黑料不打烊

Arte Fiera, the exhibition of modern and contemporary art held in Bologna in January each year, was launched in 1974, immediately after the international exhibitions in Cologne and Basle. Over the years it has become one of the most important events in the packed calendar of international contemporary art exhibitions, a calendar that during the last two decades of the last century saw increasingly close links develop between production and the art market. Originally the only art fair in Italy, Arte Fiera helped renew enthusiasm for art in a country that still showed little interest in contemporary artistic research. The event demonstrated an ability to highlight new developments in the Italian and international art scene and from the 1970s onwards became renowned for the high quality of the participating galleries. These included the major American galleries such as those of Leo Castelli and Ileana Sonnabend, John Weber and Sidney Janis, many of the leading European galleries such as Jan Krugier, Ronald Feldman, Galerie Maeght, Nigel Greenwood, and of course the Italian galleries such as the historic Neapolitan gallery of Lucio Amelio. Keen to offer a high-quality programme of artists and movements, right from the outset Arte Fiera presented the works of the leading figures in the avant-garde movements, from Pop Art to Arte Povera, from Conceptual to Transavanguardia, from Minimal to the return to painting and contemporary trends. At the same time it devoted continuous efforts to promoting young artists and the latest research, an aspect that has set it apart from other international shows. Suffice it to think of the space set up in 1978 devoted exclusively to young artists chosen by a critic and an avant-garde gallery owner, or the series of 鈥淯nder 35鈥� exhibitions that have been held since the late 1980s to present the works of young artists selected by young critics. In 2005 Arte Fiera changed its name to Arte Fiera Art First to highlight its dual nature as the first event in the annual calendar and the ideal venue for discovering the latest trends in the contemporary art scene with a focus on both established artists and the new generations. Arte Fiera has also given extensive coverage to the historic masters of the twentieth century, from the beginning of the century through to the 1950s, with a selection of paintings and sculptures of great interest not only for private collectors but also for art galleries. The halls of Arte Fiera, designed in the late 1960s by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange and subsequently by Leonardo Benevolo and Pier Luigi Cerri, have undergone gradual restyling of the exhibition spaces to make the show increasingly friendly to the growing numbers of visitors. In 2008 the new hall 15 joined the existing structures to create an exhibition itinerary on a single level. In 2004 Silvia Evangelisti was appointed Artistic Director of the exhibition after working as a consultant for the event since 1988. As a result of the extensive programme of cultural initiatives that have taken place over the various editions of the show, Arte Fiera has become not only the most important show both in Italy and internationally but also an extraordinary cultural event. Each year the exhibition centre hosts meetings with artists and other well-known figures, as well as conferences and study days addressing the most important and topical themes of contemporary art with the participation of personalities from the world of culture and politics. Recent editions have seen ever greater cooperation with the city of Bologna for the events held during Arte Fiera. These include: 鈥淏ologna Art First鈥�, which since 2005 has showcased contemporary art installations in buildings and outdoor spaces in the historic centre; 鈥淎rte Fiera Off鈥�, which since 2007 has hosted numerous art initiatives in public and private spaces both in the city and in other venues in the Emilia Romagna region; and last but not least since 2008 the extraordinary 鈥淎rt White Night鈥� which transforms the streets and squares of Bologna into a major contemporary art venue. Bologna, an old university city renowned for having one of the largest mediaeval town centres in Italy with old towers and buildings, churches and numerous works of art, welcomes Arte Fiera Art First visitors to enjoy its now famous hospitality.