Looking for a mini-break with a difference? Plan a trip around one of Europe’s grandest fairs, saysCaroline Wheater. From Old Masters to ancient artefacts, exquisite jewellery to fine porcelain, a voyage of discovery awaits…
EUROPEAN FAIRS 2024
As we usher in 2024, the prospect of a year’s worth of art and antiques fairs stretches before us. Whether you’re a collector or more of a browser, Europe’s most prestigious fairs deserve a place in your diary for their sheer scale. And you can easily build a weekend away around any of these events, such is the quality and breadth of the items they sell.
Start your year of culture on the Continent, with a trip to Belgium for BRAFA (the Brussels Art Fair), which launches the year in elegant style this January. Close on its heels is TEFAF (the annual fair of The European Fine Art Foundation), held in Maastricht in mid March and now in its 37th year.
From June, attention turns to London, where newcomer The Treasure House Fair sets up shop in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. In September and October the spotlight falls on Berkeley Square for two glamorous back-to-back events: LAPADA and PAD London. For art lovers, Frieze Masters is key in October.
November provides the perfect excuse to return to the Continent for a final cultural foray of the year – as well as a little Christmas shopping – when the FAB Paris fine arts fair opens its doors at the newly renovated Grand Palais.
BRAFA, BRUSSELS
Brussels Expo, Belgium
28th January to 4th February
Later this month, the streets of Brussels will be decked out with colourful banners and posters declaring the opening of BRAFA, rated one of the top three art and antiques fairs in Europe. As more than 65,000 fair visitors descend on the city for the eight-day event, restaurants, bars and cultural venues gear up to receive them, with fringe events listed in the specially produced BRAFA City Guide. Already international in flavour, cosmopolitan and convivial Brussels becomes the capital of the arts – as well as Belgium – for the duration of this vibrant event.
‘One of the fair’s greatest strengths is its eclecticism,’ says Beatrix Bourdon, BRAFA’s managing director, who has helped organise the esteemed event for over three decades. Up to 15,000 works of art vie for visitors’ attention, fr
