BRAFA Art Fair 2016

To start the new year with an exceptional event, on 28 January, ENCATC’s invited guests discovered the 61st BRAFA Art Fair – one of the leading European art and antiques fairs. This gathering brought together 80 participants to learn, network and set up connections with colleagues based in Brussels and beyond against the backdrop of the BRAFA, the leading European art and antiques fairs. 

The evening included a presentation about the Brafa and its place in today’s art market by researcher and expert, Denis Maksimov, who afterwards gave a guided visit.

This invitation only event is designed for arts and cultural networks based in Brussels, Belgian arts and cultural organisations, MEP, EU civil servants, representatives of Regions, Institutes of culture, etc.

Our speaker, Denis Maksimov, aesthetico-political theorist, critic and strategist introduce to our guests to the notion of 'the art world', and gave a dynamic talk with the aim to foster reflection on the importance of questioning narratives in art history and contemporary art, the actuality of connoisseurship and expertise, and the strategies of collecting art.

“This is now the 3rd time ENCATC has partnered with the BRAFA to organise a Cultural Happy Hour event. It is a strong partnership that results in ENCATC’s Cultural Happy Hour guests learning more about this major European art fair, discovering major art and antique players, and of course networking in a setting that incites curiosity and inspiration with more 137 galleries from both Belgium and abroad,” said ENCATC Secretary General, GiannaLia Cogliandro Beyens.

First launched in 2013,  the ENCATC Cultural Happy Hours aim to: 

• Catalyse international partnerships, cross sectorial exchanges, collaborations and knowledge transfer among networks and organisations acting in the field of arts and culture based in Brussels; 
• Strengthen the Belgian artistic and culture scene and its European cooperation projects by enlarging their audience; 
• Connect thought culture the variety of stakeholders based in Brussels (MP, EU civil servants, representatives of Regions, Institutes of culture etc.);
• Create cross sectorial innovative partnerships among the cultural, business and educational sector.