BMW has been engaged with international art fairs for many years. 2011 sees the brand represented on all the major platforms of the art market for the first time: Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, Frieze London, Hong Kong Art Fair and TEFAF.
“Right from the very start BMW was involved in Art Basel Miami Beach and Frieze Art Fair. Our long-term commitment to the TEFAF, the Hong Kong Fine Art Fair and our return to Art Basel as of 2011 is a dream come true. The world–s most successful premium car manufacturer supports the world–s most significant art fairs,” says Dr Uwe Ellinghaus, Head of Brand Management BMW and BMW Group Marketing Services. “However, we are by no means interested in blatant logo placement. Together with our new partners, we will develop formats that place art fairs and their visitors to an even greater extent in the focus of an exchange of ideas and thoughts.”
Annette Schönholzer and Marc Spiegler, Co-Directors of Art Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach
“Art Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach are delighted to renew our long partnership with BMW, whose commitment to the art world spans decades and continents.”
Amanda Sharp, Co-Founder of Frieze Art Fair London
“It is a great pleasure to work with a company such as BMW who have such a deep commitment to support of contemporary art and artists. They have been long-standing collaborators of the Frieze Art Fair, and we are thrilled to be working with them yet again this year.”
Ben Janssens, Chairman of the Board of Management of TEFAF Maastricht
“We are delighted with BMW as the official TEFAF car. TEFAF and BMW are a perfect combination in their pursuit of top quality, innovation and elegance.”
Beyond Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, Frieze, the Hong Kong Art Fair and TEFAF, BMW supports further art fairs such as Art Toronto and Paris Photo as well as the Gallery Weekend Berlin and Independent Collectors initiatives.
In 2011 the BMW Group is celebrating 40 years of international cultural commitment. For four decades, the BMW Group has initiated and engaged in more than 100 cultural cooperations worldwide. The company places the main focus of its long-term commitment on modern and contemporary art, jazz and classical music as well as architecture and design. Within the arts the BMW Group is involved in long-term collaborations with cultural institutions and artists around the world, including projects such as the BMW Guggenheim Lab, the Nationalgalerie Prize and the Art Cars.
More information on the BMW Group–s cultural involvement:
www.bmwgroup.com/culture
The BMW Group is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 24 production facilities in 13 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
During the financial year 2010, the BMW Group sold 1.46 million cars and more than 110,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for 2010 was euro 4.8 billion on revenues amounting to euro 60.5 billion. At 31 December 2010, the BMW Group had a workforce of approximately 95,500 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last six years.