The State Institute for Culture is a Partner of the Second Edition of Sofia Art Fair
For а second year in a row, the capital will host Sofia Art Fair – the biggest contemporary art event in Bulgaria, which is becoming a sustainable bridge between culture, education and international cooperation. The forum will unite leading galleries, institutions and visionaries from Europe, turning Sofia into an international hub for global cultural dialogue.
“Our goal for Sofia Art Fair is to be a place where art is not just shown, but shared – as ideas, visions and experiences. Through SAF Talks, we want to build a bridge between different cultures and generations and establish Sofia as an active participant in the global art dialogue,” says Suni Danadzha, Executive Director of the Sofia Breathe Foundation and founder of Sofia Art Fair.
The SAF Talks program, curated by Radoslav Mehandzhiyski (Art and Culture Today), will present personalities who are shaping the future of contemporary art. Among them are Eelco van der Lingen, director of the Mondriaan Fund in the Netherlands, an institution that manages over 41 million euros annually in support of culture; Bénédicte Alliot, general director of the Cité internationale des arts in Paris, one of the most significant artist residency programs in the world; Rafael Mateu de Ros, a Spanish lawyer and art law expert; Martin Janda, a renowned gallerist and president of the Association of Contemporary Art Galleries in Austria; Krisztina Szipőcs, deputy director of the Ludwig Museum in Budapest; and Szabolcs Vida, director of Strategy and Exhibitions at the Light Art Museum, Budapest, one of the most exciting new museums in Europe dedicated to the art of light.
Sofia Art Fair will also welcome Christopher Springham from the UK, a contemporary art collector, president of the Responsible Investment Forum: Europe, and an expert in the field of green energy, whose perspective on the creative economy offers invaluable insights into the relationship between art, society, and sustainable development. His visit is supported by the State Institute for Culture under the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, whose mission is to present Bulgaria as a modern cultural state and an active participant in the global dialogue.
A discussion panel within the framework of SAF Talks will present Olga Mineva, founder of the Emprove Foundation, which has dedicated its activities to the topic of mental health and support for women who have experienced violence.
The international nature of the forum is made possible thanks to the support of diplomatic and cultural institutions in Sofia. The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a strategic partner for the second edition and contributes to the participation of both Eelco van der Lingen and the prominent galleries Dürst Britt & Mayhew and Ellen de Bruijne Projects, recognized on world stages such as Art Basel and TEFAF. The French Embassy in Bulgaria and French Institute of Bulgaria support the forum for the second year. Through them, Sofia Art Fair has the honor of welcoming Bénédicte Alliot, as well as the multidisciplinary artist and composer AGORIA, who is the first “digital artist” to have an exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay. The Cervantes Institute in Sofia is facilitating the participation of the Spanish art law expert Rafael Mateu de Ros, and the Austrian Cultural Forum is ensuring the arrival of the influential gallerist Martin Janda. The Hungarian Cultural Institute in Sofia (Liszt Institute) is contributing to the inclusion of Krisztina Szipőcs and Szabolcs Vida – figures who represent the dynamics of the Hungarian art scene and the role of museums in building cultural identity.
One of the missions of the Sofia Art Fair is to include the young audience. Therefore, all events will be free of charge for people under 18 years of age, as the program aims to inspire a new generation of viewers and create future ambassadors of art.
In 2025, Sofia will speak the language of art – a language that unites, provokes, and creates new horizons.
Sofia Art Fair – Imagine is organized by the Sofia Breathes Foundation, under the patronage of the Mayor of Sofia, Mr. Vasil Terziev, and is included in the 2025 Cultural Calendar of the Sofia Municipality, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism, underscoring the importance of the event as a cultural and diplomatic factor in Bulgaria‘s development as a destination for cultural tourism.
The state InsAmong the main partners of the event are also Art and Culture Today, Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation, The Locals – Advertising Agency, and Sofia Tech Park. Bulgarian-American Credit Bank is a strategic partner of Sofia Art Fair and stands behind the event with a clear mission – to support sustainable development. Part of its long-term strategy is to invest in significant initiatives that inspire change in business, art, and society. With its support, the bank not only participates but also creates opportunities for development and cultural exchange.