Celebrating its 30th anniversary from 16th to 20th February 2011, ARCOmadrid is the year’s opening event for players in the contemporary art world. Galleries, collectors, institutions, curators and other experts will be travelling to Madrid from around the world for an event lending a major focus to Latin America, Russia and young emerging galleries from Europe.

The new revamped ARCOmadrid still revolves around its core GENERAL PROGRAMME, featuring a selection of international galleries showing work spanning the historical avant-gardes, classic contemporary and the art of today, as well as the ARCO 40 subsection with galleries presenting new work from a maximum of three artists. A new feature this year is FOCUS RUSSIA, a section hosting eight Russian galleries: XL; M & J. Guelman Gallery; Aidan; Anna Nova; Marina Gisich; GMG; Paperworks and ARKA. The selection was made by Daria Pyrkina, curator at the National Centre for Contemporary Arts in Moscow and professor at Moscow State Lomonosov University. FOCUS RUSSIA will be strategically mixed in with the fair’s main section in order to foster a greater interaction with other galleries. Apart from the participation of Russian galleries and institutions, the fair is also organising a noteworthy programme dedicated to Russian collectors.

Another new feature at the upcoming edition of the fair is SOLO PROJECTS: FOCUS LATIN AMERICA, a section with galleries, artists and proposals selected by Luisa Duarte, an independent Brazilian curator; Daniela Pérez, associated curator at Museo Tamayo, Mexico; and Julieta González, associated curator of Latin American Art at Tate Modern, London.

An exciting introduction this year is the OPENING: YOUNG EUROPEAN GALLERIES programme, inviting new galleries from Europe with less than eight years. This section will pay special attention to young galleries coming from emerging countries. To carry out the selection, ARCOmadrid_2011 has relied on the coordination of Maribel López, independent curator.

The International Contemporary Art Fair is also planning a space for debate around the hottest issues concerning creation and the art market. The idea behind the Forum is to act as a meeting point for the international art community, a place where renowned experts can exchange views and projects, interact with exhibiting galleries, and expand their network of contacts. A platform open to the public, the Forum will provide an unique opportunity for analysis and debate on issues concerning collecting and Russia.

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