Representatives of Art Basel, the world’s leading twentieth-century art fair, have proposed a partnership with Art Miami for the year 2001, reported The Miami Herald in January. Art Basel, convinced of “the cultural potential” of that part of the world (never mind the estimated 23% of the world’s wealth that congregated last month for the sibling fair, Art Palm Beach) is to undertake a joint venture with Art Miami, under the care of veteran fair organiser David Lester. Rather than attempting to compete with one another, a new breed of super-fairs seems to be in the offing, promising more glamour and more wide-ranging art than ever before. Lester’s Art Miami, also a fair of twentieth-century art, is already deemed a success, drawing 45,000 visitors through the doors to see the stock of over ninety international dealers.
Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper as 'Basel gets on Art Miami bandwagon'