ARCOmadrid_2011, the art fair organised by IFEMA, opens its doors on its 30th edition this Wednesday 16th February and runs until Sunday 20th. The fair debuts a revamped programme and special activities to celebrate its first thirty years. The core content of the fair is provided by the 197 galleries from 26 countries.

ARCOmadrid_2011
International Contemporary Art Fair
16th - 20th February 2011

Art Programme at ARCOmadrid
The fair revolves around its core GENERAL PROGRAMME, a section featuring international galleries selected by the fair's Organising Committee. A total of 117 galleries will be showing work ranging from the historical avant-gardes and contemporary classics to the art of today. They will be joined by another 39 galleries in the ARCO 40 subsection in which galleries present recent work by a maximum of three artists. Highlights in these sections are a hanging sculpture by Olafur Eliasson at Galeria Elvira Gonzales, Madrid (85.000 Euros) and the solo-presentation of works by Hans-Peter Feldmann at Mehdi Chouakri, Berlin. Galerie Eigen + Art, Leipzig/Berlin shows exceptional new works by Neue Leipziger Schule artists and beyond: Neo Rauch ("Nachttankstelle", 2010, ca. 480.000 Euros) and David Schnell ("Rot", 2011, 120.000 Euros) among others. Gallery TaiK, Berlin, participating in ARCOmadrid since many years, showcases outstanding photography by the Helsinki School artists Ola Kolehmainen ("Alchemy", 2010, 11.000 Euros) and Tiina Itkonen among others. Antonio Lopez's painting "Vista de Madrid desde Torres Blancas", which achieved 1,74 Mio. Euro in an auction at Christie's in 2008, can be viewed at the booth of Marlborough Gallery alongside with works by Fernando Bottero and Francis Bacon.

8 Russian galleries have been selected by Daria Pyrkina for the FOCUS RUSSIA programme. For the first time, these galleries will be strategically mixed in with the rest of the galleries in the exhibition halls in order to encourage greater interaction within a professional framework. Another of the introductions for this year is the section SOLO PROJECTS: FOCUS LATIN AMERICA, open to emerging Latin American artists. This revamped section showcases 14 galleries chosen by the Brazilian freelance curator Luisa Duarte; the associate curator at Museo Tamayo, Mexico City, Daniela Perez and Julieta Gonzalez, associate curator of Latin American Art at Tate Modern, London.

Another noteworthy new initiative this year is the OPENING: NEW EUROPEAN GALLERIES programme, inviting 19 new galleries from various countries in Europe which have been open for less than 8 years. This selection for ARCOmadrid_2011 is coordinated by the freelance curator and gallerist Maribel Lopez.

Meeting Point for the art world
Over these thirty years the fair has consolidated its reputation as an annual meeting for art world players from around the globe. The Forum this year is centred on Russia, with a series of panels chaired by Daria Pyrkina, and others on Collecting, chaired by Rosa Martinez, director of the 51st Venice Biennale. Furthermore, there are six Professional Encounters with the participation of Chus Martinez, chief curator at MACBA Barcelona; and many other renowned figures from the professional art world.

New: Digital Communication
A notable feature is the increase in digital communication, particularly the launch of a free app for smartphones and tablets. The app, together with the on-line catalogue, available on www.arco.ifema.es, helps to plan the visit to the fair and gives a chance to see the works of each gallery booth, among other features.

Further information and images for download: http://www.goldmannpr.de/arcomadrid/
Press kit and floor plan: http://www.ifema.es/ferias/arco/default_i.html