Basel is preparing for the return of the world’s most important contemporary art fair. Following its cancellation last year due to the coronavirus, Art Basel is now making a return to its home city. And it’s not only bringing eminent galleries with it but also the popular “Unlimited” show and a spectacular parcours routed right through the heart of the city.
The first positive signs of a return of Art Basel emerged in the spring of this year. The fair’s Asian offshoot, which was staged in Hong Kong from 21 to 23 May 2021, not only delivered valuable experience but also made it possible to gauge the feasibility of holding the Swiss edition of the show. Featuring a total of 104 galleries from Asia and abroad, the show attracted high visitor numbers, not only on site but also on its digital channels. This time, exhibitors not only had physical stands at the fair, but also presented their offerings to an international clientele in online viewing rooms, a concept that is to be continued at the Basel show.
The great interest shown by the public and the numerous sales concluded highlight the fact that the art world had been eagerly awaiting this comeback – an ideal prerequisite for Art Basel, which will be welcoming 272 galleries from 33 countries to Basel from 24 to 26 September 2021. The latest relaxations announced by the government are also giving cause for optimism. Since 20 August 2021, the only restriction still applicable to visitor numbers is a maximum of one visitor per 4 m2 for events requiring a COVID certificate. The 50th edition of Art Basel will thus not differ that greatly from its predecessor shows!
Messe Basel and the Congress Center are also setting out to make sure that all other events can be held in the same relaxed manner as prior to the pandemic. MCH Group has trained its employees in the design of virtual and hybrid events to this end and has also invested in new camera equipment and an in-house streaming studio. It has similarly introduced its “Reloading Live” offer, which includes the following services:
- If the rooms and exhibition space that would normally be required are not large enough to accommodate the expected number of guests on account of COVID-19 requirements, additional square metres or larger rooms will be made available at no extra charge.
- If restrictions on entry into Switzerland or reduced bookings due to the coronavirus result in lower visitor numbers than normal, a pro-rata discount will be granted on the room rental.
- Both locations have adapted their terms and conditions to ensure that events can be cancelled or postponed without any problems.
You, as an event organiser, can then be certain that you will not be faced with additional costs or have to accept any loss of quality.
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