The art market has evolved from its traditional approaches, by constantly adapting, innovating and welcoming alternatives to tackle challenges like pandemic induced lockdowns. The art scene is packed with multiple events, exhibitions and art fairs around the world that provides those in the art world with local options for those who are eco-conscious, as well as international options, to showcase their work and experience the latest trends in the art market. In this article, we have compiled a short list of the best networking events for professionals in the art market which can be essential for building your business as a gallery or independent artist.
Investec Cape Town art fair, South Africa
The Investec Cape Town Art fair is the largest event of its kind in Africa, and has proven to be the destination where African art market and stakeholders in the art world meet. This event hosts over 100 exhibitors, with 25000 visitors and over 6000 VIPs and offers an opportunity for collectors, galleries, curators, artists, and art journalists from around the globe to connect. The art fair is scheduled for 16th - 18th February, 2024 in Cape Town.
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, 2022 © Investec
Art Dubai, UAE
One of the largest art fairs in the Middle East, Art Dubai hosts more than 130 galleries from 43 countries, including several first-time exhibitors. Over 16 years, Art Dubai has played a major role in the Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian contemporary art market. The upcoming fair in 2024 has brought in four guest curators to organize its special sections, including Clara Che Wei Peh, Vipash Purichanont, Mouna Mekouar and Lorenzo Giusti. They welcome submissions from primary market galleries for the Contemporary, Modern, Bawwaba, and Digital categories. This must see event is scheduled for 1st - 5th March, 2024 in Madinat Jumeirah.
Art Dubai, 2022 © Art Dubai
Art Basel, Switzerland
One of the most prestigious summer events of the art market, Art Basel continuously attracts international attendees, from spectators to art enthusiasts, artists, museum directors and other professionals in the art world. The Swiss fair attracts over 200 leading galleries and 4,000 artists from 5 continents. The force of this event reverberates throughout the city as multiple high quality exhibitions occur simultaneously to create a region wide event. The event runs alongside Design Basel, which showcases products from international designers and provides an opportunity to broaden your network with professionals in other industries such as Architects. Catch this exciting event from 13th - 16th June, 2024.
Messe Basel, 2023 © Art Basel
Frieze Seoul and Korean International Art Fair (KIAF), South Korea
This combination of 2 South Korean art fairs at the nation's capital is one to watch for the Asian art market. The Korean International Art Fair (KIAF) since 2002 is the country’s largest international art fair, showcasing contemporary art including paintings, sculptures and photographs from selected galleries around the world. Frieze Seoul’s inaugural event in 2022 garnered international attention, with a positive impact on the Asian art market, as entrepreneurs, dealers, seasoned collectors and members of the art world across the globe gather in one place. This event is testament to the rising Asian contemporary art market, which is seeing rapid growth in countries like Japan, Singapore and South Korea. Frieze Seoul and KIAF combined attract over 250 exhibitors from 20 countries, and is scheduled to take place from 6th - 10th September, 2023.
A view of Kiaf Seoul, 2022 © KIAF Seoul
Sydney Contemporary, Australia
Australia’s largest art fair celebrates its 10th anniversary with its upcoming September edition. The event brings together galleries from across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, typically hosting more than 90 exhibitors. Sydney Contemporary provides a platform to exhibit avant-garde art from emerging and established artists to collectors, high net-worth individuals, museum directors and curators, art advisors, media and new art buyers. It is scheduled for 6th - 10th September, 2023 at Carriageworks in Sydney.
Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, 2022 © Sydney Contemporary
You can never have too many contacts…
Some of the best networking and sales opportunities happen serendipitously in environments where we are surrounded by like-minded people. The quality of your network determines the reach and impact of any art event, as these are the links needed to promote your event even before it occurs. High quality art events are the result of multiple stakeholders in the art market, working together to create a mutually beneficial system. Art Basel blossomed from a group of gallerists that chose to create an event in the 60s, aimed at exposing their city's art scene to a global audience, and is now globally regarded as one of the most prestigious art events. At Artsper, we welcome new ideas and avenues that foster long lasting business relationships. We are constantly on the lookout for innovative people and concepts that benefit the contemporary art and design market, as this is an integral part of fostering long-term collaborations for both independent artists and galleries.