Final de SIPAM 2025

At the closing event of the Sibiu International Performing Arts Market (SIPAM), artists, producers, and cultural leaders gathered for one final conversation: an open exchange of reflections, gratitude, and visions for the future.

Moderated by Oana Marin, Coordinator of SIPAM, the session titled “Dialogue and Future Perspectives: SIPAM Community in Conversation” was not simply a wrap-up, it was a call to action for solidarity, cultural diplomacy, and continued artistic courage in turbulent times.

British arts leader Anthony Sargent opened the discussion with heartfelt thanks: “I want to thank the 500 volunteers. They are the epitome of Romanian generosity, friendship, and warmth. They bring a special flavor to the festival,” he said, adding that thanks were also due to the technical teams, artists, and “the genius, the trailblazer, the wizard who launched this extraordinary adventure 32 years ago, Constantin Chiriac.”

Sargent’s keynote delved deeper, placing art within a historical continuum of resistance and truth-telling. “400 years ago, John Donne said, No man is an island. Today, no nation is an island either. Artists always engage with society,” he reflected. “From Aristophanes in ancient Greece to Charles Dickens, Gogol, and Dario Fo, artists have never stood aside. They are in the middle of society, shining a light on truth.”

He called on artists to remain vigilant in the face of political manipulation and censorship. “There’s always a risk that we start being used. Tyrants hate humor because it exposes what stinks. Even in the darkest times, the human spirit craves joy. It’s our job as artists to keep hope alive.”

Oana Marin then invited the audience to share thoughts and feedback. What followed was a cascade of testimonies from artists across the world, each underscoring the festival’s unique role as a nexus for human connection.

Oana Marin shared a letter from an Iranian actress unable to attend due to war. In her message, the actress spoke of performing a play about Iranian women wrestlers in Tehran just as conflict erupted. “Even in these dark days, I hold on to hope for peace, for union, and for a future where we can once again create and share freely,” the letter read. “Art can save us. It brings us together across borders, pain, and conflict.”

Other participants highlighted the festival’s impact on personal and professional growth. Anna Driftmier, who comes from both tech and arts industries, admitted stepping into SIPAM was initially daunting: “It is deeply uncomfortable to walk into a room full of people you have no connection with. But that discomfort forces you to grow, to question everything,” she said. “Spaces like this have the power to pull people out of their usual networks and create real dialogue.”

An artist from Indonesia, Irawati Koesoemorasri, spoke about using SIPAM as a launchpad for global connections: “SIPAM is an open door for Solo International Performing Arts to expand our network with European countries. I hope it becomes our stepping stone for future collaborations.”

Participants emphasized the importance of keeping the dialogue alive beyond the formal sessions. Richard Jordon praised the informal late-night gatherings: “The most important thing happens at 11 o’clock in the evening, when doors open to the public and we talk to audiences. That’s how I get better as an artist and a theatre-maker.”

The conversation frequently returned to the festival’s young volunteers, whom many regarded as central to SIPAM’s spirit and future. “These young people may not all end up working in theatre, but this programme changes them. They’re going to be the great change leaders of the future,” one speaker declared.

A moving intervention came from an artist originally from Russia, now working independently abroad after fleeing the country post-invasion. He underlined cultural diplomacy as a force for peace: “Even when countries fight each other, culture saves us. In a polarized world, culture dies last. These four days were an island of peaceful conversation. We work for the future, and I believe culture will save the world.”

The closing notes resonated with hope and resilience. As Marin signaled the end of the session, Harold David summed up the mood with a recitation of Paul Éluard’s poem Liberté, declaring: “Beyond culture and art, freedom paints everything in our humanity. By the power of words, I start my life again. I’m born to know you, to name you, freedom.”