Paris African Art Fair Cancels Debut Edition Following Terror Attacks and Security Concerns
The inaugural Also Known as Africa fair, dedicated to contemporary African art and design, has been called off. Originally set to launch on December 3, 2015 in Paris, the cancellation follows the November 13 Paris attacks that killed 130 people and a subsequent hotel assault in Bamako, Mali. Fair director Victoria Mann cited heightened security measures across France, the lockdown in Brussels, and a pessimistic economic climate as contributing factors. Several galleries withdrew their participation, prompting organizers to postpone the event's debut until 2016. The decision was reported by The Art Newspaper on November 26, 2015.
Key facts
- The Also Known as Africa fair's first edition was cancelled
- The fair was scheduled to open on December 3, 2015 in Paris
- The cancellation followed the November 13 Paris attacks that killed 130 people
- A subsequent attack occurred at a hotel in Bamako, Mali
- Fair director Victoria Mann made a statement about the cancellation
- Heightened security in France and Brussels lockdown were cited as reasons
- A bleak economic outlook contributed to galleries pulling out
- The fair's inauguration was postponed to 2016
Entities
Institutions
- Also Known as Africa
- The Art Newspaper
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Bamako
- Mali
- Brussels