1. Art Basel Miami Beach
A spin-off of the fair in Basel, Switzerland, this event takes place in December at the Miami Beach Convention Center and elsewhere, drawing an international crowd of nearly 40,000. Multiple satellite art fairs were staged simultaneously around Miami, and brands like Viktor & Rolf and Maybach hosted parties. The 2010 fair will return to the convention center December 2 to 5.
2. Design Miami
Timed to Art Basel Miami Beach, this four-day art fair is housed in a 35,000-square-foot temporary structure in the design district. With installations by 25 leading galleries, the fair was presented with HSBC Private Bank and sponsored by Audi and Swarovski Crystal Palace.
3. Art Miami
Coinciding with Art Basel Miami Beach, the city’s longest-running contemporary art fair celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2009. Held in an 80,000-square-foot pavilion in midtown, the five-day event attracted more than 35,000 people, 10 percent more than in 2008.
4. Sleepless Night
Audi sponsored this overnight contemporary arts festival comprised of more than 150 individual events held along a six-mile stretch of Miami Beach on November 7. More than 100,000 people attended the biannual array of installations, exhibits, galleries, and performances.
5. Art Deco Weekend Festival
This event from the Miami Design Preservation League combines film, lectures, dance performances, antique shows, and guided tours in an effort to raise awareness for the preservation of the Art Deco Historic District. About 275,000 people attended the more than 85 events staged January 15 to 17.
6. Coconut Grove Arts Festival
Each February this street fair attracts more than 150,000 patrons and showcases more than 330 artists’ works. In 2009, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida-sponsored event sold about $4 million worth of art in three days. The 2010 festival was held February 13 to 15.
7. Beaux Arts Festival
This outdoor art festival raises funds for the Lowe Art Museum on the University of Miami in Coral Gables, where it was held January 9 and 10. The event attracts 100,000 patrons and more than 200 artists.
8. Arteamericas
In 2009, this Latin American arts festival filled 100,000 square feet at the Miami Beach Convention Center, attracting about 14,000 people. The eighth annual fair is scheduled for March 26 to 29.
9. Artopia
Presented by Miami New Times, this event combines music, art, fashion, and film. The 2010 event, on February 1, moved from Charcoal Studios in Wynwood to the Freedom Tower.
