Arco Madrid closes its doors this Sunday, March 10 at Ifema Madrid, after four days in which the figures from the previous year have been maintained, around 100,000 visits, despite the fact that the weather has been adverse due to rain, hail and cold temperatures. , according to the director of the fair, Maribel López.
In his opinion it has been a "very positive" edition and he has praised the joy of the galleries for the "movement" of people that there has been. "The galleries are very happy, the first days, which are the professional days, were very active. We saw how this movement has gone well. They have told us that even yesterday, when all types of audiences were able to come, people from other countries have come. parts of Spain that have not been able to come and also international people," he stated.
On this occasion, Arco Madrid has had a total of 205 galleries, from 36 countries: 73 Spanish galleries and 132 foreign ones. Maribel López has highlighted that many young people have attended among the audience, which fills her with "pride", and she specifies that it has been a "very exciting" edition.
Regarding acquisitions, the director has revealed that the Reina Sofía Museum has increased by more than 100,000 euros the amount of money invested in previous years, with the purchase of 30 works by 22 artists, of which 17 have been women. "Many Spanish and also Latin American. That is very important," Maribel López stressed.
The director has also indicated that the Arco Foundation, like the Community of Madrid, the Madrid City Council or private foundations have acquired works. In this 43rd edition, López has highlighted the high percentage of women, reaching 43%.
"Achieving parity is a feeling of doing something well with the galleries. It is a pride to reach that figure. I think it is noticeable, breathed and perceived by the number of stands in which there are projects by women, who are their artists , or that there is this very well articulated dialogue," he noted.
In this sense, he trusts that this idea will be maintained for the next edition. "Maintaining it is a goal, growing is an illusion," he added.
Finally, Maribel López, regarding the need to lower VAT on purchases of contemporary art, stated that it would be a "very important" measure because "the market would undoubtedly grow and perception would change a lot." "All of us who dedicate ourselves to art know that we are working with a cultural asset of primary necessity. And we like it and I love being able to reinforce that. Each of these works that someone buys is a legacy for the future, they are cultural growth. And I trust that this will go ahead," he concluded.
