Ursula Batliner;
Norway: Kirsti Grotmol;
Poland: Monika Mazurkiewicz;
Spain: Mari Carmen Ruiz;
Slovenia: Metka Pepelnak;
Sweden: Asa Bostrom, Kristina Hall;
Sweden/USA: Mona Waterhouse;
Switzerland: Kathrin Biffi, Elisabeth Jobin-Sanglard;
Turkey: Ayten Mungan, Susan Tepe Ylmaz;
UK: Charmian Pollok, Jane Walker, Jo McDonald, Josephine Coy, Agnes Johnstone, Alison Harper, Anna Berry, Larissa Cox;
Slovenia: Marjeta Pepelnak.

Amateras Foundation is sincerely grateful to all institutions, sponsors, spaces and media partners who supported Sofia Paper Art Fest 2014!

Institutions:
Ministry of Culture, Bulgaria
National Culture Fund, Bulgaria
Sofia Municipality
Association for Development of Sofia
Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria
Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Prague
Czech Cultural Institute, Sofia
Frame, Finland
Pernik Municipality
French Institute, Bulgaria

Museums and galleries:
Sofia City Art Gallery
Fabriano Museum, Italy
Rovaniemi Museum, Finland
Art Alley Gallery
Mazda Gallery
Rimini Gallery
Photosynthesis Gallery
Pernik Gallery
Associations:
IAPMA – Germany
Chaine De Papier – France
Nihon Tomono Kai
Ikebana Soga
Nakama
Urasenke
Hiraki Ju Jutso

Theatres:
Sofia Puppet Theatre
199 Theatre

Private companies:
Mazda
Fabriano, Italy
Number ONE
Di+
Stagemasters
Eve Dance

Media partners:
Bulgarian National Radio
Jazz FM
JazzFM Lounge
Darik Radio
Osem Magazine
Eva Magazine
Sofia Live
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