The Local: Simeon Vasilev
The people, causes and three cherished things that keep him going.
Some people have a knack for bringing others together around an idea, a cause or a conversation. Simeon is one of them.
The founder of the GLAS Foundation and Proud.bg has long been an active voice in Bulgaria’s LGBTI community and has helped organise Sofia Pride since 2018. His career has taken him through the editor’s chair at DJ Mag Bulgaria and into marketing, but people and the stories connecting them have always been the common thread. He follows his instincts. When something feels worthwhile, he puts his heart into it. That conviction runs through Knigi za Smet, the books-for-recycling initiative he supports, The Sofianer, which gives Bulgarian artists a platform, and GLAS’s work to change attitudes towards LGBTI people. He says he has never considered himself particularly ambitious. He simply enjoys making things happen when he believes in them. He likes his perfectionism, even when it causes him the most trouble. Increasingly, he reminds himself that he doesn’t always have to burn at full intensity. Sometimes a steady glow is enough. Nature, art and moments that slow life down keep him going: a good book, the people he loves, galleries and the thought that the world might yet become a little more beautiful.
Our poodle, Paco
One living, fluffy “object” I couldn’t do without! I was against getting a dog, but my partner decided we should. These past four years have been among the happiest of my life.
The paintings
After 16 years working at the Credo Bonum gallery and foundation, I know the local art scene well. The greatest pleasure is owning work by artists I truly admire.
A chain with my mother’s engagement ring
I don’t get attached to things, with one exception: a chain with my mother’s engagement ring on it. I wear it for protection and as a quiet reminder that my parents are with me.
The Local: Stilyana Ivanova
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