Sofia Art Fair (www.SofiaArtFair.art) is set to debut in Sofia, Bulgaria, from October 3rd to 6th, 2024, at the John Atanasov Innovation Forum in Sofia Tech Park. This inaugural event aims to establish a significant presence on the global cultural map, offering participants a platform for recognition, success, and growth.

In a recent conversation with .ART, art historian and curator Radoslav Mehandzhiyski, one of the primary organising partners of the Sofia Art Fair, shared insights into the event. Mehandzhiyski is also the co-founder of the independent educational platform “Art & Culture Today,” which focuses on exploring key phenomena in contemporary art and culture through events, exhibitions, and curatorial activities. Additionally, he is the co-creator of the multidisciplinary forum “WIDE ART” and the international art residency “IMAGO International Artist Residency.”

The Sofia Art Fair promises to be a transformative visual and cultural experience, uniting artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts from around the globe. Its primary goal is to rejuvenate Bulgaria’s art scene by showcasing the diverse landscape of contemporary art, promoting intercultural dialogue, celebrating unique creative expressions, and contributing to the growth of the Bulgarian and regional art market.

Mehandzhiyski highlighted the significance of the event in a city that has never hosted an art fair and lacks a permanent contemporary art exhibition, whether in the National Gallery or at the other related institutions. Despite having talented artists, Sofia’s contemporary art infrastructure is limited, with an underdeveloped market and minimal visibility in the broader social context. The upcoming Sofia Art Fair aims to address these challenges with several intertwined missions: supporting the art market, engaging a wide audience unfamiliar with contemporary art, providing educational content, and emphasising the social importance of contemporary art. He further noted the importance of creating a high-end event, albeit mid-scale, to fit within the European art fair calendar and attract international visitors. 

Sofia Art Fair is particularly relevant for Bulgaria, as it represents the country’s first event of this kind, showcasing local practices and fostering the development of the local art scene. It has the potential to play a significant role in the further development of Bulgaria’s contemporary art market.

The art fair’s website is hosted on sofiaartfair.art, a domain Mehandzhiyski finds particularly fitting. He sees the .ART as an opportunity to explore a naturally forming global network: “I’ve never had a thought – what is the .ART community, so to say, around the world. It’s a very adequate way of exploring a network which is shaping itself naturally. Then it might turn out that there are many curious interconnections that we don’t necessarily see immediately”.