Paris Photo Opens at the Grand Palais After Art Basel Paris Closed Early Over Protests
Paris Photo opens to the public today, November 12, at the Grand Palais in Paris. The photography fair, now in its 29th edition, has 246 exhibitors, the galleries and publishers that rent stands to show and sell work. It runs until November 15, according to the fair's own website.
The opening comes after a rough few weeks for the city's art calendar. Art Basel Paris, the large contemporary art fair, was held in the same building in October. It was evacuated from the Grand Palais about three weeks before Paris Photo, and it closed two days earlier than planned. Organisers acted ahead of protests that had been planned for October 24, ARTnews reported.
The demonstrations are part of a wider wave of protest across France. They are aimed at the rising cost of living and at public schools that protesters say are under-funded. Paris Photo's director, Florence Bourgeois, told ARTnews that the demonstrations in Paris had been peaceful for two weeks and had taken place mostly in the east of the city. She said any decision about closing early would be based on protecting everyone's safety, and that safety came first.
Paris Photo has done this before. After the terror attacks in Paris in 2015, the fair closed early and refunded 20 percent of booth fees to exhibitors, even though it did not have adequate insurance for that situation at the time. A booth fee is the rent a gallery pays for its stand on the fair floor.
Art Basel has also offered its exhibitors a 20 percent discount on booth fees after its Paris edition closed early. Some dealers went back for the next event. German gallerist Thomas Zander showed at the shortened Art Basel Paris and returned to exhibit at Paris Photo.
There is plenty on the schedule beyond the stands. Révéler, a special display drawn from the photography collection of the Centre Pompidou in Paris, brings together about 100 works by nearly 30 artists. The Elles × Paris Photo programme, which highlights women artists, is organised with France's Ministry of Culture and curated by Aldeide Delgado. Anna Planas is the fair's artistic director.
On Tuesday evening, the Prix Pictet, a photography prize that focuses on sustainability, held a private VIP dinner as part of the fair.
For visitors, the practical question is simple. Paris Photo is open now through Sunday, November 15, and the Grand Palais is the place to go. Anyone planning a trip should check the fair's website for hours and any changes, since organisers have said that safety decisions can change quickly.
