What exactly is an art fair? Art fairs serve as huge venues for buying and selling art. These vibrant centers bring together buyers, galleries, dealers, and art enthusiasts, fostering a strong sense of community and a shared, deep-rooted passion for art. As hubs for art commerce, art fairs offer a convenient platform for art enthusiasts to see various works by different artists all in one place. Individual booths representing a gallery or artist create mini-galleries within a single, easily accessible exhibition space. Art fairs are not exclusive events reserved for industry insiders. They are inclusive gatherings that provide everyone, from museum directors and dealers to humble art fans and tourists, with a unique opportunity to explore the contemporary art world.Art fairs are exciting platforms for investors, offering a glimpse into the current trends in the art market and the opportunity to invest in the work of emerging artists. These national events are the gateway to staying ahead of the market and reaping significant returns on investments, injecting a sense of excitement and motivation into the industry. Art fairs provide a vibrant environment for networking, allowing attendees to connect with galleries and dealers for valuable advice and answers to their questions about prices or the artwork itself. These days, there are so many art fairs popping up everywhere. Is this phenomenon a good sign? Art fairs are supposed to be significant events that art enthusiasts eagerly anticipate, rather than being compared to a night market where you can buy second-hand signature items. Competing art fairs are everywhere, from prestigious events like Manila Art and Manila Bang to lesser-status art events almost every month. From the artists' perspective, this may be positive, but there is a negative effect: instead of elevating the status of art, it diminishes its prestige. Art is supposed to be a precious commodity, but now, everyone can obtain art not as a collection but as ordinary wall art just to fill a vacant space in the living room.Art fair became an ordinary phenomenon, maybe because of many reasons: one is the exorbitant participating fee which is P350,000 per regular booth in 4 days,therefore shelling out P87,500 everyday which makes you think otherwise if you are a beginner or not yet a famous one. Then establishments that could absorb a huge crowd would ride-on with the promotions of the big organizers making them an option of the groups to participate therefore creating another art fair even with lesser prestige. Another reason is that artists that was not with the participating galleries was able to get a booth at the ' other venues' making them a direct competitor with the later.Nonetheless, the artists benefit from the silent competition between Manila art groups and the Manila Bang groups. This competition indirectly created more art fairs, with entrepreneurs playing a crucial role in seizing the opportunities it presented. The high fees for participating in the two significant events meant that many beginners were unable to showcase their work. However, due to the increased number of art fairs, beginners can now exhibit their art without spending much money. Additionally, art lovers with smaller budgets can now purchase wall art. Overall, everyone is a winner in these art fairs.
