TEFAF Showcase provides talented younger dealers with an important opportunity to exhibit at TEFAF Maastricht, the world’s most influential art and antiques fair.

Candidates are invited to apply to take part in TEFAF Showcase at the 24th edition of the Fair, which will take place from March 18 to 27, 2011 in the MECC (Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre) in the south of the Netherlands.

TEFAF Showcase was started three years ago to give recently established galleries the opportunity to participate in TEFAF (The European Fine Art Fair) on a one-off basis and to gain experience of being part of an international fine art event. The pre-eminence of TEFAF among international art fairs has led to a long waiting list for potential exhibitors and TEFAF Showcase enables some of those keen to take part to do so for one year. It also introduces visitors to the Fair to some of the most interesting emerging galleries from around the world.

Applications for TEFAF Showcase must be submitted by October 20, 2010 at the latest and must be done online at www.tefaf.com (go to Showcase). Applications sent by post or fax will not be accepted. An international committee composed of TEFAF members and independent art specialists will select seven participants for TEFAF Showcase in 2011.

The conditions for applicants are:

-          The gallery or dealer should be operating at a high level in their field.

-          The gallery or dealer should have international standing.

-          The gallery or dealer must have been in business for at least three but no more than ten years.

-          All works of art to be exhibited will be pre-vetted.

Successful applicants will be allocated small, uniform stands in a special pavilion inside the Fair.

Since 2008, 20 dealers have taken up the challenge of exhibiting in TEFAF Showcase and all have found it to be a positive experience that has helped to raise their profile further.

Emanuel von Baeyer, the London-based drawings and prints dealer, was one of the first to take part. He says: “Showcase exposed me to a wider audience and I received positive reactions from various sources. TEFAF is the definitive meeting point for most disciplines in the art trade and Showcase is helping the Fair to continue its dynamic growth.”