Art Basel Miami Beach, one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year, is among the cultural events that are now standing in uncertainty due to the pandemic of coronavirus.
The role of Art Basel
Art Basel is probably among the world’s most important contemporary art fairs. It is the American response to the annual appointment of the fair in Switzerland.
The Miami edition, born in 2002, has quickly become a pivot event for the most eminent galleries in the world. The Basilea appointment first, and the Miami one after, didn’t just conditionate the art of the last decades, but gave visibility to artists that are now at the top of the art industry.
In particular, every year, about 2000 artists present their work to a large and passionate public. Both emerging galleries and experienced dealers offer some of the most interesting artistic proposals from the five continents.
Art Basel Miami 2020: when to expect the world’s most famous fair
The recent cancellation of the Swiss edition due to coronavirus is the umpteenth damage of the pandemic crisis on the cultural world. However, despite that, the Miami edition is still expected in December from the 3rd to the 6th.
A spokesman for the fair declared:
“For us, it is still challenging to predict what the global situation will be like in December. We nevertheless remain deeply committed to holding the fair in Miami Beach if at all feasible.
The health and safety of everyone concerned is our highest priority. We will take all necessary measures to protect their safety, including adjusting our plans in the future, if need be.
We are actively monitoring the situation. Without a doubt, we are committed to communicating closer to time any measures we take to safely hold the fair.”
The Miami event has been, since its first edition, a significant economic driver for South Florida. By attracting wealthy tourism and collectors from all over the world, the appointment also goaded the birth of other art exhibits in Florida. All these led to the Miami Art Week.
Just last year, the Miami edition estimated about 80,000 visitors. The fair, to respond constructively to the obliged cancellation in Basilea, implemented the online viewing rooms. At the same time, Art Basel in Hong Kong announced criteria changes for gallerists who intend to participate in the 2021 edition. The galleries won’t have any obligation for physical space and, not less importantly, Hong Kong announced a lowering of the fees.