MCH Group, the owner of the Art Basel branded fairs, just kicked global art fair competition up a notch.
The company, which describes itself as a “leading international live marketing group” announced this morning that it will build a new portfolio of regional art fairs.
Managing director Marco Fazzone, who will head up a new business unit “design and regional fairs” emphasized in a phone interview with artnet News that this is completely separate from Art Basel.
This particular approach to the expansion will be built through “partnerships with experienced partners and could include joint ventures, acquisitions, and new art fair launches,” according to a statement from MCH. Fazzone told artnet News: “MCH group believes in a strong art market and a strong regional art fair market. They are very important,” in terms of connecting to the local regional art community.
However, he did not yet have specifics on what regions MCH may target. According to its statement, MCH “is in contact and discussion with different art show organizers, and is currently examining potential partnerships and projects. Two of the partners MCH are in discussion with include SME London and Angus Montgomery, rekindling the association formed through Art HK, founded by Tim Etchells and Sandy Angus, which MCH then acquired.”