SHANGHAI.- The World Photography Organisation and Montgomery announced the inaugural edition of Photo Shanghai, the first international art fair dedicated to photography in China. It will run from 5-7 September at the landmark Shanghai Exhibition Centre.

The fair, which will be directed by Alexander Montague-Sparey (previously Director, Head of Photograph Department, Christie’s London) has been created in direct response to the increasing demand by audiences from across Asia-Pacific, and beyond, to discover accessible and collectable photography. Galleries from across the world now have a unique platform in China and the opportunity to establish and extend their network of buyers in the Asia-Pacific region.

With its mass appeal, photography is perhaps the most prolific artistic medium of our era and is rapidly expanding. The Chinese art market is particularly buoyant with a 31% increase in 2013 and an increasingly stable and loyal collector base. As Jeffrey Boloten, Co-Founder & Managing Director of ArtInsight Ltd comments: “With the intense infrastructure developments continuing apace; a major governmental cultural industry focus and museum building drive, Sotheby's and Christie's as new entrants to the auction market, and the Basel Art Fair now a formidable presence in Hong Kong, the Chinese art market is absolutely heading in a positive direction for the future.”

Fair Director Alexander Montague-Sparey, who has worked with some of the biggest collectors and dealers in the photography field and created new auction markets for contemporary photographs, comments: “Photography, art fairs and China are three of the most dynamic opportunities in the art world today. It is therefore an honour to direct the first edition of Photo Shanghai. I am thrilled to bring 19th Century, vintage, emerging and established contemporary photography of the highest calibre into the fastest-growing economic region in the world.

“The need for such a fair is reflected in the enthusiasm and commitment we have received early on from some of the best international galleries in the field, such as ATLAS Gallery, CAMERA WORK, Danziger Gallery, Fahey/Klein, Magnum Photo, M97 and Vanguard Gallery. This highly curated and elegant fair is set to create a new benchmark for photography in the Asia Pacific region and adds an important date to the art world calendar.”

Commenting on their involvement David Fahey, Owner of the Fahey/Klein Gallery, Los Angeles says: “We have been watching with interest the many talented photographers coming out of China and the growth in interest of the Chinese community in collecting photography. Shanghai is clearly one of the most vibrant and high energy cities in the world and the perfect locale to host this new fair.”

To this James Danziger, founder of the Danziger Gallery, New York adds: "With the phenomenal global growth of interest in photography and the burgeoning photography scene in China, Photo Shanghai promises to be the most exciting new art fair of the year.”

Sandy Angus, co-founder of ART HK (now Art Basel Hong Kong) and Chairman of Montgomery and the World Photography Organisation comments: “The vast Asian art market has seen considerable growth over the past decade and in that time photography has been an ever-increasing part within the contemporary art space. China has the advantage of a treasure trove of ancient photographs as well as an appreciation of the medium of photography and its place in the art world. Photo Shanghai has the opportunity to draw on this interest amongst both Chinese and Asia-Pacific collectors.”

Photo Shanghai is supported and advised by a board of international industry professionals including: Wang Huangsheng, Director, CAFA Art Museum, Beijing; Christopher Phillips, Curator, New York; Francis Hodgson, UK,Financial Times Photo Critic and co-founder of the Prix Pictet; Lise Li, Founder and Owner, Vanguard Gallery, Shanghai; Philip Dodd, Director, Made in China;Jeffrey Boloten, UK, Co-Founder & Managing Director of ArtInsight Ltd; W.M – Bill – Hunt, US, Photography Consultant & Collector and Zelda Cheatle, Portfolio Manager & Curator, UK.

Application forms for the fair can be downloaded from http://www.photoshanghai.org/exhibitors/application/