An image from Azad Art Gallery, represented at the fair.
The Beirut Art Fair has released its post-fair report and the numbers confirm that the potential of the Middle East, North African and Southern Asian region.
Nearly 11,000 visitors attended the fair, which took place at the beginning of July, with 4,500 attending opening night in what was the 3rd edition of the fair. Sales figures were also high, which helped to assert it as an asset to the cultural and artistic industries of the region.
"Beirut Art Fair showed again this year that art and culture are of great importance to create a dialogue of peace, openness and exchange," said Laure d'Hauteville, manager and founder of BEIRUT ART FAIR.
Next year’s event will be moved to later in the year and will take place from the 19 to 22 September 2013 and is already promising to attract new collectors and art fans.
"Beirut Art Fair 2012 has confirmed its anticipated potential. We have already sketched the outlines of the next editions, expanding to the countries of the Mediterranean Basin and beyond," says Pascal Odille, the fair's Artistic Director since its foundation.
A total of 43 galleries from 14 countries took part in this year’s fair, with Lebanon, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Tunisia, France, Belgium,Germany, Spain, Portugal and Brazil all represented.
Street art, audio-visual performance, comics, video art, sculpture, and installation art made up part of a varied cultural program.
Aurélien le Chevallier, head of the French Institute in Beirut notes, "This fair exceeds its original purpose; it contributes to the promotion of the region and the dialog between different cultures. BEIRUT ART FAIR has succeeded to meet its challenge thanks to the quality of its exhibitions, speakers and artists. We are delighted to support such a major event."
For more information visit: http://www.menasart-fair.com.