BERLIN.- After Preview Berlin – The Emerging Art Fair was successfully held in Hangar2 for the past two years, the fair will, this year, be held in the former airport’s main hall. Moving away from the classic fair concept, the organizers are, this year, aiming more for an exhibition format whereby there will be no typical fair constructions. This is in response to the special features of the heritage protected main hall of the former airport and also time limits due to another event which is being held in the same location in the run up to the fair. Their idea is to bring together projects which can be exhibited without partition walls and which, therefore, come primarily from the fields of sculpture, installation, performance or video. Furthermore, an exciting challenge will also be the possible artistic discourse with the historic setting.

As in previous years, a jury will select the participants from the submitted concepts and project suggestions. The development and placement of the individual projects will, this year, also be organised by a curator, the aim being a more intensive collaboration between participants and organisers. This change in concept offers both the participating galleries and Preview Berlin very different opportunities and forms of experimentation and presentation.

As production costs will be significantly lower this year, Preview Berlin 2009 will be able to reduce the participant fee. The cost, this year, will be 2,600 euros plus VAT for a solo presentation / 4,000 euros plus VAT for two artistic positions. Presentation space available for the galleries and project spaces depends on the size of the artworks. Despite this price adjustment, Preview Berlin will still offer participants and visitors the important infrastructure such as organisation, safety and PR. With special evening events, we are also continuing the fair’s party tradition, which lives, not least, from the great appeal of the location.

This year there will also be a greater focus on the exchange between gallery owners, collectors, curators and art lovers. It is planned that there will be a communication platform, alongside the exhibition/fair area, which will offer various opportunities for discourse such as talks, presentations and guided tours. Preview Berlin 2009 will also be more consolidated and concentrated this year due to the shorter fair duration. This year the fair will be held from 25 - 27 September 2009; the opening will be on 24 September 2009. Application deadline is May 29, 2009.