The second annual Art Book Fair is slated to take place May 23-24 in the Chelsea district of Manhattan.
Organized by the International Art Book Publishers Association and the Antique Collectors Club, a publisher and distributor of art books, last year's inaugural fair was considered a success, drawing between 800 and 900 attendees -- museum buyers, category buyers and arts dealers among them. Dan Farrell, general manager of the Antique Collectors Club, told PW that about 700 people have registered for this year's fair so far and all 56 booths (10,000 sq. ft.) have sold out. Next year, the fair will move to a larger exhibition space (15,000 sq. ft.) in the same facility, the Metropolitan Pavilion on W. 19th St.
"BEA was so early that some European publishers [couldn't] stick around," said Farrell, "but there will be other overseas publishers, and there is definitely an increase in interest from online retailers" -- such as Amazon.com, B&N.com and ArtNet. com, the art commentary and auction Web site. For more information call Karen Lunstead at (800) 252-5231, ext. 104.
