Expanding cultural heart
Kate Hickey
Art Moscow is the first Russian arts fair of such high quality and in accordance with international standards. While it focuses on art created since 1990 it also welcomes classical Modernism and other movements, which influenced contemporary work.
The fair provides a complete overview of both Russian and international artwork from recent years and the last century. In addition, each year the winners of the Black Square Prize exhibit their work. Since 2004, this exhibition has been dedicated to an exhibition for the Studio Art Moscow program in November at the Central House of the Artist.
In 2005, the fair welcomed over 35,000 visitors from all over the world. These included art lovers, representatives of Russian and foreign museums, curators, art critics and collectors. Also in 2005 over 50 galleries from Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, USA, Sweden, Great Britain, Latvia and Spain attended. Amazingly, this number grows every year. Last year saw some wonderful galleries such as Karin Sachs Gallery in Munich, i-20 Gallery in New York and B&D Studio Comtemporanea in Milan.
The startling amount of sales in 2005 amounted to $2,815,000. Organizers calculated that over the period of one year, from 2004, the amount of sales increased by 1.5 per cent. This year the organizers believe that this number could increase even further.
Art Moscow Representative is the official external office for all fairs organized by Expo-Park, Moscow. Its main focus is on the international contemporary art fair Art Moscow. From the heart of Europe and the arts, in Basle the group have the opportunity to provide a centre of organization, communication and support for participating galleries. It aims to support new exhibitors at the fair in the Central House of Artist in Moscow; be they individual or collective exhibitors.
The group provides extensive information and advice on advantages, procedures and obstacles linked to participation and performance on the Russian market. Furthermore, its activities comprise the organization of a non-commercial program for international exhibitors, extensive communication work as well as organization of payment, transport, logistics and customs.
Expo-Park Exhibition projects Ltd who organizes Art Moscow annually, was established in 1992 and is one of the oldest and most respected independent exhibition companies on the Russian market. The company holds 15 specialized fairs every year, offering a full range of exhibition services and conceptual decisions. Their complex projects combine cultural and educative aspects with structure-formative basis for the markets they are working with. Hence all exhibitions organized by Expo-Park have the status of culturally significant events.
The 2006 edition plans on bringing even further additions of exponents. New, interesting guests and international projects both native, European and international projects including Germany, Switzerland, Austria and many other countries.
The Russian art market profits from this upcoming trend. Art Moscow offers an interesting and welcoming cultural event to Russia, an offer which the culturally well educated population with a high interest in the arts and its grown prosperity likes to take advantage of.
