As part of an effort to stabilize its finances, the American Folk Art Museum is turning over the ownership and management of The American Antiques Show, an annual fundraising event that it has run for a decade, to The Art Fair Company. The decision is part of the museum’s effort to reorganize and cut costs.
The Art Fair Company will assume financial responsibility for the show, as well as profit from booth rentals and admission. The opening night will remain a benefit for the American Folk Art Museum.
For the past ten years, The American Antiques Show has been held at the Metropolitan Pavilion every January. The Art Fair Company has said that the name of the fair will change, as will the mix of dealers and offerings.
“In my years of service to the American Folk Art Museum, the founding of and ten years of success of The American Antiques Show has been my greatest joy,” comments Barry Briskin, museum trustee. “The event managed to successfully unite the museum to the dealer community, the great collectors and the general public. We succeeded at creating a profitable, fun and educational event that benefited all constituencies. The show is now in the capable hands of The Art Fair Company, who will create new energy and put their own successful stamp on it.”
Karen DiSaia, manager of TAAS for the museum, said, “Except for benefiting from the preview party, the museum will have nothing to do with the running of the show and its name will not be connected in any way with the show.” She added that “it is my hope that the new management will keep some of the dealers who have been doing TAAS for many years, but it will be their decision to select exhibitors.”
In the meantime, Karen and Ralph DiSaia and Diana Bittel are forming a new antiques show to be in Norwalk, Conn., opening with a preview party on Friday, December 2, and running for the next two days. The preview will benefit the Norwalk Hospital. “We are moving along nicely for this new show, our dealer list is all but complete, and we are going to put on an exciting new show,” Karen said.
