The Cape Town Art Fair is now a fixture on the international calendar of art collectors, galleries and enthusiasts alike. Organisers, Fiera Milano – one of the largest exhibition companies in the world – is, through its African business, Fiera Milano Exhibitions Africa, making a significant investment in the Art Fair. This will reinforce the company’s strategy to expand its business offering and reach in Africa.
Part of this investment has seen the appointment of Laura Vincenti as consultant architect for the Cape Town Art Fair. Laura’s qualifications in the European contemporary art world are exemplary and, recently, she was Principal Consultant Architect and Project Manager of Artissima in Italy, the world renowned, and probably most important, contemporary art fair in Italy: “To be involved in African art is, for me, at this time a wonderful experience and I look forward to working to make the Cape Town Art Fair a must-visit fair for international collectors.”
Fiera Milano Exhibitions Africa CEO, Christine Cashmore says that Laura’s appointment is strategic: “Bringing in someone of Laura’s stature and expertise signals our mission to make the Cape Town Art Fair one that collectors will not want to miss.”
The 2015 Cape Town Art Fair takes place at The Avenue (the new venue at the V&A Waterfront) from Wednesday 25 February to Sunday 01 March 2015. The Avenue is a state-of-the-art contemporary space situated in the heart of the V&A Waterfront, adjacent to the One & Only Hotel, overlooking the yacht basin and the new Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA).
The Cape Town Art Fair is now the showcase for South Africa’s and the continent’s fast growing and vibrant contemporary art economy. Local and African galleries will gather at the Fair and show their most exciting work. The Cape Town Art Fair will extend from the main venue – The Avenue – along the boardwalk at the V&A Waterfront to the North Wharf to form a novel and engaging art route. With a focus on public art, the V&A Waterfront will be the site of several notable installations and collaborations during this time.
“International and prominent collectors are beginning to watch what’s happening in Africa”, says Laura Vincenti. “They are sitting up and taking note of the Cape Town Art Fair” and Joost Bosland of Stevenson Gallery adds that Cape Town in February is an attractive proposition for any traveller. “With Design Indaba and the Cape Town Art Fair taking place at the same time, the city becomes the perfect vantage point from which to survey the art and design landscape in South Africa and the region.”
The Art Fair programme has been designed to coincide with other events such as the much acclaimed Design Indaba and the annual Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) Annual Gala. With an extensive VIP programme, institutions and galleries will be providing access to art that visitors would not normally have an opportunity to see.
Christine Cashmore adds: “We have several prestigious international galleries, applying to participate in the Cape Town Art Fair 2015 and we believe that the reason for this is because of the excitement and demand for art from Africa currently, coupled with the attractiveness of Cape Town to international collectors who want to be in the City at this exciting time.”
