DUSSELDORF.- Art Düsseldorf has two new strong global partners at its side in the preparations for its third edition (15-17 November 2019, Areal Böhler): the exhibition organisers Sandy Angus and Tim Etchells have taken over equal shares of the 25.1 per cent stake of MCH Group in art.fair International GmbH, organiser of Art Düsseldorf. As organisers of international art and photography fairs, they have a worldwide network at their disposal, which they will contribute to the strategic partnership with Art Düsseldorf.

With its shareholding acquired in February 2017, the MCH Group had accompanied Art Düsseldorf as a partner in its first two successful editions, but decided in autumn 2018 not to pursue its development of a portfolio of regional art fairs any further. In addition to his percentage of the MCH shares, Sandy Angus acquires a further 15 per cent – each in equal shares from Walter Gehlen, Director of Art Düsseldorf and Managing Director of art.fair International GmbH, and Andreas Lohaus, co-founder of art.fair International GmbH – in order to further expand his strategic role in the success of Art Düsseldorf. The remaining 59.9 per cent of the shares are equally owned by Walter Gehlen and Andreas Lohaus.

Sandy Angus and Tim Etchells jointly founded Art Hong Kong (now Art Basel Hong Kong) in 2008. Their current portfolio includes internationally successful art fairs such as Taipei Dangdai, India Art Fair, Art Central Hong Kong, PHOTOFAIRS | Shanghai and Sydney Contemporary. Founded in 1895 and now in its fifth generation, Sandy Angus' company Angus Montgomery, based in London, currently organises over 50 trade and public exhibitions in 15 countries. Angus Montgomery has more than 40 years of experience in the field of contemporary art and is the largest art fair organiser in Asia.

"We are delighted with our new cooperation with Sandy Angus and Tim Etchells", says Walter Gehlen, director of Art Düsseldorf. "Art Düsseldorf will benefit from their expertise. Not least because its strong international network of successful art fairs opens up new market potential for us and gives us the opportunity to reach out to the Asian-Pacific collector community. This partnership is a strategic alliance for Art Düsseldorf."

Sandy Angus also sees the great potential of the merger: "We acknowledge the potential for growth at Art Düsseldorf which we plan to enhance and add value to. In just two years, director Walter Gehlen and his team have established a very strong and successful fair and we look forward to supporting the Art Düsseldorf team with our experience and knowledge."

At Art Düsseldorf 2019, around 90 established and young, regional and international galleries will be showing post-war and contemporary art in an unusual location, the former steelworks Areal Böhler in Düsseldorf. With its third edition, the fair continues to develop as a platform for future generations of artists, gallery owners and collectors. Rsvp is a platform for galleries founded in the last ten years that show current works by young artists. With the third edition of the fair, the new format Collector's Private Tour will also be launched: experienced collectors will share their expertise in special guided tours with young collectors.