Well well, we all knew this was coming. TEFAF Maastricht is currently under fire for infecting the upper echelons of the art world with up to 50 cases of the Coronavirus. It has been linked to over 300 international exhibitors who unwittingly took the virus back to their home countries.
We thank our galleries for the support and understanding of our highly complex decision – Marc Spiegler Global Director Art Basel
Art Basel has now taken the wise decision to postpone its June edition until September. It looks like this is going to be a busy and oversaturated Autumn calendar. With eyewatering stand prices and an uncertain art market, GOOD LUCK! It will be very difficult this Autumn for dealers to do both Frieze London and Art Basel.
Statement: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedented impact worldwide, Art Basel has decided to postpone its June fair. The 2020 edition of Art Basel will now take place at Messe Basel from September 17 to September 20, 2020, with preview days on September 15 and September 16, 2020.
This decision was taken in close consultation with a wide range of gallerists, collectors, partners, and external experts, with the goal of both protecting the health and safety of our community, and ensuring that the fair will be attended by the largest possible number of collectors, curators, and arts professionals from our global network.
Marc Spiegler, Global Director, Art Basel said: ‘We thank our galleries for the support and understanding of our highly complex decision to postpone the fair. We hope that the situation improves swiftly, and we will work closely with our exhibitors to deliver a successful fair in September. At the same time, we are aware of how dynamic the COVID-19 situation is and will continue to monitor the developments closely. The health and safety of our exhibitors, partners, guests, and teams remain our main priority, and we will adapt all our planning to the developing situation.’
In the interim, Art Basel will continue to invest in and enhance its new digital platform – the Online Viewing Rooms – as a way to support galleries in these challenging times. Further details on our digital efforts will be shared in the coming weeks.
Founded in 1970 by gallerists from Basel, Art Basel today stages the world’s premier art shows for Modern and contemporary art, sited in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong. Defined by its host city and region, each show is unique, which is reflected in its participating galleries, artworks presented, and the content of parallel programming produced in collaboration with local institutions for each edition. Art Basel’s engagement has expanded beyond art fairs through a number of new initiatives such as The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report and
UBS, Global Lead Partner of Art Basel, has supported the organization for more than 27 years. As Art Basel’s global network expanded, UBS increased its lead partnership to include all three shows, and as co-publisher of the Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report. UBS has a long record of engagement in contemporary art with the UBS Art Collection, one of the world’s most distinguished corporate art collections with more than 30,000 works created by artists from more than 75 countries at its core. The firm actively enables audiences to participate in contemporary art through its partnerships with leading cultural organizations around the world. UBS provides its clients with insight into the art market, collecting and legacy planning through its Art Collectors Circle and the UBS Art Advisory Unit. For more information about UBS’s commitment to contemporary art, visit ubs.com/art.
Art Basel’s Associate Partners include Audemars Piguet, whose expanding activities in contemporary art include the Audemars Piguet Art Commission, and NetJets – the world leader in private aviation. Art Basel is also supported globally by BMW, who has co-developed with Art Basel the BMW Art Journey, Ruinart, Sanlorenzo, and La Prairie.
Art Basel’s show in Basel is also supported by Baloise Group, whose Art Prize is awarded to up to two artists exhibiting in the Statements sector, AXA XL, Vienna Tourist Board, Chateau d’Esclans, Enea Landscape Architecture, and Vitra. Art Basel’s Global Media Partner is The Financial Times. For more information, please visit artbasel.com/partners.
Upcoming Art Basel shows
Basel, September 17-20, 2020 Miami Beach, December 3-6, 2020 Hong Kong, March 25-27, 2021