Art Basel Paris shut its doors two days early, with organizers pointing to mass demonstrations planned across France for the weekend. The fifth edition of the fair, which opened Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Grand Palais, closed at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, and stayed dark Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25.
The Art Basel Paris early closure came less than a week after a weekend of riots and looting eclipsed nationwide protests over living costs and conditions in French schools, The Art Newspaper reported. At least 2,700 people were arrested across France, according to the BBC.
Why Art Basel Paris Closed Early
Organizers put safety first in explaining the decision. In an email to VIP guests co-signed by Art Basel Paris director Karim Crippa, fair management wrote: “We deeply regret that we will not be able to welcome you over the weekend and recognise the disruption this may cause to your plans. This decision has not been taken lightly, and the safety of everyone involved in the fair remains our utmost priority.”
The fair itself had also drawn the protesters’ attention. ArtReview reported that social media accounts were urging supporters to rally against Art Basel, and Hyperallergic described a protest flyer that attacked the “privatization of culture.”
The same day the fair announced its decision, President Emmanuel Macron said only union-organized demonstrations would be allowed to go ahead on Saturday, a crackdown following the previous weekend’s violence.
What The Fair Looked Like Before The Shutdown
Until the announcement, Art Basel Paris ran largely as planned, though behind extra security that included anti-ram barriers around the Grand Palais. The fair opened with Avant Première, an invitation-only preview for top collectors held from 3 to 7 p.m. on opening day. The format made its debut at last year’s fourth edition.
Sales moved quickly during the preview days. White Cube counted Julie Mehretu’s 2001 painting “Rise of the New Suprematists,” priced at $7.8 million, among its early results, an indication of the high-value works on offer at this year’s edition.
Background On The Unrest
The protests began with anger over school conditions and grew into a broader revolt over the cost of living. Authorities estimated about 550,000 people marched across France on Oct. 17, The Associated Press reported, before masked groups set fires and looted shops on the fringes of the demonstrations.
What Happened Next
Art Basel Paris did not reopen for the weekend, and it wasn’t the only cultural casualty. The Louvre and several other major Paris museums also closed Saturday amid concerns about the planned protests, the AP reported. Readers following the broader Paris art scene can also catch up on Large, the new contemporary art center on Ile Seguin, and shifting fair dynamics in pieces on Frieze Masters’ expanding focus and Gen Z collector spending trends.
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