Art Basel Miami Beach postponed
Art Basel Miami BeachArt Basel Miami Beach postponed
The premiere of Art Basel Miami Beach will be postponed for one year. The current situation in the United States forces the Show Management to refrain from carrying out the International Art Show, which was scheduled to take place from December 13 16, 2001, in Miami Beach. It will now take place from December 5 8, 2002.
The Show Management of Art Basel Miami Beach, together with the Selection Committee, decided that the premiere of Art Basel Miami Beach must be postponed for one year until December 5 8, 2002. The reason for this is the unpredictable prolongation of the unsafe circumstances in the U.S. since the September 11 terrorist attacks, warnings of potential attacks in the future, the anthrax incidents, and the state of war. The related dangers and increased difficulties in air travel as well as goods traffic and insurance render it impossible to stage the international top event in Miami Beach this coming December.
The Show Management sincerely regrets having to postpone the highly successfully initiated event six weeks before its realization. However, responsibility and concern regarding the safety and wellbeing of clients and partners from around the globe (exhibitors, visitors, sponsors, media representatives and cultural institutions) compelled the Show Management to take this measure.
Over 150 of the worlds leading galleries as well as about 50 art journals and cultural institutions were confirmed to participate in the first Art Basel Miami Beach. They had expressed increasing concern in the course of the Show Managements daily contact with its supporters. Although to date only five galleries have withdrawn their registration, the Show Management has received individual and group letters from numerous leading galleries from different parts of the world requesting the postponement of the art show.
The Show Management takes the concerns of its exhibitors and supporters seriously and is convinced that the postponement is in the best interest of galleries, collectors and art friends alike. The Show Management thanks all those involved for their trust, hard work and for the preparation work implemented to date. It will never the less provide a special local visitor service for guests choosing to travel to Miami Beach from December 13 16, 2001.
The required postponement of Art Basel Miami Beach has financial repercussions for Swiss Exhibition, the organizing company, which anticipates a loss of around 4 million U.S. dollars.
Media contacts:
Art Basel Miami Beach, P.O. Box, CH-4021 Basel, Peter Vetsch,
Tel. 41 58 206 27 06, Fax 41 58 206 31 30, peter.vetsch@ArtBasel.com,
For Media in the USA:
U.S. Office Art Basel Miami Beach: FITZ & CO, Sara Fitzmaurice, 526 West 26
Street #916, USA-New York, NY 10001, Tel. 1 212 627 1455 x221, Fax 1 212 627
0654, E-Mail: usoffice@ArtBasel.com
For Media in Florida:
Florida Office Art Basel Miami Beach, Garber & Goodman Inc., 301 41st Street
Miami Beach, FL 33140, Tel. 1 305 674 1292, Fax 1 305 673 1242, E-Mail:
floridaoffice@ArtBasel.com