Top tips for exhibiting with Affordable Art Fair

Alan Koh – Fair Director, Singapore

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and check out what each Affordable Art Fair offers. Do your research, ask yourself why you attend art fairs, and how it can help your business or artists’ careers, and in which location. Ask us for booth photos to have a feel of how the fairs look. Keep an open mind.

There are more than just sales in exhibiting at Affordable Art Fair. You expand your client base, extend your network and get inspired sharing experiences with other exhibitors on how they make their business a success.

Maria del Mar García – Gallerist, Artcode

It’s helpful to know about the demographics of the area you are exhibiting in – some of the Affordable Art Fair teams send this in advance, read it! It makes a difference.

If you know beforehand who is coming to the fair, you can plan which stock to bring, what sort of work to ask your artists for. In London, homes are often bigger than in New York, where there is less space – so bigger pieces are better placed in London, for example.

The information sent by Affordable Art Fair beforehand is always very reflective of the art buyers I’ve met in the fair, so it was really useful information.

Erin Schuppert – Fair Director, US

It can seem challenging to make your booth stand out from the others at Affordable Art Fair, but with cohesive curation and inviting design, you are sure to draw in visitors.

Our teams are experts in local art markets, and we know what’s attractive to our city’s audiences – so use our knowledge as a resource and share a booth mockup or plans for your presentation in the weeks leading up to the event so you can produce the most successful display.

Antoine Gaussin – Gallerist, Visus Gallerie

I would say genuinely believing in your artists, their work and what you do with them is really important. I think you need to have the will to really promote them, and if you are authentic in your statement, people feel that. If they feel the passion, you have more power to make the sales! And make sure you bring enough stock!

Blythe Bolton – Fair Director, Amsterdam and Brussels

My top tip for a first time exhibitor would be: ask questions. Curiosity, for me, is the most important attitude to bring to Affordable Art Fair. Every gallerist remembers how intimidating their first art fair experience was so don’t be shy to ask fellow exhibitors and our fair team for advice.

A successful Affordable Art Fair is a collaboration where we all play a vital role in creating an amazing experience, not only for our visitors, but for our colleagues. It’s a cliché, but sharing really is caring!

Jeroen Krak – Gallerist, Gallery40NL

As a gallerist, you have to decide for yourself what you want to get out of your time with Affordable Art Fair. If you want to be there for the exposure, you make a whole different decision compared to if it is only for sales: deciding whether you want to have a nice presentation, or whether you want to hang your whole stand.

You have to stay close to your values as a gallerist. Stay close to what you feel is important, and do what you feel is best for you. Then, find out how Affordable Art Fair visitors respond to what you are doing. That’s the best way of discovering whether any fair is good for you!

Hugo Barclay – Fair Director, UK

Have a conversation with our team about how to plan and curate your stand. Send stand photos and we can advise you – we’re here to help you have a great Affordable Art Fair.

The manual is also there as a playbook to help you get set up, but always get in touch with us if you have any questions.