SH Contemporary Art Fair has a New Name, New Look

SH Contemporary Art Fair, Shanghai, 2012

SH Contemporary Art Fair has a new name. BolognaFiere, the Italian company that has been running the fair since 2007, made the announcement in Beijing yesterday that beginning in September the Chinese fair will be known as BolognaFiere Shanghai Contemporary.

The fair has struggled with organizational issues and was abruptly cancelled in 2013, after a falling out between BolognaFiere and its local Chinese partners: the Shanghai International Cultural Communication Association, Shanghai Art Fair Organization Committee and the Eastern Shanghai International Culture Film and Television Group. All declined to comment.

Duccio Campagnoli, president of BolognaFiere China, said that the announcement was designed to reassure art dealers of the company’s commitment to the Chinese market. BolognaFiere also announced a new local partner, the Center of International Cultural Exchange, a state institution administered by China’s Ministry of Culture.

The artistic director of BolognaFiere 2014, Guido Mologni, told artnet that this year’s focus will be on serving Asian and in particular Chinese collectors. Exhibitors will be roughly 40-45% Chinese galleries, 20-30% Asian galleries and 20-30% international galleries. The full list of exhibitors is expected to be released in May.