Darina Gilyova wins the prestigious "Young Artist of Burgas" award
Darina Gilyova is the recipient of this year's "Young Artist of Burgas" award for 2026. The distinction, which bears the name of the iconic Burgas artist Rusi Stoyanov (1955 – 2004), was officially presented at the gallery of the Burgas Artists' Society.
"This award is especially dear to me because it stimulates talent and motivates young authors to be bolder in their creative pursuits and projects," Gilyova shared.
Who is Darina Gilyova?
The artist from Pomorie is actively involved in several fields:
- Painting and scenography
- Monumental mural projects
- Leading an art school for children
The Mayor of Burgas, Dimitar Nikolov, presented the award and emphasized that the initiative has established itself as a symbol of support for young talents in the city. The event was attended by the Deputy Mayor for Culture Diana Savateva, Rusi Stoyanov's grandson – Bozhidar Georgiev, and the Chairman of the Burgas Artists' Society, Dobrin Vatev.
Nominations and competition
This year, a total of three candidates were recognized for demonstrating high achievements in contemporary visual art:
- Valcho Valchev – a prominent graphic artist and painter.
- Yoanna Dimitrova Arnaudova-Naydenova – an illustrator and 2D animator whose project "Leia and the Upper Land" received national recognition.