12–15th October 2007

Royal Academy of Arts
6 Burlington Gardens
London W1S 3EX

www.zooartfair.com

28 September 2007

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The Swiss Cultural Fund in Britain (SCFB) is supporting the Swiss exhibitors participating in this year’s Zoo Art Fair. The collaboration between the Fair and the SCFB began with a research trip to Switzerland and has culminated in support for five Swiss galleries through the SCFB’s contribution towards the cost of their stands.

Platforms such as Zoo Art Fair can be significant for emerging arts organisations, not just for the sales that take place, which are essential to financial survival, but also for the contact they allow with key professionals such as museums, curators, critics and collectors from a wide and international audience. Any sponsorship they receive towards their involvement can be hugely beneficial in the early stages of their careers and those of their artists.

The Embassy of Switzerland launched the SCFB fifteen years ago with members of the Swiss arts and business community in London in order to support the Embassy’s cultural programme. It is now a well-established public-private platform promoting Swiss cultural events in the UK, nurturing young talent and promoting outstanding artists from Switzerland. More recently, the SCFB has begun to support high-profile projects with established artists and offers direct involvement to potential supporters and benefactors.


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Zoo Art Fair Swiss Exhibitors 2007

annex14, Bern

Michal Budny, 'Komposition', 2006, Courtesy annex14, Berlin

Opened: 2004
The gallery’s programme focuses on contemporary positions with a particular interest in artists who explore topical issues in today's art and society. Since the beginning we have also been interested essentially in conceptual and post-conceptual strategies and in encouraging a dialogue between the first generation of conceptual artists and the upcoming generation.

ARQUEBUSE, Geneva

Nick Laessing, 'Harmonograph (ARQUEBUSE)', 2007, Courtesy ARQUEBUSE, Geneva

Opened: September 2006
ARQUEBUSE aims to provide a platform for internationally emerging artists and contemporary culture in Geneva. The primary role of the gallery is to represent a core group of international artists within a framework of ambitious solo exhibitions and installations. Further to the main ground floor gallery space, the basement space ‘La Cabine’ functions as a laboratory for more experimental programming and increasing collaboration with the upcoming generation of emerging Swiss artists

ausstellungsraum25, Zürich
 
David Renggli, 'Ab welchem Alter wirken Selbstgesprächeeigentlich komisch?', 2005, Courtesy ausstellungsraum25, Zürich

Opened: 2002
ausstellungsraum25 was founded as a young independent art-space by Meta Kenworthy-Ball and Diego Vetter. Situated in the heart of the Zurich gallery district, its programme today concentrates on young, international and especially Swiss contemporary art and photography. Its special focus lies in finding new and innovative forms of artistic expression which represent new tendencies and developments in art today. ausstellungsraum25 has made its name through supporting young emerging artists at an early stage, now representing a body of outstanding artistic positions and enjoying collaboration with numerous art institutions and galleries worldwide.

Freymond-Guth & Co Fine Arts, Zürich
 
Discoteca Flaming Star, 'Black Banner', 2003, Courtesy Freymond-Guth & Co Fine Arts, Zürich

Opened: Spring 2006
Freymond-Guth & Co. is an artist-initiated gallery that evolved from the creative environment of the Zurich non-profit project space Les Complices in Spring 2006. Its interest is in taking responsibility for art not only artistically, but with the formation of an innovative gallery structure, and also commercially. Rather than only displaying exhibitions in a fixed space, an initial concept has been formalised to maintain collaborative practices with other young galleries and spaces.

Laurin, Zürich
 
Hadrien Dussoix, 'Had RIEN', 2007, Courtesy Laurin, Zürich

Opened: November 2003
The programme focuses on exchanges between young Swiss and international artists with a strong conceptual approach working in different media. The gallery’s work is closely connected with the artistic processes of production and thus strives to achieve a high level of mediation of art. The gallery also helps to produce space filling, temporary installations and projects in close cooperation with the artist.

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Editor's Notes

About Zoo Art Fair

The fourth Zoo Art Fair will be held from 12-15 October at 6 Burlington Gardens in central London. One of the foremost international platforms for emerging contemporary art talent, the Fair showcases under 6 year-old commercial and
non-commercial arts organisations. Exhibitors include galleries, project spaces, artist collectives, curatorial groups and publications.

Zoo Art Fair is a non-profit enterprise supported by the generous sponsorship of established collectors, galleries, brands and arts businesses as well as public funding including Arts Council England.

For collectors, curators, critics, dealers, artists and art enthusiasts, Zoo Art Fair remains a considered introduction to the next generation of art professionals.

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SCFB events 6-19 October 2007: