The main objective of the Tsanko Lavrenov National High School of Arts is to preserve and enrich the national traditions in the domain of fine arts: painting, mural painting, icon-painting, graphics, sculpture and advertisement graphics. The school looks for and discovers talented children from the whole country thus striving to develop their individual artistic quests based on the artistic experience accumulated during several centuries.
The development of the Tsanko Lavrenov National High School of Arts followed the example of the classical school of drawing. It improves and updates the knowledge and skills of its students in the various genres: portrait, still life, landscape and figure composition in the classes such as: painting, graphics, sculpture, icon-painting and advertisement graphics. The course of study at the Tsanko Lavrenov National High School of Arts is five years, from year 8 to year 12.

CURRICULUM:

The subjects studied as part of the general studies comply with the General Education Minimum Act in the curriculum, while the vocational training corresponds to the colleges in other countries and is based on a programme approved by the Ministry of Culture.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MAJORS:

PAINTING:

The course of study in painting covers all genres – still life, landscape, portrait, figure composition, as well as the acquisition of various techniques – aquarelle, distemper and oil painting. Students consistently and thoroughly master painting from nature, from memory and based on their imagination.

MURAL PAINTING:

Students are taught to carry out projects related to a specific architectural environment and scale, cardboard preparation and implementation on the respective material. In the course of study there are mastered the basic mural painting techniques – sgraffito, saecco, mosaic and stained glass.

GRAPHICS:

The course of study in graphics includes various graphic techniques – high density, linocut (black and white and colour variations), intaglio engraving and lithography. The training process involves further acquisition of knowledge of the methods and specifics of graphic imaging. Opportunity is provided for the establishment of individual artistic characteristics. The graphic views of students are formed, steady knowledge of the graphic techniques is acquired which is a guarantee of success in education.

SCULPTURE:

During the course of study in sculpture students are able to make three-dimensional portraits and compositions of clay, gesso, wood, stone and metal. The mastering of proportions, anatomic knowledge, as well as the structural and plastic properties of each of these materials is a guarantee of a successful education.

ICON-PAINTING:

The course of study in icon-painting includes history of icons and Byzantine church painting, as well as the church paintings in medieval Bulgaria, study of the Bulgarian icon and its significance in the global history of art, the authors of the Bulgarian renaissance icon – schools, ateliers, artists. The acquisition of knowledge of iconographic principles and canons in making an icon, also the technologies in painting the icon on wood or on wall using distemper to egg-oil emulsions, from gilding to hatching and the application of colour varnishes – all this ensures the successful realization of our students.

ADVERTISEMENT GRAPHICS:

Advertisement graphics is a profession within the domain of modern information and computer technologies. In the education process in this major students acquire knowledge and practical skills for work with computer systems, peripheral devices and networks. The major provides the students with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the field of technological and artistic advertisement graphics and design, their application in various spheres of production, advertising and art.

TECHNIQUES:

While accumulating drawing-structural and plastic culture during the five years of study there are used various techniques (aquarelle, distemper, oil in painting; Indian ink, lino-cut engraving, dry needle, etching, aquatint, mezzotint and lithography in graphics; as well as taking the plastic three-dimensional idea from the prepared drawing up to the realization and its casting of material in a sculpture) and it is developed the individual aesthetic image of the young artist.

SCHOOL CREATIVE PRACTICE:

The students attend compulsory school practice (planner) for two weeks from 1 September.

ADMISSION TO THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL OF ARTS:

In full-time course of study in year 8 and in extramural studies (after completed secondary education)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

The applicants submit copies of documents and present the originals for verification: application form (provided by the school), birth certificate, medical certificate containing a conclusion on the health status of the student, certificate of finished year 7 in the year in which the student applies (an original or a copy certified by the school) or a diploma of completed secondary education.
The examination marks are formed only on basis of the grades in the exams in the special subjects.
There is no admission test.
Admission exams: for 8th form
1. Exam in drawing (anonymous) – drawing a still life picture of a group of voluminous bodies from nature. Using black material at the applicant’s choice. Dimensions of the drawing sheet 35/50 cm.
Time available – 6 school hours.
The exam is held in the building of the high school.
Admission exams: for 5th form
1. Figure composition according the topic (anonymous) using colour material at the applicant’s choice. Dimensions of the drawing sheet 28/22cm.
Time available – 4 school hours.
The exam is held in the building of the high school.
Exams for extramural studies:
1. The applicant provides the examination board with a file (their own works in the major for which they are applying).
2. Interview of the candidate with the examination board.
Exams are held in June and July.

DIPLOMAS, REALIZATION:

The diplomas of completed secondary education and the certificates of vocational qualification are recognized in Bulgaria and abroad.
The graduates from the Tsanko Lavrenov National High School of Arts have the opportunity to find broad realization thanks to the balanced curriculum of general education and specialized subjects covered.
They can continue their education at the N. Pavlovich National Academy of Arts, the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts, the University of Architecture, New Bulgarian University - Plovdiv, Academy of Music and Dance - Plovdiv, Construction and Geodesy and other higher education institutions in the country and abroad. Our former students are employed in the domains of computer graphics and animation, as teachers in secondary art schools, secondary comprehensive schools, art schools, assistant lecturers at higher education institutions, doctoral students abroad, in art galleries, museums, publishing houses, etc. With their artistic work many of our students contribute to the forming of the modern image of Bulgarian fine art.

CONTACTS:

The school has established close relations with the cultural institutes and artistic unions in the city and the country, with higher education institutions, with art galleries, art critics, with foundations and similar schools in the country.
The school organizes and opens every year more than 20 exhibitions – individual, group ones and competitions which give every student the opportunity to participate. The individual exhibitions are the first steps of the young artists and a serious indication of the place that the school occupies in the city of artists.
Our students have received numerous awards at national and international competitions.

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