Christopher Springham Charms the Audience at Sofia Art Fair with the Support of the State Cultural Institute
Between October 2 and 5, the Bulgarian capital became a center of attraction for the international art scene. Within the framework of Sofia Art Fair 2025, the largest contemporary art exhibition in our country, SAF Talks was held - a three-day forum that brought together over 15 international speakers from seven countries. Among the institutional partners of the event was the State Institute for Culture under the Minister of Foreign Affairs, which supported the participation of the world-famous collector Christopher Springham from Great Britain and the Netherlands.
On the very first day of SAF Talks, guests had the opportunity to hear Christopher Springham's inspiring lecture on the topic "Art Collecting - An Unbearable Passion". In his speech, he emphasised the emotional value of art and the power of the personal connection between the artist and the audience:
“The most important thing in art is not the price, but the connection – buy out of love, because the work should touch you. If you fall in love with a work, buy it, even if the price is a little beyond your means. By supporting artists, we give them the opportunity to continue creating,” he shared.
Springham emphasised the importance of international events such as the Sofia Art Fair, which not only build the reputation of Bulgarian artists, but also present the country as a “new Bulgaria” – open to the world, full of talent and capable of creating lasting connections and new perspectives through culture.
Christopher Springham’s participation was made possible with the support of the State Institute for Culture, whose mission is to present Bulgaria as a modern cultural state and an active participant in the global dialogue. The partnership with the forum is a natural continuation of the Institute’s efforts to promote international cultural exchange and promote Bulgarian artists and ideas in a global context.
The Sofia Art Fair 2025 – Imagine festival is organised by the Sofia Breathes Foundation under the patronage of the Mayor of Sofia and is part of the Cultural Calendar of the Sofia Municipality. The event is held with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism and key international institutions, including the Embassies of France, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria and Hungary, as well as cultural institutes and forums.
Interview with Christopher Springham for Vapreki: https://shorturl.at/kst7w