National Academy of Art

The National Academy of Art was founded in 1896 as a State School of Drawing, on a legislation suggested by three outstanding Bulgarian public figures, the artists Ivan Mrkvicka and Anton Mitov, and the historian Dr. Ivan Shishmanov. The buildings of the National Academy of Art house numerous lecture halls, studios, laboratories, workshops, a museum, a computer centre, and a library with two branches; administration premises, a gymnasium and cafes. The academy has nearly 1000 students in different specialisms in visual arts, history of art and design. The academy also has 130 foreign students and 35 Bulgarian and foreign doctoral students. The National Academy of Art has two departments, of Visual Arts and of Applied Arts. The Museum of the National Academy of Art is an integral part of this institute, which accounts for its very special place at the academy. It ranks among the oldest museums in Bulgaria and was established simultaneously with the State School of Drawing in 1896. Throughout the years, it has not only preserved this valuable link but has also become part and parcel of the academy.s dynamic life. The Museum collection of the National Academy of Art is quite original with acquisitions from all periods of its 100-year existence. The main collection contains paintings and graphics donated by the very first teachers and students of the academy. The collection is mainly of student works, which have excelled in quality or have been noted as indicative for the manner of teaching at the academy.