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• Issue #252
• Article

By Alex Novak

New York Photography Show presented by AIPAD will now become the 2020 Paris Photo New York show in collaboration with AIPAD. Photo: Kristina Nazarevskaia, GalleryIntell ©The Photography Show.

In the works for nearly a year, Paris Photo and the Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD) have announced a new collaboration on the New York Photography Show, which will now be called Paris Photo New York. Reed Exhibitions’ Paris Photo organization will be taking over AIPAD’s early April slot on Pier 94, and next year’s show will be held April 2-5 there. The opening preview will be on April 1st.

While the New York Photography Show produced by AIPAD had been floundering a bit in its first three years at the new venue, the prospect for a much more profitable show is certainly there. A combination of a market slowdown after the Trump Election, some poor early decision-making on costs and sales personnel, exploding association management costs, and inadequate support for sponsorship and booth sales hurt the bottom line. Despite that, the show in 2019 essentially broke even, but at the cost of no carpeting or return wall, except what dealers chose to pay for. The Reed organization has more recently done a very good job on getting sponsors and enticing exhibitors, which will clearly make a difference on the New York show. Its international connections are also expected to boost both international exhibitors and attendance at the show.

Paris Photo had been looking at New York for well over 15 years, but lacked a good venue and would have been in competition with AIPAD and many other shows. The organization initially chose instead to try for a second show in Los Angeles, which they finally pulled the plug on after three years. Financially it makes more sense to have two shows to better utilize staff and facilities, and spread the costs of those to two events a year, so this collaboration should help the Paris Photo organization.

Florence Bourgeois, Director, and Christoph Wiesner, Artistic Director, who will head both the New York and Paris fairs with Reed Expositions France, said in a joint statement, “We are very excited to create a bridge connecting Paris and New York. The enthusiasm of many of our long-time exhibitors and our network of collectors and curators is indicative of strong potential for Paris Photo New York, to establish itself successfully in the American market.”

Richard Moore, President, AIPAD, said, “We look forward to collaborating with Paris Photo, whose team brings considerable knowledge, resources and creativity to an established New York audience for photography. I expect this audience to grow and prosper due to the extraordinary opportunities for collectors, exhibitors, curators, artists, and photography lovers that the new show will offer.

The three-year deal, which could be renewed, gives AIPAD a chance to recoup somewhat financially, and, as Moore said, “allows AIPAD to dedicate more time and resources to develop new non-profit initiatives and year-round educational programming.” Moore worked tirelessly on the agreement and was credited by AIPAD members and the board for getting them a good deal under the three-year commitment.

Herve Sedky, President of Reed Exhibitions, The Americas, stated, “Reed Exhibitions is delighted to collaborate with AIPAD on the Paris Photo New York launch. We believe there is an opportunity to deliver the diverse and expansive fair that New York deserves. AIPAD has already been a great ally throughout the early stages of planning this launch and we are looking forward to delivering an impressive event in 2020.”