Sofia hosts first Illustration Station festival for children’s books and art

The first edition of the Illustration Station festival, dedicated to contemporary illustration and children’s books, is taking place in Sofia.

The event focuses on visual storytelling and the role of illustration in culture, organisers said. A central feature of the festival is an exhibition tracing the development of Bulgarian illustrated children’s books, from early printed editions to contemporary author-driven projects.

The programme includes meetings and discussions with Bulgarian and international authors, workshops and film screenings. Among the participants are writers Petya Kokudeva and Maria Doneva, as well as Polish illustrator Gosia Herba and her frequent collaborator Mikolaj Pasinski.

The festival also features Bulgarian illustrator Kalina Muhova, whose work on the book Cromosomi by Italian author Fabian Negrin received a special mention in the non-fiction category at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

Practical workshops for children, students and professionals are also part of the festival programme.

• Kalina Muhova and the first book in Bulgaria with embroidered illustrations

Editor: Desislava Semkovska