Competition at art fairs hots up
Now that so many art dealers say they do more business at art fairs than in their galleries, the number of fairs has multiplied, and with it has come competition. A small example is the publication of a detailed art market report by Art Basel, sponsored by UBS Bank. This report used to be one of the highlights every March of The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht, which funded the research. But last year, the author was persuaded to go with the Art Basel brand, and her first report coincided with the opening of the Art Basel Hong Kong fair. TEFAF produced a rival report. This year, TEFAF will not produce a report, but Basel will, and will launch it earlier – this Friday, while TEFAF is still up and running. Looking ahead, The Other Art Fair, which has occupied the Old Truman Brewery in east London during Frieze Week for five years, must look for another venue because the rent is going up and a new fair for galleries will move in. Meanwhile, the March edition of the fair opens, unchallenged, in Bloomsbury Square next week.