Open Call for Applications to ARCOmadrid and ArtMadrid 2012

Organizers of both the ARCOmadrid and ArtMadrid international fairs of contemporary art (both running on February 15-19, 2012) announced the call for applications to the two events. Here we bring you a summary of the two documents.  

ARCOmadrid 2012 (Application deadline June 24,2011)

Following the positive response to the changes introduced in 2011: reduction of the fair grounds, greater emphasis on the quality of galleries and works on display and a firm commitment with collecting; quality will continue to be the top priority for the upcoming event.

When selecting the galleries, the stands at the latest edition of the fair will be carefully analyzed, as well as galleries’ program and their project submitted for ARCOmadrid 2012. With the objective of distinguishing itself on the overall art fair scene, and enhancing its role as a source of information for the large number of collectors and art professionals that attend the fair every year, ARCOmadrid 2012 announces an initiative aimed at highlighting one artist per stand. The idea is to encourage galleries to propose a special presentation of any of the artists they represent, without having to develop an exclusive project. ARCOmadrid will give special coverage to those artists in its press releases, the catalogue and the Infoarco leaflet. At the same time, information about the presentations will be sent in advance to all invited critics and curators.

With the collaboration of the Mondrian Foundation and the Embassy of The Netherlands to Spain, ARCOmadrid 2012 will present a collection of Dutch galleries curated by Xander Karskens (Breda, 1973). The fair will maintain its curated programs designed to provide an overview of emerging galleries and artists. In this regard, the event brings back again the Opening section showcasing European galleries that have been open for less than 8 years; the section will be curated by Manuel Segade.

In this edition, the Solo Projects section will continue to be dedicated to Latin American artists. This year, the space seeks to be consolidated as one for research on the work by Latin American artists with the collaboration of a team of five curators. Projects will be selected by means of gallery applications and not exclusively by invitation; therefore, galleries are invited to submit one project by a Latin American artist. A team made up of guest curators and one member of the fair’s committee will select the most interesting projects to be showcased in ARCOmadrid 2012. Solo Projects will function as well as a space for exchange between Latin America and Europe, with professional meetings of museum directors, critics and curators.

ARCOmadrid activities will aim at fostering the presence in the fair of the most important collectors and critics from the host country and abroad. Both the collector’s program and the First Collectors initiative or the invitation of leading art consultants will be combined with round tables about collecting (organized again by Rosa Martinez) and the Professional Meetings.

Likewise, Arcomadrid has established a fee of 300 € for the Application to the General Program (compensated by a discount equal to the same amount on the price of promotion elements in the fair). To fill in applications online, please visit: https://www.expositores.ifema.es/zwas(bD1lcyZjPTEwMA==)/default.htm?idioma=es , if you were an exhibitor at ARCOmadrid_ 2011; otherwise, visit: http://www.ifema.es/web/ferias/arco/default.html

ART MADRID 2012 (Application deadline October 10, 2011)

This year, Art Madrid, on its seventh edition, will maintain its external Committee for the selection of participating galleries. The fair will launch a new program: Art Madrid Edition, where a maximum of 15 contemporary art galleries, publishing houses and institutions will be selected to participate in the fair, each with a 25m2 offered at a special price. Participants in this new program must submit works of contemporary art in any of its forms (original graphic works, photography, sculpture, artist books, found art, etc.) by artists of any nationality.

For the Young Art program, which was introduced last year’s fair for artists under 40 and was highly welcomed by collectors and gallery owners, there will be a curator who will invite new galleries from Spain and abroad, and will select the proposals for the program. A new program specifically for private collectors, art professionals and companies will be introduced this year with the objective of boosting sales, foster contacts between collectors and gallery owners and artists and organize different activities. For further information and to download the applications, visit:  www.art-madrid.com

ART MADRID, C/ Maria Panes, 7 local 28003, Madrid

Tel.: +34 91 5358711

art-madrid@art-madrid.com