Mónica Álvarez Careaga: "Artesantander has a well-established track record, a momentum that comes from more than thirty years of work."

The 33rd edition of Arte Santander 2025 will be held from July 11th to 15th at the Sardinero-Santander Exhibition and Conference Center. For this occasion, we wanted to interview its director, Mónica Álvarez Careaga, at one of the major events on the art scene, with more than 40 national and international galleries and Bonart as Media Partner.

Alexandra Planas - How many national and international galleries will participate in the 33rd edition of the Festival?

Mónica Álvarez - This year's Artesantander features 41 galleries; 30 of them are Spanish galleries, and there's a very interesting and diverse international presence , with three Italian galleries: A Pick Gallery from Turin; BI-BOx Art Space from Biella; and Shazar Gallery from Naples; three Portuguese galleries from Lisbon: Braçoperna44, Carrasco, and Salgadeiras Arte Contemporânea; and three German galleries: dst.galerie from Münster; Monica Ruppert from Frankfurt; and Wildpalms from Düsseldorf. We also have the Mexican gallery Proyecto H and the Marseille-based Invisible.

• Views of ARTESANTANDER 2025

AP - Will there be new proposals or more international galleries joining this year?

M.Á - The proportion of new galleries, such as OB Contemporary in Madrid or Al-Tiba9 in Barcelona, is approximately 40 percent . It's a good proportion to continue the profound process of renewal of the fair that we began last year, but also to continue counting on our most valued allies, such as the Rafael Pérez Hernando and Silvestre galleries in Madrid, Ángeles Baños in Badajoz, and Antonia Puyó in Zaragoza.

AP - A new Residency Award is being launched this year. Could you tell us exactly what it is, who is promoting it, and what the main objective of this initiative is?

M.Á - At Artesantander, we strive to ensure that all stakeholders in the art world are represented, and artist residency awards are very important to us. We previously held one in Reinosa (Cantabria), and this year we're adding the Piramidón/Artesantander Residency Award in Barcelona , which will be awarded to one of this year's participating artists. Piramidón is a hybrid space between an art gallery and a creative factory that fuses artistic production with its dissemination, exhibition, and marketing.

The prize consists of a two-month stay in 2026 , during which the selected artist will be able to develop their practice in a professional and creative environment, with accommodation and a work area. They will also have access to the center's resources and spaces—such as the library, meeting room, and workshop with tools and machinery—as well as the opportunity to participate in networking activities with contemporary art figures and a group exhibition.

• Marta Zelaia, Sokatira. 2014-2018. Courtesy Alexandra Space

AP - What are the characteristics of this year's Acquisition Award? Who awards it, and what are the criteria for selecting the winning work?

M.Á - We call the Acquisition Award the commitment that contemporary art collections, whether private or corporate, make to acquire works of art during the fair, even before knowing which galleries will be selected to participate. This year, we've managed to involve nine prestigious collections : Navacerrada, Kells, Mouro Producciones, Rucandio, Eurostars Hotel Company, Salvador Ranero, El Cagigal, and Wadström Tönnheim.

Private collectors acquire works directly, according to their own criteria, accompanied by friends and family, and this selection is a truly enjoyable moment. Companies often appoint an external artistic advisor and a company representative to ensure that the chosen work resonates with their values and to ensure the best possible conservation conditions for the chosen works.

AP - Regarding the General Program, what are the selection criteria for a gallery to be included in the festival's general program? Is there a curatorial committee that evaluates proposals?

M.Á - The main selection criterion is the interest and coherence of each gallery's project . We also consider the galleries' ambitions, a track record of successful exhibitions, and professional support for their artists. This year, curatorial advice was provided by two curators: Joaquin García from Madrid and Jan-Philipp Fruehsorge from Berlin.

• Views of ARTESANTANDER 2025

AP - As this is the 33rd edition, what's your assessment of the festival's route? What aspects do you think have cemented it as a must-see event on the artistic calendar?

M.Á - Artesantander has a well-established track record , a momentum that stems from more than thirty years of excellent work by my predecessors. Furthermore, the fair has always received generous support from the Government of Cantabria and the Santander City Council, which has allowed us to carefully maintain the quality of the participating galleries and to have a very attractive social program to attract collectors, curators, and museum directors to the fair.

AP - How has the audience profile evolved in recent years? What strategies is the festival developing to attract both the general public and industry professionals?

M.Á - I think the Artesantander audience, like that of all art fairs, is gradually getting younger . Visiting an art fair is like strolling through a luxurious shopping mall with beautiful stores. The stands showcase the diversity of their offerings, and the gallery owners are all available to explain their projects. Santander's audience of all ages is also very engaged.

We specifically target different audiences: the "Artesantander Talks" program offers talks and roundtables for beginners; the "Artesantander Social" program is aimed at invited collectors; and "Artesantander Espora" works with the local public to spread interest in contemporary art. Admission to the fair is free.

• MARTIM. INTERLUDE III. Courtesy BRAÇOPERNA44

AP - In relation to the local context, what role do Santander's cultural stakeholders play in the development of this event? Is collaboration with local artists, institutions, or venues encouraged?

The six Cantabrian galleries: Juan Silió, Siboney, Balta Gallery, Espiral, Mecha, and Espacio Alexandra are participating in the fair , and I'm sure Artesantander represents a very important opportunity for them to promote their artists.

All educational programs are designed and led by curators based in Santander, and we collaborate with various organizations in Cantabria, such as the Torre de Don Borja Foundation in Santillana del Mar; Solo in Castanedo; the Robayera Art Gallery in Miengo; and the ES Collection, the Botín Center, the MAS Museum, the Sotoliva Warehouse, the Palacete del Embarcadero, and the Gamazo Warehouses in Santander.