Art Fair offers collectors an opportunity to buy new art

Auckland Art Fair 2011

4 -7 August 2011 at the Viaduct Events Centre, Halsey Street,

Early Bird and VIP Collectors’ Packages are available until this Thursday, June 30, at special offer prices for art lovers wanting to secure tickets for New Zealand’s premier art show.

The Auckland Art Fair, the first event to be held at the spectacular new harbourside Viaduct Events Centre, opens on August 3 with a preview and Vernissage gala opening of the exhibition of 600 artworks by 200 of the most highly sought-after contemporary artists in Australia and New Zealand.

The showcase, open to the public from August 4-7, has a full public programme of artist talks, tours, a lecture from international keynote speaker, Knight Landesman of Artforum magazine entitled, “How Does an Artist Become Known: The Art World at Work”, and an opportunity to meet over 40 of Australasia’s leading gallery directors and view the work they show and know so much about.

Knight Landesman’s lecture, on Friday 5 August, will discuss not only how the artist makes the art but also the synergistic relationships with disparate but interlinked communities that help make the artist.

“My thesis is that all these communities are equally important and not a single one can be missing if the artist is to be successful: the galleries shows and sells the work to the public; the curator exhibits; the critic is looking out for interesting work to write about which in turn sparks public interest and the collector goes to look at the work, likes it and ultimately buys it,” Mr Landesman said from his New York base.

“The galleries are exhibiting for sale works that will provoke a reaction, challenge, inspire, entertain and hopefully encourage people to look at something in a different and fresh way,” says Art Fair Director Jennifer Buckley.

Over 10,000 people are expected to attend the fair which caters not only for collectors and art lovers but the simply curious who want to learn about art, meet gallery owners and artists and see top-drawer contemporary art all under one roof.

Opening Times
Thursday 4 August 11.00am to 6.00pm
Friday 5 August 11.00am to 8.00pm
Saturday and Sunday 6 and 7 August 10.00am to 6.00pm

Programme Highlights
Vernissage opening gala Wednesday 3 August 7:00-11:00 pm - Bookings essential
International keynote speaker, Knight Landesman, gives a lecture entitled, How Does an Artist Become Known: The Art World at Work" -presented by ANZ Private Bank, Friday 5 August - Bookings essential
Guided Tours and Artist Floor Talks daily
Public Lecture Series and panel discussions by invited speakers
A fully illustrated event catalogue and accompanying texts

Tickets – www.itickets.co.nz

Early Bird Collector’s Packages $250.00* to 30 June
1 invitation to the exclusive Collectors’ Preview Wednesday, 3 August 5:00-7:00 pm
1 Vernissage ticket Wednesday, 3 August 7:00-10:30 pm
1 Keynote lecture ticket
4 day unlimited admission pass
VIP lounge privileges
Reserved seating at lectures

Early Bird Vernissage Tickets*
Vernissage Early Bird $100.00 ($125.00 from 1 July)

Event Tickets*
Keynote speaker lecture $45.00
Early Bird General Admission $20 (25.00 from 1 July)
Group general admission concession for 10 or more $200.00