MIAMI, FL.-«Art Basel Conversations» is a forum organized by Art Basel Miami Beach in collaboration with Bvlgari. The event is held during Art Basel in Switzerland every June and during Art Basel Miami Beach in the United States every December. The coming program consists of a series of thematic panel discussions based around the subjects of «Art Collecting and Philanthropy», «The Future of the American Museum», and «Museum Architecture». Leading art world personalities, including Robert Rauschenberg, David Rockefeller, Eli Broad, Kathy Halbreich, Chris Burden, Patricia Phelps Cisneros, Ned Rifkin, and many others, will be participating as panelists and then meeting with the audience. This initiative reflects the commitment of Art Basel and Bvlgari to enhancing the exchange of ideas in the art world.

Fostering direct encounters with leading lights of the art world, «Art Basel Conversations» offers privileged access to first-hand information on aspects of collecting and exhibiting art. «Art Basel Conversations» is a forum encouraging the exchange of ideas by means of panel discussions and personal contact with the panelists. Participants include pro-minent artists, art collectors, and museum directors. Discussing their current and forthcoming projects, and reflecting on their experiences and the challenges they face, they will provide an insider’s view of the art scene.
«Art Basel Conversations» is an open platform for dynamic and inspiring dialogue.

The «Art Basel Conversations» forum celebrates its premiere at Art Basel Miami Beach on December 1, 2005, with an evening event for invited guests at the Dupont Building in Miami honoring distinguished American artist Robert Rauschenberg, followed by a private concert by American singer and guitarist Arto Lindsay.

From Friday, December 2, through Sunday, December 4, there will be «Art Basel Conversations» every day between 10 and 11.30 a.m. at the Bvlgari pavilion in the Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive. The events are public. Admission is free.

On Friday, December 2, David Rockefeller (collector, philanthropist, New York), Eli Broad (collector, philanthropist, The Broad Art Foundation, Santa Monica, CA), Patricia Phelps Cisneros (collector, philanthropist, Fundación Cisneros, Caracas, Venezuela), and Howard Rachofsky (collector, Howard Rachofsky Collection, Dallas, TX) will be discussing the philanthropic aspect of art collecting. The panel will be hosted by Richard Flood (Chief Curator, New Museum, New York). The questions they will be addressing include: How can collecting become a philanthropic activity? How closely is your work as a philanthropist related to your life as a collector? How do you choose the art you wish to support? What are the checks and balances of philanthropy and collecting? What do you hope will be the heritage you will leave to future generations?

The Art Basel Conversation of Saturday, December 3, is devoted to the future of the museum – the American museum. How can museums balance their traditional art-oriented mission with market imperatives? Does collecting culturally significant objects coincide with the imperative of making art accessible to a general audience? What will be the primary goals of the museum in the next ten years? How do museums measure success? How do curators and museum directors define their roles while balancing budgets, the quality of collections, and the museum-going experience? What will be the role of the local museum in a complex pluralist and global society? The panelists are Michael Brand (Director, J. Paul Getty Museum), Mimi Gardner Gates (Illsley Ball Nordstrom Director, Seattle Art Museum), Thelma Golden (Director & Chief Curator, Studio Museum Harlem, New York), Kathy Halbreich (Director of the Walker Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN), Jill Medvedow (James Sachs Plaut Director of the ICA, Boston), and Ned Rifkin (Under Secretary for Art, Washington, D.C.). Conversation hosts: Hans Ulrich Obrist (Curator, Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris) and James Rondeau (Frances and Thomas Ditmer Curator of Contemporary Art, Department of Contemporary Art, the Art Institute of Chicago).

On Sunday, December 4, the discussion will revolve around «Architecture for Art: Museum Architecture». What are the most challenging architectural configurations for an artist to work with? How should the issue of museum architecture and the art experience be weighed? How does museum architecture affect the relationship between art and the observer? What can artists do to influence architects and museum directors in their building choices? What are the most ideal examples of museum architecture and activity? On the panel: Doug Aitken (artist, Los Angeles), Stefano Boeri (Editor-in-Chief Domus Magazine, Milan, Italy), Chris Burden (artist, Los Angeles, New York), and Kutlug Ataman (artist, Istanbul, Turkey). Panel host: Terence Riley (Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design, Museum of Modern Art, New York)

A comprehensive catalog published to accompany «Art Basel Conversations» contains the texts of all the panel discussions held during Art 36 Basel in June 2005 plus biographies of all the participants and further useful information. Visitors to «Art Basel Conversations» will receive a complimentary copy of the publication.