The BORK Collector of the Year Award and the Cosmoscow Foundation have closed the application process

The BORK Collector of the Year Award was announced at the 12th Cosmoscow Charity Auction and is being held for the first time. The initiative aims to promote collecting to develop the Russian contemporary art industry, as well as to create opportunities and favorable conditions for recognizing individual contributions to the formation of the art market. The winner will be announced at the 13th edition of the International Contemporary Art Fair Cosmoscow in September 2025.

"Company BORK and the Cosmoscow Foundation have joined forces to honor outstanding figures of our time and stimulate interest in contemporary art among a broad audience. This is an important step towards popularizing collecting as a form of support and development of the Russian art market, as well as creating a platform to promote philanthropy in Russia," said Anastasia Ivanova, Director of the Cosmoscow Foundation.

Following the selection process, nominees for the BORK "Collector of the Year" Award include Dmitry Aksenov, Sergey Limonov, Natalia Opaleva, Igor Sukhanov, and others.

Candidates were nominated through applications submitted by representatives of Russian galleries that participated in Cosmoscow 2024. According to the award's conditions, nominees must possess a contemporary art collection and actively engage in public activities based on it — organizing exhibitions, educational programs, or charitable initiatives. The winner will be determined later by majority vote.

The role of a collector in the art industry is highly significant. They are key players who directly influence market development, increase popularity and recognition of artists' names, set trends, and define directions for artistic growth. Additionally, collections accumulated over decades can become part of museum exhibitions or displays, making artworks accessible to the public.

The award ceremony will take place during the annual Cosmoscow contemporary art fair in September 2025. The winner will also have the opportunity to showcase their collection in a curated exhibition titled "Collector sight" at the fair.