Contemporary Istanbul new fair: Huge 21st-edition reveal

The Contemporary Istanbul new fair is in the works, founder Ali Güreli said after the art fair’s 21st edition wrapped at Tersane Istanbul, the Ottoman-era shipyard on the Golden Horn, according to The Art Newspaper. Güreli plans to launch a second fair on the city’s Asian side.

Contemporary Istanbul new fair targets Asia

Güreli did not give a location, date or scale for the new event, The Art Newspaper reported. He pointed to Asia’s momentum, saying cities such as Mumbai, Shenzhen, Beijing and Seoul are investing heavily in art and culture.

That focus ran through this year’s fair, which closed Sept. 27 with about 70 galleries. The Dialogues programming centered on Asia, and exhibitors included Pearl Lam Projects of Hong Kong, Whitestone Gallery of Tokyo and Seoul, Method Gallery of New Delhi and Silk Art House Gallery of Singapore.

What comes next

The Contemporary Istanbul new fair has no timeline, but the original event will return in 2027 during the same week as the 19th Istanbul Biennial, the newspaper reported.

Güreli is also talking with Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism about art tax reform modeled on Italy’s 5 percent rate on art acquisitions. “We need incentives to encourage corporations to collect art,” he said.

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