FIAC 2011: Galleries & Awards

165 galleries will be exhibiting artworks, representing 21 countries, at FIAC 2011, October 20 – 23. The Grand Palais will house exhibition spaces related to modern and contemporary art, as well as emerging trends, 20 of which are showcased for the first time in this important fair.

The section dedicated to design stands out, as it includes specialized galleries on modern and contemporary art. Design in Paris will be the most important event in this section, the evening opening of design galleries on October 20, during the night of galleries in Paris, with the participation of some 100 exhibition spaces.

FIAC and its official partner, Groupe Galeries Lafayette, will be promoting young galleries, once again. Ten exhibition spaces have been handpicked for this section by a jury that assessed the excellence of their artworks in the field of emerging art, based on the presentation of a specific exhibition project made up of two artists. Each gallery will receive a substantial financial contribution in order to carry out these exhibitions at FIAC 2011. Likewise, one of the artists will be given the Lafayette Award, which includes the acquisition of one of the pieces or a set of pieces, as well as the opportunity of carrying out a personal exhibition in October 2012, at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris. Following this concept, the winning artist in 2010, Morag Keil (Scotland, 1985), represented by the Neue Alte Brücke from Frankfurt, is going to have his exhibition this autumn at the Palais de Tokyo.

The awarding ceremony of Marcel Duchamp Award, on October 22, will be an important moment too. Gilles Fuchs, President of ADIAF (Association for International Spreading of French Art), announced in April the names of nominees: Damien Cabanes, Mircea Cantor, Guillaume Leblon and Samuel Rousseau, whose work will be showcased during this 38th edition of FIAC. The winner will be given 35,000 euro and his/her exhibition will be included in the program of Georges Pompidou Center for 2012.