The 1-54 art fair in Marrakech is the latest victim of the worldwide surge of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. Planned for 3-6 March, the event has now been cancelled.
In a statement on the fair’s website, the organisers say: “The reality of the present world situation and the uncertainty of travel restrictions, alongside other factors, are profoundly affecting our future plans. 1-54 Marrakech will be back as soon as health conditions allow it.”
Travel into Morocco has been difficult in recent months. The government suspended flights and ferry services to the country in November, due to the rise of the Omicron variant. Moroccan tour operators protested in front of the Ministry of Tourism in Rabat in early January, saying they were threatened with bankruptcy. The borders are expected to reopen on 1 February, but the suspension has already been extended once.
This is the second year in a row that the Marrakech event has been cancelled due to Covid-19. As in 2021, it will be replaced by an event held at Christie’s in Paris, from 7-10 April.
The 1-54 art fairs focus on contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. They launched in London in 2013, in New York in 2015 and in Marrakech in 2018. The New York and London editions are still expected to go ahead in May and October respectively.
You can keep track of the dates for 2022’s top art fairs in our regularly updated list.