[Nettime-bold] ARTS and the STATES at WAR

Art Basel Miami Beach postponed

The premiere of Art Basel Miami Beach will be postponed for one year.
The current situation in the United States forces the Show Management
to refrain from carrying out the International Art Show, which was
scheduled to take place from December 13 - 16, 2001, in Miami Beach.
It will now take place from December 5 - 8, 2002.

The Show Management of Art Basel Miami Beach, together with the
Selection Committee, decided that the premiere of Art Basel Miami Beach
must be postponed for one year until December 5 8, 2002. The reason for
this is the unpredictable prolongation of the unsafe circumstances in
the U.S. since the September 11 terrorist attacks, warnings of potential
attacks in the future, the anthrax incidents, and the state of war. The
related dangers and increased difficulties in air travel as well as goods
traffic and insurance render it impossible to stage the international top
event in Miami Beach this coming December.

The Show Management sincerely regrets having to postpone the highly
successfully initiated event six weeks before its realization. However,
responsibility and concern regarding the safety and wellbeing of clients
and partners from around the globe (exhibitors, visitors, sponsors, media
representatives and cultural institutions) compelled the Show Management
to take this measure.

Over 150 of the world's leading galleries as well as about 50 art journals
and cultural institutions were confirmed to participate in the first Art
Basel Miami Beach. They had expressed increasing concern in the course of
the Show Management's daily contact with its supporters. Although to date
only five galleries have withdrawn their registration, the Show Management
has received individual and group letters from numerous leading galleries
from different parts of the world requesting the postponement of the art
show.

The Show Management takes the concerns of its exhibitors and supporters
seriously and is convinced that the postponement is in the best interest of
galleries, collectors and art friends alike. The Show Management thanks all
those involved for their trust, hard work and for the preparation work
implemented to date. It will never the less provide a special local visitor
service for guests choosing to travel to Miami Beach from December 13 - 16,
2001.

The required postponement of Art Basel Miami Beach has financial
repercussions for Swiss Exhibition, the organizing company, which anticipates
a loss of around 4 million U.S. dollars.

Media contacts:
Art Basel Miami Beach, P.O. Box, CH-4021 Basel, Peter Vetsch,
Tel. +41 58 206 27 06, Fax +41 58 206 31 30, peter.vetsch@ArtBasel.com,
http://www.ArtBasel.com