A force for good: The Art Business Conference with founder Louise Hamlin

by leslierankowfinearts

Louise Hamlin
Founder and Director
The Art Business Conference

ART CONFERENCES AND PANELS ABOUND, USUALLY HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN ART FAIR, OR A MUSEUM ASSOCIATION OR ACADEMIC GATHERING SUCH AS THE COLLEGE ART ASSOCIATION WHICH ANNUALLY BRINGS TOGETHER SCHOLARS IN THE FIELD OR CONVERSATIONS AT MIAMI ART BASEL WHICH FEATURES PANEL DISCUSSIONS WITH LEADING ARTISTS, COLLECTORS AND GALLERISTS.

THE ART BUSINESS CONFERENCE, HOWEVER, IS UNIQUE IN ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS OF EVERY ASPECT OF THE ARTS FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE. LEADING LAWYERS WHO SPECIALIZE IN INTERNATIONAL ART AND CULTURAL PROPERTY ISSUES, HEADS OF ARTIST ESTATE FOUNDATIONS, GLOBAL INSURANCE BROKERS, INTERNATIONAL ART SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT EXPERTS, FOUNDERS OF INTERNET ART PLATFORMS SUCH AS ARTSY, ART FAIR ORGANIZERS SUCH AS THE DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMAN OF MASTERPIECE, LONDON SERVE ON PANELS ORGANIZED BY FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, LOUISE HAMLIN, AND ADDRESS THE TOPICS THAT CONCERN EVERYONE IN THE ART WORLD. THE DISCUSSIONS, BOTH PROVOCATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES KEEP US INFORMED AND CURRENT ON THE BUSINESS OF ART.

ARCIS

THE LRFA BLOG IS DELIGHTED TO WELCOME LOUISE HAMLIN, FOUNDER OF THE ART BUSINESS CONFERENCE AND ART MARKET MINDS.

THE ART BUSINESS CONFERENCE IS AN EXTRAORDINARY PLATFORM TO GAIN EXPERTISE IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE BUSINESS OF ART FROM EXPERT PANELISTS GATHERED TOGETHER  BY LOUISE HAMLIN, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR. INITIATED IN LONDON IN 2014 AND HELD IN NEW YORK AS WELL FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, IT IS THE LEADING FORUM TO DISCUSS THE KEY ISSUES THAT CONCERN OUR GLOBAL ART MARKET. THE ROSTER OF KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND THE SUBJECTS UNDER DISCUSSION ARE TIMELY, INFORMATIVE AND INVALUABLE IN PROVIDING INSIGHT FOR RUNNING AN ART BUSINESS OR FOR COLLECTING WITH SKILL AND INSIGHT.

LOUISE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME FROM YOUR VERY BUSY SCHEDULE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE LRFA BLOG.

WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND IN THE ARTS? WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER PATH PRIOR TO ORGANIZING THE ART BUSINESS CONFERENCES IN LONDON AND NEW YORK?

I studied History of Art at the Courtauld Institute and worked for The Art Newspaper for 14 years, ultimately as Head of Sales, before starting Art Market Minds in 2014, the business behind the Art Business Conference.  My whole career has been in the Art world and I have been lucky enough to work with a great many people from a wide variety of businesses within it.

HOW DOES THE ART BUSINESS CONFERENCE SUPPORT AND ADD TO THE BUSINESS OF THE PROFESSIONALS THAT ATTEND?

The professionals who attend the conference come from a broad range of businesses across the art market.  The conference provides the opportunity not just to learn about different issues in the market but hopefully offers practical insight and guidance to art businesses and those running an art collection today.  It is also a good opportunity for delegates to meet with one another, network, and actively tap into each others’ expertise.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE AND WHAT IS THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE CONFERENCE?

Senior Art Market professionals are the target audience but the conference is open to anyone who works or is interested in working in the Art Market.  The main focus of the conference is to bring together art market professionals to discuss the key issues affecting the global art world and to share insights. All our delegates are busy working professionals, so we have to offer something that not only educates but provides plenty of opportunities to network. 

Protecting the Artist’s Legacy
Art Business Conference

FOR THE GALLERY OWNER, PRIVATE DEALER OR ADVISOR, WHAT ARE TOPICS OF SPECIAL INTEREST?

You have highlighted right there the diverse range of people who work in the Art Market but my hope is that the areas of special interest we cover have broad appeal: whether a gallery owner or an advisor, listening to, and meeting with, specialist service providers including lawyers, insurers and curators,  shippers, art storage providers and IT security experts, will be at the very least, thought-provoking and at best, inspire best practice across the art market.

FOR THE COLLECTOR, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CONFERENCE?

The conference wants to be a force for good in today’s art market. When the art trade is covered in the press, it is more often covering negative stories. The conference aims to promote best practice in the industry and hopefully this sends a positive message to collectors or new investors in art. There are also practical aspects the conference offers for collectors, as we have a number of exhibitors in our Business Pavilion in both London and New York who offer services to the collector.  In New York 2018, there was Sandra Liotus Lighting Design, offering bespoke lighting solutions for all kinds of delicate art work; the Art Loss Register which can provide full searches on works of art; Veevart and Synergy Associates that build secure IT platforms for data and collection management.

Stolen: The Gallery of Missing Masterpieces
Julian Radcliffe, the head of the Art Loss Register in London, has been the consultant adviser on this important project.

IN OUR NEXT LRFA BLOG, LOUISE WILL DETAIL THE FORTHCOMING 5th LONDON ART BUSINESS CONFERENCE ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2018, AT THE CHURCH HOUSE CONFERENCE CENTRE, WESTMINSTER, LONDON.

BOOK YOUR RESERVATION NOW!