FAQs

When is Frieze London?
The fair will be open to the public 17–20 October 2013. An invitation-only preview day will be held on 16 October 2013.

How many people attend the fair and who are they?
Each year, for the last four years, we have had over 60,000 visitors to Frieze London. These visitors included those with an interest in the art world, such as curators, artists, collectors, gallerists and critics, as well as the general public. Some visit as first-time collectors of art whilst others view the fair more as an exhibition, enjoying the experience as a cultural day out

How do I get a ticket for the fair?

Tickets for Frieze London can be purchased from June each year, online at friezelondon.com using a credit or debit card. Alternatively, visitors can phone Frieze London’s ticket agent, See Tickets, to purchase their ticket. In order to ensure the best experience for all visitors, tickets to Frieze London are limited and must be bought in advance. Visit both Frieze London and Frieze Masters on the same day and benefit from our special combined ticket.

What makes Frieze London different from other art fairs?

Frieze London is one of the few fairs to focus only on contemporary art and living artists. The exhibiting galleries represent the most exciting contemporary galleries working today. The focus on living artists is also evident in the critically acclaimed Frieze Projects’ programme. The fair presents a curated programme of talks, artists’ commissions and film projects, many of which are interactive or performative and encourage visitors to engage with art and artists directly.

Unlike most other fairs, Frieze London is housed in a bespoke temporary structure, which is located in Regent’s Park and benefits from having a natural light source, avoiding the atmosphere of a trade show, thus making the fair both lively and energetic.

Since its first year Frieze London has also been fortunate enough to work with a series of talented architects: David Adjaye, Jamie Fobert and Caruso St John, who are well known for their work on museums and art galleries. The architects’ brief is to make the fair an inviting and unique experience. Each year there are eye-catching changes to the design, décor, entrance and spaces such as restaurants and cafes. The architects
have the opportunity to experiment and this adds to the experience of the fair.

Who are the Frieze London architects?
In 2011 and 2012 London-based architectural studio Carmody Groarke have been the Frieze London architects. Carmody Groarke were recipients of the prestigious Building Design UK Young Architect of the Year (YAYA) in 2007, the practise won two RIBA awards in 2010 and were last year named as winners of the International Emerging Architecture Award by The Architectural Review.

How is Frieze London organised?
There are three sections to Frieze London, The main gallery section, Focus and Frame.

What is Focus?
Galleries included in Focus are selected on the basis of a proposed solo stand or curated project, specifically conceived for the fair. The galleries taking part in Focus will have opened in or after 2001 and debut works not previously seen within an art fair context.

What is Frame?

Frame, a section of the fair introduced in 2009, is dedicated to solo artist presentations. Frame is open to galleries who have been in existence for less than eight years and present a regular programme of exhibitions.

Who are the Frame advisors?
In 2013 the Frame advisors are curators Rodrigo Moura and Tim Saltarelli.

What are the annual sales figures?

Frieze London released sales figures following the first three fairs. However, the Directors came to regard such results to be misleading and inaccurate, as many sales are completed post-fair, and many galleries choose to keep their sales figures private. From 2006 the fair has not released sales figures. Whilst the fair is a commercial venture, the fair equally relies on the relationships with collectors and curators made by participating galleries at the fair.

How are the galleries selected for the fair?

Around 500 galleries apply each year for the fair. Each year the application form is posted on the website in December, the application deadline is in February and the selection is made in April. There is then an appeals procedure in late April. The selection is made by a committee of gallerists who participate in the fair; the fair Directors chair the meeting but do not vote.

Who is on the committee?
The 2013 Selection Committee is: Marcia Fortes, Galeria Fortes Vilaça, São Paulo; Cornelia Grassi, greengrassi, London; Carol Greene, Greene Naftali, New York; Philomene Magers, Sprüth Magers Berlin London; Monica Manzutto, kurimanzutto, Mexico City and Nicky Verber, Herald St, London.

What is Frieze Foundation?

Frieze Foundation is a non-profit organisation, which was established the same year as the fair (2003). The foundation oversees: Frieze Talks, a programme of panel discussions and lectures printed annually during the four days of the fair; Frieze Projects, a curated programme of site-specific projects by artists in and around the fair. Last year the Foundation will introduced the Emdash Award which is annually presented to an international emerging artist. The foundation also administers Frieze Music, Frieze Education and Frieze Film.

How is Frieze Foundation funded?

The foundation has received funding from a number of sources including grant bodies such as the European Union’s Culture 2000 programme and Arts Council, England. Specific areas also receive sponsorship, for example Cartier sponsored Frieze Projects from 2005–2010 and the Emdash Foundation are now supporters.

Who runs the curatorial programme at the fair?

The programme at Frieze London 2012 will be curated by Sarah McCrory, she also curated the programme in 2011 and 2010. It was curated previously by Neville Wakefield, from 2007 to 2009, and Polly Staple, from 2003 to 2006.

What is Frieze Education?

Frieze Education is part of Frieze Foundation. At Frieze London, Frieze Education has previously worked with the Serpentine Gallery in 2003 and 2004 as well as Camden Art Centre in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The programme has been developed to introduce children and young people to contemporary art in an exciting and fun way.

What is Frieze Music?

Frieze Music was established to develop the crossover between contemporary art and music. Frieze Music was originally created by Dan Fox, Senior Editor of frieze magazine, and Steve Mackey, producer and musician. Frieze Music’s varied programme has featured bands, avant-garde classical composer Karlheinz Stockhausen and pop series, such as that co-ordinated by Franz Ferdinand in 2004. Frieze Music has taken place during the week of the fair and attracted a wide audience.

What are Frieze Talks?

Frieze Talks are a daily programme of keynote lectures, panel debates and discussions featuring leading art-world figures, philosophers, and critical theorists and is presented by Frieze Foundation in collaboration with frieze magazine.

What is Frieze Projects?

Frieze Projects is a programme of artists’ commissions realised annually at Frieze London. In 2011 it was curated by Sarah McCrory and included seven specially commissioned projects as well as the Emdash Award. Those commissioned to create site-specific work for Frieze London 2011 were: Bik Van der Pol, Pierre Huyghe, Christian Jankowski, Oliver Laric, LuckyPDF, Peles Empire, Laure Prouvost and Cara Tolmie.

What is the Sculpture Park?
The Sculpture Park at Frieze London is located in the beautiful surroundings of the English Garden. It is within a three-minute walk of the main fair site and exhibits new works by both established and emerging artists represented by Frieze London exhibitors. In 2012, Clare Lilley, Director of Programme at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, selected the Sculpture Park. Entry to the Sculpture Park is free to the public.

What is the Stand Prize?
In 2012 the recipient of the Frieze London Stand Prize sponsored by Champagne Pommery was Vitamin Creative Space. The prize was judged by a jury comprising: Alex Farquharson, Director, Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham; November Paynter, Associate Director of Research and Programs, SALT, Istanbul and Doryun Chong, Associate Curator, Department of Painting and Sculpture, MoMA, New York.

What is the Emdash Award?
The Emdash Award for emerging artists living outside the UK is a major initiative in collaboration with Gasworks and supported by the Emdash Foundation. Emdash is a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to promoting new ideas across disciplines from artistic and cultural projects to scientific research. Founded by Andrea Dibelius in 2010, Emdash’s activities are motivated by philanthropy, a commitment to supporting new ideas and emerging talent and a love for the arts. The Emdash Foundation will aim to support artists on a long-term basis.

Does Frieze produce any publications to accompany the fair?

Each year Frieze publishes the Frieze London Catalogue, a guide to what is current in the world of contemporary art. The catalogue introduces over 300 artists from around the globe, with a critical text and colour illustration of their work. It also features interviews with Frieze Projects’ artists; provides details of all the galleries participating in Frieze London and has an index listing over 2000 artists. Frieze also published Frieze
Projects: Artists’ Commissions and Talks 2003-2005 as a record of the work of Frieze Foundation, featuring essays on the commissioned projects and texts from the lectures and panel discussions. The book serves as a valuable introduction to the critical debates in contemporary art. A second book in this series was published in 2009, entitled Frieze Projects and Frieze Talks 2006–2008, and features artists from Mike
Nelson to Richard Prince and speakers from Dave Hickey to Adrian Piper.

How do I get to the fair?
Tube
The Frieze London is less than five minutes walk from Regent’s Park tube station. Baker Street and Great Portland Street tube stations are also close by.

Buses
2, 13, 18, 27, 30, 74, 82, 88, 113, 139, 189, 205, 274, 453 & C2.

Bikes
Bike racks are provided within the park. The nearest docking stations for Transport for London’s cycle hire scheme are located next the tennis courts in Regent’s Park, towards Baker Street on Marylebone Road, next to Great Portland Street Underground station or on Albany street.

Car Parking
There are a limited number of Pay and Display parking spaces in the park. Car parking is free on the Inner and Outer Circles after 6.30pm. Public transport is very convenient for the fair and we recommend you use it where possible.
Frieze London is outside the central London congestion charging zone. For further information about the boundaries of the zone and how it may affect your journey, please visit http://www.cclondon.com or call 0845 900 1234.
Coaches are not allowed into the park. The nearest drop-off point is Baker Street Station.

If I cannot get to London for Frieze London is there any part of it that I can still enjoy?

friezelondon.com offers podcasts of all Frieze Talks as well as details of Frieze Projects and Frieze Film. Frieze London also publishes a comprehensive guide to contemporary art Frieze London Catalogue, which is available from mid-September each year and can be ordered online at frieze.com or purchased from all good bookshops. For updates on Frieze London 2012, follow @friezelondon on twitter, become a fan on facebook and sign up to the Frieze email newsletter at frieze.com.