The most genre-diverse festival produced by the National Palace of Culture has been revived under the motto "Dialogue of Colors and Thoughts", with a central theme— the unifying power of art. The National Palace of Culture has over ten festival formats, of which only three are currently active",  National Palace of Culture Executive Director Adriana Petkova announced at a press conference. She highlighted the new format of the Salon of Arts, placing a significant focus on children.

On April 23, the Salon of Arts opens with the exhibition "Procession" by Prof. Stanislav Pamukchiev — featuring 15 paintings larger than 2.5 meters, along with the painting "Procession" (over 7.5 meters), which inspired renowned musician Assen Avramov to create an 8-hour-long composition that will play throughout the day, accompanying the exhibition. Three days after its conclusion, the exhibition "Before, Now and Tomorrow" by Professor Gredi Assa will open.

The audience will also be drawn by intriguing names featured in the “Literary Salon” of the National Book Centre at the National Palace of Culture. The National Book Center's Director Svetlozar Zhelev drew attention to upcoming events at the Peroto Literature Club. Antonia Apostolova’s new book "Pain Comes Later" will premiere on May 13. On May 14, Nikolay Terziyski will present his fourth novel "Rodinia".

"I’m truly delighted by the idea that here, within this space on the third floor, surrounded by the beautiful works and installations of Prof. Stanislav Pamukchiev, and later the exhibition of Prof. Gredi Assa, we will also hear poetry", said Svetlozar Zhelev. Scribens Publishing, which is dedicated almost entirely to poetry and to supporting young and emerging literary names, will take part in the Salon of Arts with two poetry readings. The first will be held on May 9 and will feature four young but already established authors: Yana Moneva, Teodora Toteva, Ninko Kirilov and Nelly Staneva.

Nelly Staneva grew up in the town of Sliven (Southeastern Bulgaria) and completed her higher education in Germany. She is the author of several poetry books and has been published in Literaturen Vestnik (Literature Newspaper), the magazines Savremennik (Contemporary), ARTizanin, Zhenata Dnes (The Woman Today) and DICTUM. She is the recipient of several national poetry awards. Nelly divides her time between Switzerland and Bulgaria, and at the press conference at the National Palace of Culture, she expressed her joy at the opportunity to participate in the May 9 reading.

"I think that this symbiosis between poetry and visual art is very important and creates a kind of safe space for people who are searching for meaning. I also think that they are much more than we think. We must not give up because of everything that has been happening in the world lately. The world has never been a comfortable place to live in, but art helps us feel better", said  Nelly Staneva.

An important part of the Salon of Arts is the international festival Capital Literature, organized by the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation. The theatre program includes a monodrama by actor Itzhak Finzi, which will take place on June 7 in Hall 2 of the National Palace of Culture.

The Sofia Paper Art Fest is another exciting event that connects contemporary artistic practices with audiences in Bulgaria and abroad. A great source of joy for the organizers is the fact that the façade of the National Palace of Culture will once again become an artistic canvas for light compositions, as part of an international competition within the LUNAR Festival of Lights.

The National Palace of Culture’s team will fulfill a long-held dream — to unveil its "hidden treasures". A special tour titled "The Hidden Treasures of the Palace" will offer visitors a glimpse of some of the priceless artworks housed within the complex.

A key highlight of the 22nd edition of the festival is the interaction between young people and children with established artists. National Palace of Culture Executive Director Andriana Petkova has more about the Salon of Arts:

''I developed a 52-week plan for the development of cultural processes at the National Palace of Culture. Part of the plan is the revival of the Salon of Arts. My experience involves organizing contemporary art exhibitions all over the world, and I’ve worked for years with all the artists we are seeing now. I know them, and I’ve curated their exhibitions from Latin America to Asia. That experience shaped my vision for a synergy between the arts. Secondly, an exhibition is not just its opening — it is a process of developing its very presence within a given space. My idea is to enrich that presence with other cultural events. That’s when the process of continuity truly happens. And that was the core idea- for the events to build upon each other. That’s why, during the two major exhibitions, and with the Sofia Paper Art Fest as the third pillar, we’re including poetry, readings, literary and musical events and many discussions''.