The New Art Fairs Calendar for October 2020

The Covid pandemic has prevented numerous fairs, biennials and art festivals from opening their doors. Further cancellations have been announced during September for important events. In total, no less than 25 events have been wiped off the initially planned calendar for October 2020, that’s almost 30% of the scheduled artistic events.

In New York, the Tefaf already announced the cancellation of its New York edition at the end of July. In the UK, the Prime Minister announced new restrictions on 22 September aimed at limiting social interactions in the face of rising infections. Large-scale art and antique fairs will therefore not be able to take place this autumn.

In Paris, despite good results from the Art Paris Art Fair, the 47th edition of the FIAC has been cancelled as a direct result of its international identity. There were quite simply too many problems for international exhibitors and visitors alike (travel restrictions, health constraints, etc.). The FIAC’s organisers, Reed Expositions, have been criticised for taking the decision to cancel so late: after several procrastinations, the company finally announced on 14 September that the event which was due to open on 22 October was cancelled. The short notice clearly angered a number of gallery owners and artists. Some dealers have also suggested that the FIAC could have repositioned itself into the national market in response to urgent local demand for events of this magnitude.

The PAD Paris – a prestigious design fair due to be held in the wake of the FIAC – is also cancelled. Ditto for Art Elysées. Decisions following the passage of Paris in the “heightened alert” zone, which limits gatherings to 1,000 people. On the other hand, several “off” fairs have refused to throw in the towel. Asia Now, and Galeristes will take place in Paris in October. The Outsider Art Fair will also go ahead, with around thirty exhibitors at the Atelier Richelieu, while Paris Internationale has surprised everyone by planning to open in a supermarket in the center of Paris.

Many of the physical fairs have also set up “viewing rooms” allowing a more in-depth discovery of the works and their context… one of the rare virtuous effects of this crisis.

https://www.artprice.com/events/