Art Miami Moved Up To December To Join Art Basel

By Risa Polansky
The Art Miami festival is moving from Miami Beach to Wynwood this year — and from January to December to fall on the same weekend as Art Basel Miami Beach.

"The market has driven the move," said Art Miami director Ilana Vardy. "Our exhibitors have figured out that so much of the art market is here in December."

The show, traditionally in the Miami Beach Convention Center, home to Art Basel, will come off this year in an 80,000-square-foot tent in Wynwood’s gallery district Dec. 6-10.

Art Basel is scheduled for Dec. 6-9.

The move will mean a "major increase" in exhibitor sales, Ms. Vardy said. She said she expects the timing to increase Art Miami’s usual crowd of about 24,000 as Art Basel and its spinoffs usually draw close to 40,000.

"It gives us an opportunity to increase the quality of the show on the exhibitor and attendee sides," she said.

And while there is "always a certain level of competition," the shows will not vie directly for vendors, she said, as there are none who traditionally exhibit at both events.

Art Basel officials said they were unaware of the new Art Miami dates and declined comment.

The anticipated increase in visitors should not put a strain on the hotel market, said Stuart Blumberg, president of the Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association.

"If we can do the Super Bowl, we can do two things for the arts," he said. He said Art Miami will be a good complement to Art Basel.

Art Miami exhibitors have "said not to worry" about lodging, Ms. Vardy said, assuring her "they’ll find hotels."

The show’s move from the Beach to Wynwood may be a boost for Miami hotels, Mr. Blumberg said, but, "the hotel inventory on both sides of the bay is more than fine to house both festivals." Advertisement