Art Basel has cancelled its upcoming Hong Kong fair as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread. Art Basel Hong Kong was scheduled to open at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 19 March.
Given the ongoing epidemic has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization, Art Basel said in a statement that they had ‘no option’ other than to pull the plug, citing ‘fundamental concern for the health and safety of all those working at and attending the fair; the severe logistical challenges facing the build-out and transit of artwork to the show; and the escalating difficulties complicating international travel.’
On Wednesday the Hong Kong government declared that anyone coming from the mainland into Hong Kong would be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival, effectively closing off much of the fair’s mainland collector base.
No information was given of how the fair plan to address the financial impact of cancelling, both to the company itself and the exhibitors.
Marc Spiegler, Global Director, Art Basel said: ‘Our thoughts are with those affected by the recent coronavirus outbreak around the world. The decision to cancel Art Basel Hong Kong was an extremely difficult one for us. We explored every other possible option before doing so, gathering advice and perspectives from many gallerists, collectors, partners and external experts. We are acutely aware of the important role that the fair plays within the region’s cultural scene and for our galleries, both in Asia and across the globe. Our team dedicated extensive time and effort to ensure our show in March would be a success over the course of the past year. Unfortunately, the sudden outbreak and rapid spread of the novel coronavirus radically changed the situation.’
6 February 2020
