Hungarian Szidonia Peter Wins Silver Bell Grand Prix at 19th International Fair of Traditional Crafts at Etar Open-Air Museum

Filip Pavlov, BTA correspondent Ralitsa Stefanova

19th International Fair of Traditional Crafts at the Etar Regional Ethnographic Open-Air Museum (BTA Photo/Ralitsa Stefanova)

Gabrovo, Central Bulgaria,

09.09.2025 14:19

(BTA)

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Hungarian Szidonia Peter won the Silver Bell Grand Prix at the 19th International Fair of Traditional Crafts at the Etar Regional Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, the organizers told the Bulgarian News Agency on Tuesday.

Peter received not only the prestigious award, but also a cash prize of BGN 2,500, as well as the right to an exhibition-bazaar at the Etar Museum in 2027.

Participants from Malta, Hungary, Moldova, North Macedonia, Latvia, China and Bulgaria took part in the competition, during which they demonstrated their skills and creativity. "Each crafted ornament is more than a piece of jewelry. It is a living memory, weaving the threads of different peoples into a single whole", the organizers emphasized, adding that the international competition at the Open-Air Museum once again proved that crafts are a universal language that connects cultures across borders and time.

Among the special awards, Jacqueline Fava from Malta was awarded the special prize of Gabrovo Municipality and BGN 2,000, while Layla Puket from Latvia received the special prize of the Open-Air Museum and BGN 1,500.

The competition also included a youth section, in which students from the Metal Department of the National Academy of Arts competed with Rhodope jewelry. In this category, the Bronze Bell prize went to Emma Slavkova from Bulgaria.

The jury of the prestigious competition was headed by Dr. Mirena Zlateva, head of the Jewelry Plastics and Jewelry Design Atelier at the National Academy of Arts in Sofia.

Gabrovo Mayor Tanya Hristova pointed out that it is this event that gives the town of Gabrovo self-confidence as a worthy member of the UNESCO network for creative crafts. She expressed her hope that the forum will inspire a positive charge and support Gabrovo's candidacy for European Capital of Culture.

The 19th International Fair of Traditional Crafts took place from September 6 to 8. It was organized by the Etar Open-Air Museum together with the Culture Ministry and Gabrovo Municipality, under the patronage of National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova, who was also an official guest at the opening of the competition.

/MR/