Frieze Art Fair takes place every October in Regent’s Park, London. It features over 150 of the most exciting contemporary art galleries in the world. The fair also includes specially commissioned artists’ projects, a prestigious talks programme and an artist-led education schedule.
In 2008 we were pleased to work with Deutsche Bank as the main sponsor of Frieze Art Fair for the fifth consecutive year.
FAQs
How many people attend the fair and who are they?
In 2007 approximately 68,000 visits were made to were made to Frieze Art Fair. These visitors included those with an interest in the art world, such as curators, artists, collectors, gallerists and critics, as well as the general public. Some visit as first-time collectors of art whilst others view the fair more as an exhibition, enjoying the experience as a cultural day out.
How do I get a ticket for the fair?
Every year tickets for Frieze Art Fair go on sale on 1 June. Tickets can be purchased online via frieze.com using a credit or debit card. Alternatively, visitors can phone Frieze Art Fair’s ticket agent, details to be announced in 2009. Tickets can also be purchased onsite at the fair, however discounted prices are available for early bookings. Frieze Art Fair advise booking tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
What makes Frieze Art Fair different from other art fairs?
Frieze Art Fair is one of the few fairs to focus only on contemporary art and living artists. The exhibiting galleries represent the most exciting contemporary galleries working today. The focus on living artists is also evident in the critically acclaimed Frieze Projects’ programme. The fair presents a curated programme of talks, artists’ commissions and film projects, many of which are interactive or performative and encourage visitors to engage with art and artists directly.
Unlike most other fairs, Frieze Art Fair is housed in a bespoke temporary structure in Regent’s Park and benefits from having a natural light source, avoiding the atmosphere of a trade show, thus making the fair more lively and energetic.
Since the first year Frieze Art Fair has also been fortunate enough to work with a series of talented architects: David Adjaye, Jamie Fobert and, in 2008, Caruso St John, who are well known for their work on museums and art galleries. The architects’ brief is to make the fair an inviting and unique experience. Each year there are eye-catching changes to the design, décor, entrance and spaces such as restaurants and cafes. The architects have the opportunity to experiment and this further adds to the experience of the fair.
What are the annual sales figures?
Frieze Art Fair released sales figures following the first three fairs. However, the directors came to regard such results to be misleading and inaccurate, as many sales are completed post-fair, and many galleries choose to keep their sales figures private. From 2006 the fair has not released sales figures.
Whilst the fair is a commercial venture, it should be remembered that the fair equally relies on the relationships with collectors and curators made by participating galleries at the fair.
How are the galleries selected for the fair?
Around 450 galleries apply each year for the 150 places in the fair. The application form each year is posted on the website in December; the application deadline is in February and the selection is made in April. There is then an appeals procedure in late April/early May. The selection is made by a committee of gallerists who participate in the fair; the fair directors chair the meeting but do not vote.
Who is on the selection committee?
The 2008 selection committee was:
Gavin Brown, Director, Gavin Brown’s enterprise
Daniel Buchholz, Director, Galerie Daniel Buchholz
Sadie Coles, Director, Sadie Coles HQ
Marcia Fortes, Director, Galeria Fortes Vilaça
Cornelia Grassi, Director, greengrassi
Maureen Paley, Director, Maureen Paley
Toby Webster, Director, The Modern Institute/Toby Webster
How are non-profit/artist-run galleries selected and what help does Frieze Art Fair give?
Since 2005 two artist-run or not-for-profit galleries have been invited to participate in the fair. These originate from countries that may not be represented in the fair or may be developing economically. The aim is to ensure that good art being made anywhere can be represented at the fair even if the commercial gallery system in a particular place has not yet evolved enough to show this work. The selection is made solely the directors, following extensive research. Once invited Frieze Art Fair covers the gallery’s costs of participation and offers advice prior to the fair. The initiative is considered to be a useful opportunity for the galleries to develop contacts and a profile that may continue long after the fair. For the audience it is also an opportunity to see interesting work by artist who may not typically exhibit within the commercial gallery network.
What is the relationship between Frieze Art Fair and frieze magazine?
The fair and the magazine are both wholly owned by Matthew Slotover and Amanda Sharp. The magazine was founded, in 1991, by Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover with the artist Tom Gidley. When the magazine began both Amanda and Matthew served as editors, but ceased direct involvement in editorial decisions in 2001. In 2003, the first year of Frieze Art Fair, they assumed the roles of Publishing Directors of the magazine, and Directors of the fair. Amanda and Matthew maintain the overall direction of both the art fair and the magazine, but editorial decisions are made by the editors Jörg Heiser and Jennifer Higgie, as well as their associates Dan Fox and James Trainor.
The fair and the magazine share offices and administration, communications and accounts personnel. In 2008 for the first time the talks programme at the fair was organised by the magazine editors.
What is Frieze Foundation?
Frieze Foundation is a non-profit organisation, which was established the same year as the fair in 2003. The foundation oversees: Frieze Talks, a programme of panel discussions and lectures presented annually during the four days of the fair; Frieze Projects, a curated programme of site-specific projects by artists in and around the fair; The Cartier Award, given annually to an emerging artist. The foundation also oversees Frieze Music, Frieze Education and Frieze Film.
How is the curatorial programme funded?
The foundation has received funding from a number of sources including grant bodies such as the European Union’s Culture 2000 programme and Arts Council, England. Specific areas also receive sponsorship; Cartier has sponsored Frieze Projects since 2005.
Who runs the curatorial programme at the fair?
The programme has been curated by Neville Wakefield in 2007 and 2008. Polly Staple previously curated the programme from 2003 to 2006.
Can I make a project at the fair?
The curatorial programme is carefully considered many months before the fair. For artists not known to the curator, the best route to show a project at the fair is via an application to the Cartier Award.
What is Frieze Education and how is it funded?
Frieze Education is part of the Frieze Foundation and is supported by Frieze Art Fair’s main sponsor Deutsche Bank. The programme runs over the four days of the fair. During the week local school groups participated in the programme developed in 2008 in collaboration with ReachOut RCA. Frieze Education has previously worked with the Serpentine Gallery in 2003 and 2004 as well as Camden Art Centre in 2005, 2006 and 2007. At the weekend the Deutsche Bank Education Space (which is housed in the fair) is open to family groups and visiting children. They have the opportunity to undertake activities that engage with fair at large. The programme is developed to introduce children and young people to contemporary art in an exciting and fun way.
What is Frieze Music and how is it funded?
Frieze Music was established to develop the natural crossover between contemporary art and music. Each year a concert (or a series of concerts) is presented off site. Frieze Music is presented under the curatorship of Dan Fox, Associate Editor of frieze magazine, and Steve Mackey, producer and musician. Frieze Music’s varied programme has featured bands, avant-garde classical composer Karlheinz Stockhausen and pop series, such as that coordinated by Franz Ferdinand in 2004. Frieze Music takes place during the week of the fair and attracts a wide audience.
If I cannot get to London for Frieze Art Fair is there any part of the fair I can still enjoy?
frieze.com offers podcasts of all Frieze Talks as well as details of Frieze Projects and Frieze Film. Frieze Art Fair also publishes an annual comprehensive guide to contemporary art, Frieze Art Fair Yearbook, which is available in a new edition from mid-September and can be ordered online at frieze.com or purchased from all good bookshops.
