Image: Hugo Michell Gallery at Melbourne Art Fair 2018, featuring works by Paul Yore.
As the first principal partner in the Fair's 30-year history and inspired by a progressive governing vision, Bennelong will support the Fair in delivering its most curatorially rigorous and diverse program to date. The 2022 edition, from 17-20 February, features world-class solo presentations and works of scale and significance from 59 leading contemporary galleries and Indigenous-owned Art Centres.
Recently announced as Australasia’s most sustainable art fair, Melbourne Art Fair’s ethos aligns with the investment firm’s commitment to support exemplary community and environmentally-minded initiatives across the arts, culture and wellbeing spheres.
Bennelong is an award-winning company that is recognised and respected for partnering with high performance boutiques to deliver exceptional outcomes for investors across the globe.
Craig Bingham, Bennelong’s CEO, said the company was delighted to be supporting the arts sector after such a tough couple of years. “Visual arts are a critical part of Australia’s culture and identity, and we look forward to being part of a successful return to public exhibitions. The Fair showcases individuality, resilience and innovation – characteristics we champion at Bennelong – and our own love of the arts meant the partnership was a natural choice.”
Bennelong will also support a $10,000 commission awarded to an artist from one of the Fair’s participating Indigenous-owned art centres, with the completed work to be gifted to a national collecting institution as a major show of support for the visual art sector.
Newly appointed incoming Melbourne Art Foundation Chair, Peter Jopling AM QC, says, “The support of Bennelong Funds Management reflects Melbourne Art Fair’s elevation to a Fair of international standard, where financial services and private wealth management are affiliated with art fair giants around the world. We are thrilled to welcome Bennelong as Principal Partner, a recognised and respected firm with strong Australian roots and a demonstrated commitment to the arts.”
Maree Di Pasquale, CEO and Fair Director agrees, “We are delighted to build a meaningful partnership with Bennelong, a firm that echoes our values for social and environmental sustainability in the arts and beyond. With the firm’s support, Melbourne Art Fair will continue its relentless advocacy of living artists and its investment in the growth of the commercial art sector in a post-pandemic world.”
In 2022, Melbourne Art Fair partners with BetaCarbon to break new ground in carbon emission reduction for the artworld. Motivated by the global climate emergency, Melbourne Art Fair has committed to the offset of at least 300 tonnes of carbon, equivalent to the carbon captured by 18,000 trees in 10 years. Coupled with the Fair’s move to the Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre (MCEC), a leading sustainable event destination, and an investment in reusable exhibition walling and LED lights, Melbourne Art Fair is now proudly Australasia’s most sustainable art fair.
The partnership announcement comes at the ideal time for Melbourne Art Fair, with ticket sales recently opening, and artists and art-lovers across the region excited to reconnect in 2022 through its dynamic program.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit https://melbourneartfair.com.au/visitor-information/tickets/
