MENART FAIR Brussels
After two editions in Paris in 2021 and 2022 that were a great success, Laure d’Hauteville and Paul de Rosen expand their show to Brussels. Laure d’Hauteville also created the renowned Beirut Art Fair in Lebanon, which was successfully held for 10 years but had to be put on hold due to the geopolitical context. As for BEIRUT ART FAIR and MENART FAIR, it is Joanna Chevalier who has been chosen by the team the be the artistic director of the Belgium edition. MENART FAIR is the first international modern and contemporary art fair dedicated to artists from the Middle East and North Africa. For this first edition, some twenty leading international galleries are gathered during four days in Cornette de Saint Cyr auction house in Brussels. Visitors will discover some cutting-edge artworks from artists coming from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. MENART FAIR surely is a great opportunity for European collectors and art enthusiasts to discover and get to know the rich artistic scene of these regions.
Laure d’Hauteville shares her views!
Founding Director
MENART FAIR Brussels 2024
Location
Fondation Boghossian
Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 67
Brussels 1050
Belgium
Dates
February 2024
Entrance Fee
General Admission: TBA
Insights MENART FAIR Brussels
Laure d’Hauteville
Founding Director
What would you say is the DNA of MENART FAIR Brussels?
The aim of MENART FAIR in Brussels is to make the art of the Middle East & North Africa known, and to create networks between the different actors of the art scene in Belgium and the neighboring countries, with great joy. More and more institutions, museums, foundations and galleries are becoming interested in ME.NA art in Brussels. Some institutions are preparing beautiful programs on Middle Eastern artists. Belgium is well known for having a very large number of knowledgeable collectors who are curious to discover new artists.
What type of galleries are chosen to exhibit, and why?
We will have a selection of 12 galleries, a more intimate fair to kick off this first edition in Brussels. The galleries chosen are coming from the Middle East but also from Europe and already present and support ME.NA art. The goal is to make our artists known on an international scale and to work in partnership with institutions. Joanna Abou Sleiman-Chevalier, artistic director of the fair, carefully selects the galleries and their artistic selection.
What is the price range of pieces? Who is the average buyer?
The works exhibited at MENART FAIR will be mainly between 5,000 euros and 20,000 euros with a few internationally recognized artists, going up to 100,000 euros. We have many groups of well-informed Belgian collectors who have expressed their desire to visit the fair, but also others from France, Germany, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, and the region. There is an increasing interest in ME.NA art.
“Belgian collectors are very open to other artistic horizons and are happy to have a niche fair in Brussels dedicated to ME.NA.”
Who is the typical attendee of MENART FAIR Brussels?
The visitors will be mainly Belgian collectors, curious to discover new talents. We have also set up partnerships with foundations, institutions and museums that organize group visits of “Friends of the Museums” to come to MENART FAIR. Throughout the fair, we organize mediations in French, English, Flemish and Arabic. We want visitors to take the time to exchange with our galleries and artists.
Belgian collectors are very open to other artistic horizons and are happy to have a niche fair in Brussels dedicated to ME.NA.
What strategy – physical as digital – will you adopt in medium to long term?
We would like more institutions and museums to program exhibitions of ME.NA artists. The Boghossian Foundation in Brussels, for example, will have a magnificent exhibition of some 40 Lebanese artists during the fair at Villa Empain. Other institutions will have collectives among which some ME.NA artists will be presented. Many initiatives are in preparation. During MENART FAIR, we are organizing an “off-site” program to visit all these places. Some of the most important Belgian art collectors will also open the doors to their homes and collections for our VIPs who will get the chance to discover some of the ME.NA artists they already collect. The European press is already supporting our initiative. We are setting up a platform on our website where we will share exhibitions, events and information on the different ME.NA activities around the world.
What are two other art fairs you would suggest?
In Brussels, the fair not to be missed and of very high quality, is the BRAFA. It will be held at the same time as MENART FAIR and attracts all the biggest collectors in the region. In February, there is the Brussels Art Fair which is also a must in the region. There are, also, a multitude of private initiatives that present great exhibitions.
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