gallery/Art Fair Europe
Art Fair
Europe
Rainer Helbing interviewed at
Spring Fair International
Art Fair Europe is the brainchild of Rainer Helbing and, now
in its third year, it is beginning to stamp its importance as a
show of some considerable merit within the market proper.
But what has the future in store for the show, particularly when
competitive offerings are struggling to hold onto what they
have more currently achieved. Rainer Helbing tells all to Picture
Business editor, Peter Hancocks.
“We have brought the fair forward by a few weeks because the organising a lot of things to stimulate the business together with the
industry wanted it to be so. It is now to take place between the 18th exhibitors. Each year we try to surprise the exhibitors and visitors with
and 21st of September. Th is will be the third year of the fair. Last unusual and eff ective concepts.
year we increased the display area from 8,000m2 to 15,000m2 and Th ese unusual concepts present a new way of marketing and are very
virtually doubled the number of exhibitors.” good for business and although we are still a young trade exhibition in
terms of years, we have a lifetime of ideas that we want to realise.
I have it on good authority that the organisers of the
Italian exhibition SACA are to broaden the scope of their Have you had any thoughts on moving the fair to one of
2010 show to include interior design, furnishing and the larger cities questions the writer?
furnishing elements. Is this something that you will be
looking to do? “My concept for the show is make it cheap, make it big and make
it easy! I want everything in one hall and on the ground fl oor. After
“No, not at all! We will be staying with art and equipment. If you this year’s fair, I might think of changing location to perhaps a more
take shows like Ambiente and Tendence, they have 100,000 visitors well known city but, at the end of the day, I need input from the
and cater for nearly all areas of retail, but how many of the visitors exhibitors. It is not a decision I alone will take. Certainly for 2009 the
are there to buy art and equipment? Not that many I think! Th ese exhibition will remain in Bad Salzufl en.”
are also very expensive shows at which to exhibit. At Art Fair Europe, And as to Rainer’s ultimate aim, he answered thus: “My aim is to
stand space is less expensive and all the visitors are of interest to the have the biggest [Art] trade Fair in Europe, but this will take time. At
exhibitor. At the moment we are waiting until all the Spring Fairs are the moment I’m happy to build on three years of successes. I know
completed, then we will start marketing again.” all the art exhibitors who attend fairs in the spring are looking for
an alternative. I’m looking to make Art Fair Europe convenient for
Are you looking to increase the size of the exhibition again everybody and at 60 Euros per square metre my prices are highly
this year, questions the writer? competitive. Quantity is not always the key to success, but quality is!
“It would be nice if it increased, but my aim is to hold it at last Tel: +49 2381 431890
years level and consolidate the position of the show. A lot of my email: info@fair-europe.de
competitors will have diffi culty even doing this I think. We are www.fair-europe.de
16 picturebusiness
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44