The Young Visual Artists Awards (YVAA) international network, which was established in 1990, is among the most sustainable programs promoting cultural exchange between the USA and Central and Eastern Europe. The BAZA Award, Bulgaria, is administered by theInstitute of Contemporary Art – Sofia andthe Edmond Demerdzhiyan Foundation in partnership with the Sofia City Art Gallery. The annual competitionis open for artists up to 35 years of age, who are required to submit a portfolio. The jury, whose members are replaced biennially, selects four to eight nominees. The exhibition of works by award nominees is hosted by the SCAG. The award winner is announced at the exhibition opening. The award entitles a Bulgarian artist to a two-month residency in New York City. BAZA Award winners are also given the chance to present their work in a solo exhibition at the gallery of the Institute of Contemporary Art – Sofia.
BAZA Award winners include: Rada Bukova (2008), Samuil Stoyanov (2009), Anton Terziev (2010), Vikenti Komitski (2011), Leda Ekimova (2012), Cyril Kuzmanov (2013), Zoran Georgiev (2014), Alexandra Chaushova (2015), Dimitar Shopov (2016), Martina Vacheva (2017), Martin Penev (2018), and Valko Chobanov (2019). Members of the 2020 jury are: Desislava Dimova (curator), Irina Batkova (curator), Bilyana Rubinova (artistandcurator), Miryana Todorova (artist), Martin Penev (artist). The jury’s decision is traditionally announced at the exhibition opening.
Nataliya Yordanova was born 1991 in Sofia. She studied photography at the National Academy for Theater and Film Arts, Sofia, continuing her studies in the Hague and Amsterdam, where sha has moved permanently. Yavor Kostadinov was born in 1993 in Plovdiv, where he lives and works. He majored in painting at the National Academy of Arts, Sofia.Maria Nalbantova was born in 1990 in Sofia, where she lives and works. She graduated from the National Academy of Arts, Sofia. Boryana Petkova (born 1985) has studied at the National Academy of Arts, Sofiaand the Valenciennes School of Art and Design in France.She lives and works in Paris. Kalas Liebfried (Kaloyan Lyubomirov) was born in 1989 in Svistov, Bulgaria. He studied philosophy, and later, sculpture and media arts in Munich, where he lives and works.
The winner of BAZA Award 2020 is Maria Nalbantova.