Art Dubai, Asia’s most important international art fair, has reported an immensely successful second year in terms of both sales and attendance. The 68 galleries from 30 countries, exhibited works by more than 540 artists, with participating galleries. With a record number of 12,000 visitors from every continent plus more than 240 journalists attending Art Dubai, the fair attracted more regional and international interest than anticipated. Up to 40 new galleries have already registered their interest in applying for next year’s event, and in initial surveys, exhibitors reported high satisfaction with sales results and new contacts made.<br/><br/> “The second edition of Art Dubai has surpassed all our expectations. Following a hugely successful inaugural year in 2007, Art Dubai 2008 returned with a programme of events aimed at international dealers, collectors, artists, curators, critics and cultural travellers. Art Dubai is now firmly established in the global cultural calendar and we will build on this success to encompass a wider and more diverse audience for successive events,” said His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and member of the board and Managing Director for the Culture and Arts Authority in Dubai. <br/><br/>“Art Dubai has become a cornerstone for the rapidly growing art community of the Middle East. Sales surpassed expectations and it’s great to be part of this ever growing art scene,” said Sunny Rahbar, Founder and co-director, The Third Line Gallery, Dubai.<br/><br/>“It is a huge privilege to be part of this phenomenal growth. The future of this fair is to develop not only a new market, but also new avenues of collaboration and projects that bring the Occident and Orient closer together,” said Lorenzo Fiaschi, Director of Galleria Continua, San Gimagnano, Beijing. <br/><br/>Proceeds from Art Dubai plus a charity auction raised approximately $300,000 on behalf of the Al Madad Foundation for START, a project to fund children’s art workshops in deprived communities.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Following on from the highly acclaimed Global Art Forum: 1 in 2007, fifty of the global art community’s most respected curators, collectors, and artists took part in Global Art Forum: 2. With speakers ranging from Glenn Lowry, Director, Museum of Modern Art, New York City; Rem Koolhaas, Architect, Rotterdam; and curator and artistic director of the Sharjah Biennial, Jack Persekian, to some of the most influential artists working today: Daniel Buren, Ai Wei Wei, and Tony Cragg and other cultural contributors from around the world. They presented their visions and debated ideas during the five-day event, which fostered links between the Middle East and the wider global arts community through candid debate on the evolving business of art.<br/><br/>The unique VIP programme attracted hundreds of VIP collectors and art enthusiasts (local and international) to a host of events including art trails, lectures, Art Dubai courses and exhibition launches, such as the British Museum’s “Word Into Art” show, the Flying House and the Creek Art Fair all of which were extremely well attended.<br/><br/>“Art Dubai has become the region’s commercial art-trading hub and an immensely important platform for the whole international art community, providing a chance for important regional artists and art initiatives to engage at a serious level with curators and collectors around the world. We aim to build on the success of this year’s event and continue to expand on an extensive range of arts projects, artworks and galleries and educational programmes for Art Dubai 2009,” said John Martin, Director of Art Dubai. <br/><br/>Other highlights of Art Dubai 2008 included the launch of the Abraaj Capital Art prize in partnership with Abraaj Capital, the premier investment firm specialising in private equity investment in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region; the global opening of the Credit Suisse Art & Entrepreneurship exhibition; and the glittering Patron’s Preview hosted by official hotel partner Madinat Jumeirah.<br/><br/>
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