European art festivals and fairs you shouldn't miss this year

European art festivals and fairs you shouldn't miss this year

Attending art fairs and shows should be a must-do activity for any progressive collector. These events reflect the current global art scene very well and accentuate not only trends and progressive influences, but also the debated issues of the contemporary art world. Put the dates of some of the most exciting events taking place in European cities each year on your calendars, see the spectacular exhibitions and maybe even pick a new favourite for your collection.

Barbora Vanická Čápová
Author
Barbora Vanická Čápová
11. 4. 2024
Biennale di Venezia
20. 4. – 24. 11. 2024
Venice, Italy

Every even year, hundreds of thousands of visitors head to Venice for this event. This year, too, the show reflects current events societal issues, and the installation of the artist Eva Koťátková in collaboration with by curator Hana Janečková, artist Himali Son Soin and the collective Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures, which was selected by an expert jury for the representation of the Czechoslovak pavilion in the Giardini area.

In addition to the Giardini, where the pavilions of the individual countries spread out among the trees and grassy areas, the show invites to the vast of the Arsenal exhibition space, conceptualized this year by Brazilian curator Adrian Pedrosa together with "artists who are foreigners themselves, immigrants, emigrants, exiles or refugees", as he himself points out in relation to the exhibition. Biennale di Venezia as a whole presents a comprehensive overview of the tendencies of individual countries and at the same time reflects current artistic trends and essential ones societal issues.

Art festivals and fairs represent an ideal opportunity to establish contact with interesting artists, curators or collectors from all over the world. | Photo: Anežka Januschka Kořínková, La Biennale di Venezia
Art festivals and fairs represent an ideal opportunity to establish contact with interesting artists, curators or collectors from all over the world. | Photo: Anežka Januschka Kořínková, La Biennale di Venezia
Art Basel
13. 6. – 16. 6. 2024
Basel

Unlike the Biennale di Venezia, you only have four days to visit the Art Basel fair, but the more intense and an accompanying program awaits. Apart from her home city of Basel, where she will present herself for the first time this year in the role of artistic director of the Art Basel fair current director of Gallery Weekend Berlin Maike Cruse, this fair also takes place in Hong Kong, Paris and Miami.

Outside the central exposition, which will feature 245 distinctive established and young progressive galleries and art projects, the fair is also significantly reflected in the entire city, where under the baton of the director of the New York Swiss Institute, Stefanie Hessler exhibitions and accompanying programs will take place not only in galleries, but also in public spaces or shop windows.

Like most art fairs, Art Basel focuses primarily on themes in the presentation of works and the accompanying program collecting contemporary art and current issues that arise around it, and its visit can thus open up completely new horizons for both beginners and experienced collectors.

In addition to expert discussions, lecture panels and workshops, most art fairs and festivals are accompanied by various audiovisual performances. | Photo: vog.photo
In addition to expert discussions, lecture panels and workshops, most art fairs and festivals are accompanied by various audiovisual performances. | Photo: vog.photo
Ars Electronica Festival
4. 9. – 8. 9. 2024
Linz

The involvement of new technologies in artistic creation and the opening of ethical and environmental questions to the artistic practice of the 21st century is an integral part, and if you want to enter deeper into the rabbit hole of interdisciplinary thinking, the Ars Electronica festival presents the the easiest way. The Ars Electronica Festival brings together prominent scientists, artists, designers and theorists to co-create speculative scenarios of the future and under this year's overall theme HOPE - who will turn the tide will try to reset the principle hope from a passive feeling to an active call for change.

The presented projects can thus often resemble scientific protocols or laboratory experiments more than classical works of art, but they show new ways of thinking about the concept of creation and open new perspectives for visitors to perceive art and the world around us.

The Ars Electronica festival brings a fresh perspective on artistic practice and new technologies. | Photo: Florian Voggeneder
The Ars Electronica festival brings a fresh perspective on artistic practice and new technologies. | Photo: Florian Voggeneder
Prague Art Week
5. 9. – 8. 9. 2024
Prague

At the same time as the Ars Electronica festival, the activities of the Prague Art Week platform are peaking. On the map of this Prague festival receives many local galleries, museums, exhibition halls and art collections with the aim of supporting the ecosystem of local art and collector scene. During these 4 days, it is possible to see many accompanying events, performances, lectures or exhibitions directed by the director involved institutions or go directly to the PAW Superstudio, which becomes the center of all festival activities.

Prague Art Week is a great opportunity to deepen your orientation on the Prague art scene and the domestic market in general. contemporary art. It offers a unique opportunity to meet Prague gallerists, artists and collectors in one place.

Frieze Art Fair
9. 10. – 13. 10. 2024
London

The last event of this selection, which every collector should have long in advance marked on his calendar, is clearly London's Frieze Art Fair. This important trade fair has built a very strong position in its relatively short period of operation, from certain parts also thanks to a wide conceptual scope.

In addition to the art collections of large companies, institutions and commercial galleries, you will find many independent gallerists or controversial young artists, which for many collectors can serve to create a comprehensive picture of size and variety global market. And besides, London itself boasts one of the most vibrant cultural scenes of European cities and po the time of the festival comes to life together with him.

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Introduction photo: Tom Mesic