Year’s delay for new Singapore art fair, but galleries said to be interested when it now launches in 2020
- Art SG puts off its launch from November 2019 to October 2020, but investors claim ‘considerable interest’ from galleries as they ready tour to market the fair
- Delay follows collapse of major international fair Art Stage Singapore earlier this year
Art SG, the new art fair aimed at reviving Singapore’s flagging art market, has been pushed back by a year to late 2020. On Thursday, the owners of Art SG said the decision was made in response to requests from galleries and key participants for more time to prepare for the fair, which had been slated for November 2019.
In response, some dealers and artists argue that the failure of Art Stage had more to do with its organisation than the city itself, which many still believe has the wealth, efficiency and the advantage of geography to become Southeast Asia’s leading art hub.
On Thursday, Renfrew said ArtSG would be a medium-sized fair with around 60-80 galleries exhibiting, making it small enough for dealers to interact with clients easily. It will open on October 29, 2020. He said the team only started its international sales efforts in earnest after Art Basel Hong Kong this spring.
“We have had considerable interest. International galleries continue to explore the Southeast Asia market and see the point of having the fair in Singapore. Regarding MCH’s decision, one has to acknowledge its own financial position after [watch maker] Swatch pulled out of [major watch fair] Basel World and it needs to concentrate its energy on other things,” he said.
While MCH’s troubles reflect the weakness of the global luxury market, Renfrew is confident that a downturn in developed markets would only drive galleries to diversify and seek out new markets, such as Southeast Asia.
He said applications to take part in Art SG would remain open, and the Art SG team would visit various cities to recruit galleries for the first edition of the fair.