Our story

About us

An association dedicated to the cultural memory of Sofia.

We work at the intersection of history, art and technology.

Who we are
An association for urban memory
The Face of Sofia is an association that explores the city through the stories of the people who made it. We work at the intersection of history, art and technology, turning archives and memories into contemporary audiovisual narratives. We are interested not only in the great names, but also in the quieter stories — those that remain hidden behind the façades, the streets and the everyday life of the city.
Mission
Reviving forgotten stories
To "revive" the untold and forgotten stories of the individuals and communities that shaped the face of Sofia — with particular attention to women, whose efforts so often remain in the shadows. Through archives, artistic interpretation and modern technology, we turn the past into a living narrative that speaks the language of today.
Vision
Stories that are lived
We believe Sofia is more than a city — it is a layering of lives, choices and memory. We aim to create a space where these stories are not merely told but lived, so that they can be understood, felt and recognised by audiences today.
Goals
A bridge between past and present
  • To uncover and tell the stories hidden in the urban landscape, using new approaches
  • To bring into focus the individuals, especially women, who left their mark on our history
  • To use new technologies to create compelling and accessible stories
  • To connect people with their city through culture and memory
  • To build a bridge between past, present and future
The team

The people behind the association

Maria Tchakarova
Maria Tchakarova
Director and founder

Maria Tchakarova (b. 1993, Sofia) studied political science, comparative cultural studies and economics at the University of Regensburg, Germany, and Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". Her career has centred on managing international projects, cultural exchange between Germany and Bulgaria, and public policy initiatives. In 2018 she was awarded the International Parliamentary Scholarship of the German Bundestag and worked in the German parliament. She is the author and curator of exhibitions devoted to the history and cultural memory of Sofia. She is currently a project manager at a German political foundation, and her interests lie in urban history, cultural heritage and artificial intelligence in culture.

Borislava Palikova
Borislava Palikova
Project coordinator and co-founder

Borislava Palikova (b. 1975, Sofia) holds a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Technical University of Sofia and a master's degree in business economics. She has more than 30 years of professional experience with international companies in transport, logistics and industry, working in analysis, business process coordination and information management. Working in an international environment, alongside people from many different cultures, deepened her interest in human stories and cultural memory. As part of The Face of Sofia team, she contributes her analytical approach, her organisational experience and her dedication to preserving and promoting the history of Sofia.

Boryana Neykova
Boryana Neykova
Communications expert and co-founder

Boryana Neykova (b. 1992, Sofia) is a writer and communications expert with over ten years of experience in corporate communications and public relations. She graduated in journalism from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". She has received a number of national literary awards, among them the Grand Prize of the "Veselin Hanchev" poetry competition (2014) and an award at "Southern Spring" (2016) for her debut poetry collection "Where There Was Briefly a Dog" (Janet 45, 2015). In 2019 she won the "Towards the Stars Through Effort" scholarship of the Cultural Perspectives Foundation. She currently heads corporate communications for an international company in the fast-moving consumer goods sector.

Together

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Working together with history

Do you have archive materials, an idea for a joint project, or simply a story to share? Write to us.

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