Frieze London and Frieze Masters – the annual art fair in Regent’s Park, scheduled for the beginning of October – will not go ahead this year, organizers have announced. A spokesperson for the fair said that the decision had been taken following an ‘extended period of consultation’.
A letter sent to exhibitors stated that the fair had been left with no choice, citing the ‘considerable logistical challenges regarding COVID-19’ including regulations in the UK around travel, quarantines and the hosting of large-scale events.
Frieze – as other fairs have done in response to the pandemic – will run an online ‘viewing room’ in October in place of the live event, where the 160 gallerists scheduled to participate in Frieze London and Frieze Masters will be offered a digital platform to sell work.
Frieze’s London edition is the latest high-profile casualty to the art world calendar due to COVID-19. Art Basel announced the cancellation of its September 2020 edition in Basel last month, following a postponement from its usual June slot. Art Basel’s Hong Kong edition in February was also cancelled, as well as Frieze New York (scheduled for May) and Masterpiece London (June).
