“Are Alternative Art Fairs Gaining Momentum?” | Barcelona Symposium 2024

TALKING GALLERIES
BARCELONA SYMPOSIUM 2024 - 10TH EDITION
22-23 January 2024
Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona
Panel discussion
ARE ALTERNATIVE ART FAIRS GAINING MOMENTUM?
Speakers:
Silvia Ammon, Director, Paris Internationale, Paris
Julie Quottrup Silbermann, Director, CHART Art Fair, Copenhaguen
Sergio Sancho, Director, UVNT Art Fair, Madrid
Moderated by
Paco Barragán, Int. PhD and curator
Since the ‘90s art fairs have emerged as one of the key players in the globalization of the art market. Next to “mega fairs” like Art Basel and Frieze, “top fairs” like ARCOmadrid and The Armory Show, “mid fairs” like NADA, Untitled and Artissima, “niche fairs” like Paris Photo and Loop Barcelona, we find “emerging fairs” like Paris Internationale, Chart Art Fair in Copenhagen and UVNT Art Fair in Madrid that conform a very specific art ecosystem.
What role can emerging art fairs play in a highly saturated circuit with more than 250 art fairs worldwide? Are emerging art fairs the key to development and enhancement of local art scenes and galleries? Do emerging art fairs encourage more innovative and edgy art proposals in comparison to more established art fairs? And if so, are they focused towards new and, especially, younger collectors? And, finally, are emerging art fairs a “spring-board” for young galleries to mid fairs or top fairs like Liste is to Art Basel?