Dating from 1973, the Biennial is unique with its profile in humour and satire. It shows contemporary art and cartoons and is held at the Museum of Humour.
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| Monday | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Sunday | 09:00 - 18:00 |
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History
The International Biennial of Humour and Satire in Art has been held once every two years since 1973. It is the most comprehensive international art event held by the Museum of Humour and Satire. The Biennial runs from May until September every odd-numbered year. It was launched at the time of the Iron Curtain with the idea to throw a bridge between the artists from the East and the West.
The first edition of the Biennial was organized within the 9th Festival of Humour and Satire in Gabrovo and it comprised an international competition in two sections – Cartoons and Small Satirical Sculpture. The building of the House of Humour and Satire was still being converted from a former tannery into a cultural space. Therefore, the first Biennial exhibitions were arranged in a hall under Аleko Konstantinov cinema in Gabrovo. They were opened by architect Karl Kandulkov, chair of the People’s Town Council and the Festival Committee. That was the one and only edition of the competition that had two themes: The World Lasts Because It Laughs and Thrift and Enterprise.In 1973, besides the international exhibition of cartoons and small satirical sculpture, as well as a Bulgarian cartoons exhibition, were displayed a solo exhibition of Stoyan Venev and a solo show of satirical sculpture by Todor Tsonev.
In 1975, the second Biennial exhibitions were shown in the newly opened premises of the House of Humour and Satire; the programme of the event included a new section – a Photo-Jokes competition and international exhibition. The competition was open to professional and amateur photographers, as well as editorial-boards. A guest of honour to the1975 Biennial opening was Todor Zhivkov, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party and Chair of the State Council of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria.
The third Biennial in 1977 included the first international exhibition Humour and Satire in Painting. It presented painters from the socialist countries and “progressive” artists from capitalist countries after a list endorsed by the chair of the Union of Bulgarian Artists. The same year was also launched the first competition for the International Prize for Humour and Satire in Literature Hitar Petar(Tricky Peter). Within the 11th National Festival of Humour and Satire, formally opened by Lyudmila Zhivkova (chair of the Committee on Culture and the Organizing Committee of the Festival, as well as the 3rd Biennial), Prof. Georgi Chapkanov showed a solo exhibition at the House of Humour and Satire.