The eighth edition of the Sofia Paper Art Fest coincides with the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2018, which also determined the focus of the festival, namely the intercultural dialogue and the successful partnerships with global networks and associations. The cultural heritage of Bulgaria and the world are represented with works concerning writing, memory and the different techniques used in the paper art. In the framework of the edition, Sofia Paper Art Fest hosts the XXV Congress of the International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists (IAPMA) on the theme Paper: Conscience and Consciousness. International exchanges with exhibitions, lectures and films present Bulgaria and the overall cultural policy of Bulgaria. As host of the IAPMA Congress, SPAF 2018 helps to put Sofia on the European map as a centre of attraction for global cultural events.

The presentations abroad are a natural consequence of the high rating Sofia Paper Art Fest has in professional and media circles outside Bulgaria. The previous editions have shown a huge number of artists and works, and now the most important thing is the extensive partnership with foreign organisations for the future period 2018 – 2023.

Invitations from abroad to the festival comes from Argentina, Brazil, China, Finland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Morocco, Norway, Portugal, South Africa. These events are in partnership with various organizations working to exchange ideas and events.

For the tenth consecutive year, the 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 National Palace of Culture, Marble Foyer, between 12 April and 12 May. 70 artists from 26 countries were selected in the competition!

Jury:
Dessislava Moneva, Bulgaria
Nicole Donnelly, US
Todor Todorov, Bulgaria

Awards:
Amateras Grand Prix: Nane Wenhammar;
Prize for Innovation: Miriam Londono;
Prize of ONE Gallery: Jo McDonald;
Prize for Bulgarian Artist: Martina Karaivanova;
Certificate for Art on Paper: Josephine Coy;
Certificate for Versatility of all 3 Artworks: Marie Noorani;
Certificate for Honorable Mention: Veska Abad, Miroslawa Truchta-Nowicka, Atanas Mihaltchev.

The selected artists in the 2018 competition are:
Argentina: Eva Toker, Alejandra Koreck, Elvira Cibotti;
Argentina/US: Isabel Barbuzza
Austria: Elmar Peintner;
Bulgaria: Adriana Boyadjieva, Anelia Nikolova, Anelia Alexandrova, Antonia Duende, Antoniya Tabakova, Alexandra Dimitrova, Atanas Michaltchev, Dilyana Belcheva, Galina Dokova, Iveta Chelebieva, Krasimira Drenska, Kristina Varbanova, Laura Dimitrova, Maria Dryanovska, Mariyana Rainova, Mariyana Zheleva, Martina Karaivanova, Nadezhda Dzhanova, Radmila Mikova, Sarkis Nersesyan, Tatiana Karamalakova, Tsveta Petrova, Veska Abad, Yana Petkova;
Brazil: Elianah Anghinah, Angela Barbour;
Canada: Odette Théberge;
China: Yongqi Chen;
Colombia/The Netherlands: Miriam Londono;
Finland: Johanna Virtanen;
France: Marcelle Benhamou;
Germany: Fides Linien, Josephine Tabbert, Marie Shirmahher Meitz;
Hungary: Sirpa Ihanus;
Israel: Yosefa Gal;
Japan: Atsumi Murata, Noriko Amano, Wakako Ishisone, Kihachiro Nishiura
Kosovo: Arbana Hajredinaj, Adriana Sedaj;
Korea: Sun Young Kang;
Latvia: Antra Ivdra;
Mexico: Nane Wenhammar;
New Zealand: Dizzy Elizabeth Pragnell;
Romania: Adriana Lucaciu;
Poland: Аgnieszka Jankowska, Barbara Niscior, Mirosława Truchta-Nowicka, Monika Wanyura-Kurosad, Katarzyna Zbierska –Michalak;
Slovenia: Metka Pepelnak;
Scotland: Jo Mcdonald;
Switzerland: Elisabeth Jobin-Sanglard;
Turkey: Berna Isbilir Aydin;
UK: Jane Walker, Josephine Coy, Pat Hodson;
US: Emily Duong, Heather Beardsley, Marie Noorani, Nicole Donneley, Priscilla Robinson, Tatiana Ginsberg.

Exhibitions:
• “Past. Present. Future I”, with the participation of: Todor Todorov, Snejana Simeonova, Valentin Balev, Anna Boyadjieva, Daniela Todorova, Manya Vaptsarova, Rozina Makaveeva, Laura Dimitrova, Adriana Boyadjieva, Stanislava Anchova and Kaloyan Georgiev, Maria Angelova, Elizaveta Angelova, Dana Tileva, Milko Dyulgerov, National Palace of Culture, West foyer (12 April – 19 May);
• “Past. Present. Future II”, Arte Gallery (17 April – 5 May);
• “Messages in Paper”, ONE Gallery (9 May – 22 May);
• “Paper Pulse”, exhibition of IAPMA members, Regional History Museum, Triangular Tower (16 May – 16 June);
• “Responsible Paper”, Finesse Gallery (17 May – 2 June);
• “Ancient Writings from Japan”, old natural techniques, Mazda Gallery (18 may – 14 June).

Main events:
• Events devoted to the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of EU, National Palace of Culture;
• IAPMA Congress, a programme including over 30 events with the participation of members of the association, Finesse Gallery, Triangular Tower, Regional History Museum – Sofia (16 – 20 May).

Theatre:
• “The Tempest”, Sofia Puppet Theatre;
• “Ronja, the Robber's Daughter”, Sofia Puppet Theatre;
• “The Story of a Seagull and the Gang of Tomcats”, Sofia Puppet Theatre;
• “The Legend of the Wandering King”, Sofia Puppet Theatre;
• “The Sold Laughter”, Sofia Puppet Theatre;
• “The Collector”, 199 Theatre; 
• “Zamza Family”, Sfumato Theatre-Laboratory.

Performance:
• “Seeds of Time” by Angela Barbour, Triangular Tower, Regional History Museum, Sofia.

Workshops:
• IAPMA, Origami and Scandinavian Design, ONE Gallery;
• IAPMA, Handmade Paper, Finesse Gallery;
• IAPMA, Bulgarian Calligraphy, Triangular Tower, Regional History Museum – Sofia.

Presentations and lectures:
• IAPMA, “Serdika, My City”, Triangular Tower, Regional History Museum – Sofia;
• IAPMA, Finnish Design, ONE Gallery;
• IAPMA, Ukiyo-e, Leticia Burgos, Finesse Gallery;
• IAPMA, The Written Cultural Heritage and Calligraphy in Bulgaria, Triangular Tower, Regional History Museum – Sofia;
• IAPMA, Japanese Variations, Mazda Gallery;
• IAPMA, Panels of Lectures and Presentations, Ramada Hotel.

Accompanying events:
• European Night of Museums (20 May)
• The Paper Street, Rayko Daskalov Sq. (19 May)
• IAPMA Congress
• Workshops by members of IAPMA, within the exhibitions.

Amateras Foundation thanks to all participants who played a role in the Sofia Paper Art Fest 2018!

In “Messages in Paper”, SPAF 2018, 161 artists from 32 countries participated:
Australia: Heather Matthew;
Argentina: Eva Toker, Alejandra Koreck, Elvira Cibotti, Isabel Barbuzza;
Argentina/US: Isabel Barbuzza
Austria: Elmar Peintner; Margitte Bu-Dominguez;
Bulgaria: Anna Boyadjieva, Adriana Boyadjieva, Anelia Nikolova, Anelia Alexandrova, Antonia Duende, Antoniya Tabakova, Alexandra Dimitrova, Atanas Michaltchev, Dana Tileva, Daniela Todorova, Dilyana Belcheva, Desislava Deneva, Elizaveta Angelova, Galina Dokova, Iveta Chelebieva, Kaloyan Georgiev, Krasimira Drenska, Kristina Varbanova, Laura Dimitrova, Maria Dryanovska, Maria Angelova, Mariyana Rainova, Mariyana Zheleva, Martina Karaivanova, Nadezhda Dzhanova, Radmila Mikova, Rozina Makaveeva, Snejana Simeonova, Sarkis Nersesyan, Stanislava Anchova, Tatiana Karamalakova, Tsveta Petrova, Todor Todorov, Simon Todorov, Simeon Panayotov, Valentin Balev, Veska Abad, Veselka Nikolova, Yana Petkova, Zdravka Kostadinova;
Brazil: Elianah Anghinah, Angela Barbour;
Canada: Odette Théberge;
Chile: Carolina Larea;
China: Yongqi Chen;
Colombia/The Netherlands: Miriam Londono;
Denmark: Anni Fiil, Jytte Rasmussen;
Finland: Johanna Virtanen, Tami Minnamarina;
France: Marcelle Benhamou, Viviane Colautti-Ivanova, Florence Pinson-Ynden, Jean Fairbairn Edwards;
Germany: Angelika Wolpert, Bara Lehmann Schultz, Ines Seidel, Irene Rammensee, Eva Wilke, Josephine Tabbert, Heike Berl, Fides Linien, Josephine Tabbert, Marie Shirmahher Meitz, Siegrid Mueller-Halz, Helene Tschacher, Helga Adam, Melina Hermsen, Monika Welnitz, Petra Grup, Rafael Grothues, Renate Scheizer, Suzane Holzinger, Uta Arnhardt;
Hungary: Sirpa Ihanus;
Israel: Dafna Yarom, Josefa Gal, Laura Behar, Sefi Gal, Hana Altaraz, Orna Hodara Hatzor, Tirtsa Valentine;
Japan: Kakuko Ishii, Kenji Sato, Atsumi Murata, Noriko Amano, Wakako Ishisone, Kihachiro Nishiura, Toru Kurita, Jenishiro Ando, Reiji Aoyama, Sumio Futamura, Eiji Kato, Nami Nakasone, Shohei Yamauchi.
Kosovo: Arbana Hajredinaj, Adriana Sedaj;
Korea: Sun Young Kang;
Lithuania: Antra Ivdra, Ilse Dilein;
Mexico: Nane Wenhammar;
New Zealand: Dizzy Elizabeth Pragnell;
North Cyprus: Ismet Tatar, Emel Samioğlu, Inci Kansu;
Norway: Hanne Frey Huso, Kirsti Grotmol;
Romania: Adriana Lucaciu;
Poland: Аgnieszka Jankowska, Barbara Niscior, Mirosława Truchta-Nowicka, Monika Wanyura-Kurosad, Katarzyna Zbierska –Michalak, Anna Gobel, Magdalena Sobon;
Slovenia: Metka Pepelnak;
Scotland: Jo Mcdonald;
South Korea: Sun Yong Kang;
Switzerland: Elisabeth Jobin-Sanglard; Kathrin Biffi, Ruth Moro, Gerda Ritzmann, Therese Weber, Marie Louise Glinz, Beka Kilchemann, Bara Lehmann Schulz, Beatrix Kilchenmann;
The Netherlands: Aliza Thomas, Anita Brendgens, Greetje van den Akker, Maria Diduch, Mali Klein, Elise Kloppers;
Turkey: Berna Isbilir Aydin, Kanan Topaoglu;
UK: Jane Walker, Josephine Coy, Pat Hodson;
US: Emily Duong, Pat Houdson, Katy Guess, Giles Parisi, Elizabeth Macky, Emily Duong, Heather Beardsley, May Babkok, Marjori Tomchuk, Tirza Valentin, Marie Noorani, Nicole Donneley, Priscilla Robinson, Tatiana Ginsberg.

Amateras Foundation is sincerely grateful to all institutions, sponsors, spaces and media partners who supported Sofia Paper Art Fest 2018!

Institutions:
Ministry of Culture, Bulgaria
National Culture Fund, Bulgaria
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bulgaria
Sofia Municipality
Embassy of Bulgaria in Brazil
Embassy of Bulgaria in Kosovo
Embassy of Bulgaria in Finland
Embassy of Bulgaria in Japan
Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria
Embassy of Kosovo in Bulgaria
State Institute for Culture, Bulgaria
Bulgarian Festivals Association

Museums and galleries:
Museum for National Art, Minais Gerais, Brazil
Wakita Museum, Karuizawa, Japan
Regional History Museum – Sofia
National Gallery, Kosovo
National Library, Helsinki, Finland
Art Sauna Gallery, Embassy of Bulgaria in Finland
National Palace of Culture
B Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Mazda Gallery
One Gallery
Finesse Gallery
Arte Gallery

Associations:
IAPMA – US
NEXUS – Japan

Theatres:
Sofia Puppet Theatre

Educational institutions:
National Academy of Art, Sofia

Private companies:
Mazda
Number ONE
Elfy Tours

Media partners:
Bulgarian News Agency
Bulgarian National Television
BTV
TV1
Bulgarian National Radio
JazzFM
Classic FM
Darik Radio
BG Radio
Osem Magazine
Programata
Eva Magazine
Sofia Live
Actualno.bg
Vij Mag
Peika.bg