Dubai’s Contemporary Art Fair: Education, Sotheby’s-Style

Dubai’s Fair Venue
Abu Dhabi may have its Louvre, but rival city Dubai has its Gulf Art Fair, billed as the first major international contemporary fair in the Middle East and opening tomorrow (to Mar. 10).
According to a description:
The event will add to the cultural profile of a city that aspires to become a major center for the global art market, and bring world-class art to the doorsteps of some of the most enthusiastic [and wealthy] new art collectors in the world.
In keeping with the new trend of auction houses’ establishing a presence at art fairs that were previously the realm of galleries, Sotheby’s has sponsored and organized the fair’s educational program. Education doesn’t come cheap, however: It costs £1000 for three sessions, which includes a “VIP pass” to the fair.
Judging from the gallery list, it looks like the major U.S. galleries are sitting this one out.
Aspiring to be a major contemporary art center doesn’t necessarily make it so.