LONDON, ENGLAND.- After its acclaimed inaugural year in 2004, Art Fortnight London returns in June with a program of events aimed at high net worth international collectors and cultural travelers. Following important calendar events such as the Venice Biennale and Art Basel in Switzerland, Art Fortnight London is timed to coincide with the major summer sales at London’s auction houses, and the openings of new exhibitions at leading museums and institutions. It has organized a comprehensive and sophisticated cultural program for visitors to the capital, bringing the museums, auction houses, and a range of public and private galleries together to form a powerful cultural partnership. Art Fortnight London 2005 will open on June 20 with a gala celebration. Programs will last until July 4.

For 2005, Art Fortnight London has devised a program that reflects the offering of the major auction sales and the interests of their patrons. The first week will focus on Modern and Contemporary Art, while the second week will concentrate on Old Masters and pre-20th Century Art. With 70 commercial and studio galleries participating, the 2005 program will consist of gallery exhibitions, lectures, master classes, gallery trails, VIP events, parties, and films.

Program highlights:

MABA 2005: This exhibition showcases the best MA and BA 2005 graduates from British art schools. The artists included will have been seen previously only in the degree shows, and MABA 2005 will introduce collectors of all levels to their work.

Young Masters: This major exhibition will present a group of artists indicative of an important trend – the use of Old Master iconography in contemporary art. This development is emblematic of a return to painting and drawing on the part of young artists.

Both MABA 2005 and Young Masters will be curated by Flora Fairbairn and Catriona Warren, former editor of ArtReview.

Art Trails: These ticketed art trails provide access to some of London’s best-kept cultural secrets. Trails will include artist-led tours around contemporary artists’ studios, a collector trail with the Contemporary Art Society, and a tour visiting commercial galleries, dealers and institutions in the East End Square Mile (including the Whitechapel and Chisenhale). There will also be themed trails such as “Hogarth’s London: Satire and Enlightenment” (including a visit to the Sir John Soane’s Museum), and a Baroque Trail led by an expert, ending at Bonhams for a ‘Collecting Baroque’ lecture.

Art + Interior: Four master classes, ticketed and open to all, will be hosted by different international contemporary interior designers including Nina Campbell, who will demonstrate their use of art in interior spaces. Caroline Clifton-Mogg, Contributing Editor of House & Garden, will moderate the events.

ARTPROJX: Artprojx and Art Fortnight London collaborate again for 2005, presenting two public screenings. The first is 9 Drawings for projection – a compilation of films by William Kentridge, transformed into a live performance by composer Philip Miller and the Sontonga Quartet. The second screening will present a selection of videos that have explicit affinities with Old Masters; the continuation of an important narrative in this year’s program.

VIP program: Art Fortnight London has devised a unique program for VIPs. There are tailor-made programs for four collector groups, two for each week. Events will include visits to artists’ studios, gallery tours with directors and curators, exclusive dinners and many other one-off events. In addition to this, 400 VIPs from International Museum Friend groups, collectors and members of our partners, British Luxury Club, will have access to benefits including priority bookings, pre-opening hour gallery viewings and breakfasts, the VIP clubroom, and an art concierge service.

British Luxury Club: Art Fortnight London is working with the British Luxury Club, providing an Art Club service to their members and presenting one-off events year-round, in partnership with participating galleries and institutions.

Participating Galleries: The 70 participating commercial galleries will be holding special exhibitions during Art Fortnight London and hosting special events, tours and viewings. Grouped by area, the galleries will be visited by dedicated VIP tours and will host joint events, such as the Cork Street Block Party. This year, a new gallery launch forms part of the program, with Martin Summers Fine Art Ltd opening new premises at Studio 54, Glebe Place, SW3.

Other program highlights will include the Opening Party for over 400 guests at Tate Britain, a Gala Dinner at The National Gallery, and a series of lectures at Bonhams.

Further details of the program – including many further events – will be announced over the coming weeks and may be found on www.artfortnightlondon.com.

Art Fortnight London publishes The Art Book – an invaluable reference guide to the events, participants and the wider art market. It will include essays by Martin Postle, Richard Cork and the artists Idris Khan and a limited edition London gallery map by renowned artist Adam Dant, commissioned specially by Art Fortnight London.