1. Organizer: Ardino Municipality and the Ardino Municipal Museum.
2. Theme: "Ardino: Nature, History, and Beauty".
3. Objectives of the Contest:
• To draw attention to the natural and cultural riches of Ardino through the art of cartooning.
• To promote the "Devil’s Bridge" over the Arda River, the "Eagle Rocks" Thracian sanctuary, the Ardino Municipal Museum, the Arda meanders, and the Late Antique and Medieval fortress at the mouth of the Borovitsa River.
• To encourage creative interpretation of natural and historical sites.
• To raise awareness for the preservation of natural and cultural heritage through art.
4. Terms and Conditions:
• Participants: Open to professional and amateur cartoonists from all over the world.
• Number of Entries: Each participant may submit a maximum of 3 (three) cartoons.
• Technique: Free (black and white, color, or digital).
• AI Prohibition: Works created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be disqualified.
• Content Restrictions: Works containing racism, religious discrimination, hate speech, or abuse will not be evaluated.
• Digital Format: Entries sent via email must be in JPEG format with a resolution of 300 DPI.
• Originality: Works may have been previously exhibited but must not have won an award in another contest.
5. Submission and Contact Address: cc_devils_bridge26@abv.bg
6. Deadline for Submissions: July 15, 2026.
7• Prizes:
🥇 1st Place: "Golden Devil's Bridge" special plaque and certificate.
🥈 2nd Place: "Silver Devil's Bridge" special plaque and certificate.
🥉 3rd Place: "Bronze Devil's Bridge" special plaque and certificate.
📜 Honorable Mention: Certificate and local souvenirs.
8. Jury Members:
🇧🇬 Valeri Alexandrov (Walex): President of the Union of Bulgarian Cartoonists (Jury Chair).
🇧🇬 Zhivko Tenev: Cartoonist (Bulgaria).
🇹🇷 Halit Kurtulmuş (Aytoslu): Cartoonist (Türkiye).
🇹🇷 Halit Kurtulmuş (Aytoslu): Cartoonist (Türkiye).
🇧🇬 Ayhan Hayrula: Illustrator (Bulgaria).
🇧🇬 Taner Chobanov: Contest Coordinator.
9. Award Ceremony:
• The ceremony will take place in August 2026 as part of the traditional "Ardino Days".
• The works will be exhibited in the foyer of the "Rodopska Iskra" Community Center and the city square.
• Awards for artists who cannot attend the ceremony will be sent to their addresses by mail.
10. Participation Form Information:
📝 Participants must provide the following information along with their works:
• Full Name
• Short Biography
• Phone Number, Email, and Mailing Address
• Appendix 1: Participation Form
📞 Contact:
👤 Taner Chobanov
🏛️ Ardino Municipal Museum
☎️ Phone: 03651 4681 / 0887118099
🌐 https://ardino.bg/
