Art Basel Miami Beach 2020 Is Officially Canceled

Although major museums and galleries are slowly reopening back up to the public, the arts world is still facing momentous challenges stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. Art Basel announced today that it is cancelling its anticipated Miami Beach fair this year due to limitations and uncertainty about the staging of large-scale events, international travel restrictions and bans, as well as quarantine regulations within the U.S. and internationally. According to the CDC, Florida also has the second highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

Instead of an in-person event, Art Basel will host an online viewing room like it did for its Hong Kong and Switzerland editions. Digital initiatives include “OVR: 2020,” which will run in September and is dedicated to artworks produced during 2020, and “OVR: 20c,” which will present works created between 1900 and 1999 in October. These events will be followed in December by a series of online viewing rooms that will be open to all of the galleries that were accepted to the 2020 edition of Art Basel in Miami Beach.

“It is with great regret and disappointment that we announce the cancellation of our December show in Miami Beach, as we know how crucial our show is for our galleries, as well as for the greater Miami arts community and economy,” said Noah Horowitz, Director Americas, Art Basel. “We thank everyone who shared their perspectives and insights with us over the past months and weeks and look forward to returning to Miami Beach next year to deliver a successful show.”

Art Basel in Miami Beach was originally scheduled to take place from December 3 to 6 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The next edition will take place in 2021.

In other art-related news, take a look at how artists are relaying their experiences on life amid COVID-19 in an exhibition called “When Life Doesn’t Give You Lemons.”