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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 059-07
February 22, 2007

MAYOR BLOOMBERG KICKS OFF WEEKEND OF ART FAIRS AT ARMORY SHOW

Seven Simultaneous NYC Art Shows Expected to Generate $54 Million in Economic Impact & Create Critical Mass to Rival Great Festivals of the World

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today opened The Armory Show at Pier 94, kicking off a weekend of art events around the City that rival major art festivals around the world. In addition to the Armory Show, the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA) is hosting The Art Show at the Park Avenue Armory, and five other art fairs are taking place this weekend.  The City’s Economic Development Corporation conservatively estimates that not including art sales, these seven shows will pump more than $54 million into the City’s economy this weekend. Joining Mayor Bloomberg at the opening were Kate Levin, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), Katelijne De Backer, Director of the Armory Show, Glenn Lowry, Director of MoMA, and Roland Augustine, President of the Art Dealers Association.

“Two years ago this week, ‘The Gates’ were installed in Central Park and the art world turned its attention to New York.  That’s happening once again, as art events have  reached a critical mass this weekend, allowing us to rival great art festivals like Miami’s Art Basel and Frieze Art Fair in London,” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “Everyone thinks of New York as one of the world’s premiere cultural destinations, and the events taking place this weekend solidify that position.  We’re happy to welcome these shows and the thousands of visitors and millions of dollars they attract.”

“New York City is defined by its dynamic creative life and its breathtaking scope of artists and audiences. Major art events like the Armory Show and the Art Show not only bring international prominence to our established and emerging communities of artists, but also focus attention on the incredible concentration of cultural activity that takes place throughout the City on a daily basis,” said DCLA Commissioner Kate Levin. “And our creative community has ingeniously responded to the excitement by creating coinciding art fairs and countless cultural events. This weekend, in typical New York style, there is truly something for everyone.” 

New York City continues to see an increase in cultural visitors annually, with nearly 25 million tourists visiting cultural attractions.  Cultural visitors to New York spend more than $13 billion annually.  Combined, it is estimated that the art fairs and shows this weekend will be attended by more than 60,000 people and will result in more than a $54 million influx to the City economy.

The Armory Show runs from February 23rd to 26th at Pier 94 and is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors, with more than 150 galleries from 38 cities around the world showcasing pieces.  More than $75 million in sales are anticipated at the show over the weekend.  It’s estimated that another $1 million will be spent at other New York City galleries by attendees of the show this weekend.  Proceeds from opening night admissions at Pier 94 will benefit MoMA, and are expected to raise more than $600,000.

“New York City has long attracted the best artists, curators and collectors from around the world,” said Glenn Lowry, Chairman of MoMa. “The Museum of Modern Art could never exist in a vacuum and we draw our strength and inspiration from the City’s extraordinary concentration of people who care about the arts.  We look forward to welcoming them to our museum this weekend and throughout the year.”

“New York has such an influence on everything we do. The Armory Show has been shaped by the richness of the city’s creative resources. We serve as a catalyst to harness the energy of the art world’s center,” said Katelijne De Backer, Director of the Armory Show.  “We’re very fortunate to have such support.” 

The Art Show, hosted by ADAA, takes place from February 22nd through 26th at the Park Avenue Armory at 67th Street, and is expected to attract more than 11,000 visitors.  The show is a showcase for more than 70 dealers from around the nation.  Proceeds from admissions during the show will benefit the Henry Street Settlement, and are expected to raise more than $1.1 million. The Henry Street Settlement provides value resources for vulnerable New Yorkers and contributed to the Mayor’s plan to reduce homelessness and participated in the Mayor’s Commission on Economic Opportunity.

“The convergence this week of the Art Dealers Association of America's Art Show to benefit Henry Street Settlement, and The Armory Show to benefit the Museum of Modern Art, once again confirms the preeminence of New York City as the cultural epicenter of the international art community,” said Roland Augustine, President of the Art Dealers Association of America and a partner in Luhring Augustine Gallery.

Five additional art fairs are taking place in New York this week.  Scope, which was founded in 2002, is an international art fair that presents up-and-coming dealers, curators, and artists, alongside museum quality programming.  Scope will be held at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park.  PULSE is a biannual invitational contemporary art fair that will coincide with The Armory Show and is being held at the 69th Regiment Armory in Gramercy Park. Pulse was created to bridge the gap between established and alternative art fairs and will feature a range of international galleries that have strong and consistent exhibition programs and aesthetics.  DiVA, the Digital and Video Art Fair (DiVA) is the first art fair dedicated to Video and Digital Art and is being held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Battery Park and in various locations around Chelsea. 

Also in town this weekend are RED DOT, a hotel-based art fair held in New York where approximately 40 galleries will show and sell works to the public on two adjacent floors of the elegant Park South Hotel, and LA ART at the Altman Building/Metropolitan Pavilion, which will feature pieces from 23 prominent Los Angeles galleries. LA ART in New York distinguishes itself from other contemporary art fairs by specifically highlighting the talents and resources of the Los Angeles art community. The participating galleries are among Los Angeles’ most respected art dealers, reflecting the strength and diversity of the West Coast art scene.

These events also offer the City an opportunity to highlight the countless cultural events taking place throughout the five boroughs over the same time period. The following is a sample of events:

  • Fountain Art Fair, an alternative art fair set up at 12th Avenue across from the Westside Highway
  • Williamsburg After Hours, an evening of late night gallery hopping in one of Brooklyn’s hottest arts neighborhoods, on Saturday, February 24.
  • Ancient Egypt: Image, Word, and Reality, an exploration of ancient Egypt, magic and the unknown forces of the universe at Brooklyn Museum
  • An exhibition featuring recent works by British artist Tacita Dean, winner of the Hugo Boss Prize 2006, at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
  • Robert Moses and the Modern City, a look at the legacy of New York’s master builder at Queens Museum of Art
  • A first-ever exhibition of comics from Africa at Studio Museum in Harlem
  • A special performance inspired by the Museum of Modern Art's collection with Wynton Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center






MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser/John Gallagher   (212) 788-2958



GENERAL CONTACT:

Sara Rutkowski   (Department of Cultural Affairs)
(212) 513-9323


More Resources
ADAA The Art Show
The Armory Show
DIVA New York
LA ART
PULSE New York
Red Dot New York
Scope New York
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