Art and culture - unfortunately, we have often had to do without these in recent weeks and months. And a return to normality is still a long way off. So it's wonderful news that The Frankfurt Art Experience (FAE) art weekend, which celebrated a successful premiere last year, can take place again in 2020. Due to the restrictions caused by the Corona pandemic, the staging of the second edition of The Frankfurt Art Experience was on the back burner for a long time. However, the alliance of Markus Frank, head of the city's economic affairs department, FAE director Tyrown Vincent and the Interessengemeinschaft Galerien Frankfurt was delighted to announce that the green light has now been given for FAE 2020 from 03 to 06 September. The organisers are designing a comprehensive hygiene concept, which will ensure that guests and participants are protected from infection. With numerous event venues spread across the city, the arts weekend avoids large crowds and implements legally mandated spacing regulations and safety measures for indoor events.
With the FAE, a new era in the art world begins
City Councillor Markus Frank is delighted that the importance of Frankfurt am Main as a location for the art world can once again be underlined by holding the FAE: "Winning Frankfurt Fashion Week and now the continuation of the Frankfurt Art Experience show the attractiveness and creativity of this city.“ The timing also couldn't be better chosen, thinks the founder of the Art Weekend Tyrown Vincent: "In a sense, Frankfurt is opening up the art world in the new-normal: it's an exciting opportunity and also a responsibility. Important discourses, insights and inspirations for the future will take their departure from the FAE." In addition to the approximately 40 galleries throughout the city, Grosse Eschenheimer Strasse 18 will be home to the Art Weekend with Talks, as it was last year. For the first time, selected Frankfurt galleries will present a special exhibition on photography and the moving image.
"Now more than ever" Frankfurt galleries celebrate the start of the 2020 season
An important part of The Frankfurt Art Experience is the start of the season of the Frankfurt galleries (04 - 06.09.), which is so popular with art lovers and collectors. This has been celebrated in Frankfurt for 26 years now. Not only do galleries in all parts of the city invite visitors to look around, exchange ideas and, of course, buy, as part of the opening of high-quality exhibitions. Art initiatives and off-spaces throughout the city also show their exhibitions until late at night. Also in this difficult year the season start of the galleries Frankfurt may not be missing. Conceptually and organizationally, the new spokeswomen of the IG Galerien Frankfurt Heike Strelow, Jacky Strenz and Anita Beckers will accompany the project. The traditionally late summer gallery tour comes at the right time after the last months, which were very hard for the art industry: "Now more than ever - the revival with the FAE is a very important sign this year, after large parts of the art trade were shut down", says gallery owner Heike Strelow.
LSTNR space becomes focal point of art weekend
Another component of the FAE are the Art Experience Talks. Here, actors and connoisseurs of the art world reflect and discuss the situation on the national and international art market as well as the structural changes that are currently emerging. The final talk is dedicated to the strong presence of the medium of photography in Frankfurt and the unique selling point that the city can claim for itself. Further topics of the talks are the crisis resistance of the art market, the role of the digital, the interaction of artists, art academies and galleries as well as art collecting. The talks will be moderated by Ina Lockart (F.A.Z.) and Silke Hohmann (Monopol and Artkaleidoscope). Personalities such as the photographer Barbara Klemm, the director of the Fotografieforum Celina Lunsford or Frankfurt gallery owners such as Peter Sillem and Heike Strelow are expected on the podium.
The LSTNR-Space offers exquisite premises for this, which also provide space for networking and further exchange. The makers of "The Listener" will show a preview of what the world will be able to experience here from 2021: Aesthetics, fashion, digital and retail enter into a novel liaison made in Frankfurt, which stands for culture, community, sustainability - and thus sees itself as a multidisciplinary and innovative hub, academy and experimental laboratory for contemporary living culture.
"FAE will have an even greater impact on the city"
The Art Experience Walks developed by Britta von Campenhausen will not be missing from the second FAE. These take interested participants* into galleries, off-spaces and to hidden, because private, collections, studios or art restorers and enable them to get to know a district through the lens of art. "For many, even those with an affinity for art, every district holds one surprise or another. We want to learn about the role of art sites in neighborhood identity," the art historian notes. In addition to these walks, the FAE offers an attractive range of e-bike tours and professional guided tours of the galleries. This is a versatile and truly surprising way to experience art in the city. The art historian once again emphasizes that it is worthwhile for anyone interested in art to take part in the Walks: "The quality and versatility of Frankfurt's galleries are captivating. It is worthwhile to have their stories, positions and artists told by our top guides."
Exhibition special "Time in Transition"
New this year is the Art Experience Showroom format. This uses the unique, raw space at the LSTNR Space to provide Frankfurt galleries with an innovative space. Entitled "Time in Transition", selected Frankfurt galleries will showcase works and artistic works with a focus on photography and moving image. "With its depth and surface area, the space provides an excellent backdrop for contemporary video art," promises video art collector Anita Beckers. The jury consisting of Celina Lunsford (Director Fotografieforum Frankfurt), Freddy Langer (F.A.Z.) and Luminita Sabau (former Director DZ Bank Fotosammlung) will announce the selection in early August.
You can find the Art Experience showroom centrally located in the city at Große Eschenheimer Str. 18, 60313 Frankfurt am Main
For all further info on The Frankfurt Art Experience, please visit: www.frankfurtexperience.art
