Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Melbourne may have a new art fair


Bronwyn Johnson's resignation as the CEO and director of the Melbourne Art Fair has been followed by news that Melbourne may have a new art fair. The New Fair has a website announcing that it will open on 3 August 2012, two days after the Melbourne Art Fair, which opens on 1 August.

So far the people behind the new venture are keeping a low profile (they aren't named on the site) but industry insiders are wondering whether it is the same group that floated the idea of an alternative Melbourne art fair a few years ago.

If the new fair goes ahead, it comes at a time when Creative New Zealand has decided to back the Melbourne Art Fair with grants to approved galleries that run with the Fair's recent industry assistance package (half price booths) aimed at boosting New Zealand gallery representation in Melbourne's flagship fair.
Image: Installation view of Seung Yul Oh's project presented by Artspace (Auckland) at the 2010 Melbourne Art Fair