UBS, a longtime partner of Art Basel, is offering a limited number of free day tickets to Swiss residents under age 30 this year. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the UBS pop-up on Isteinerstrasse near Messeplatz, from today until Sunday starting at 1pm each day. UBS says the pop-up—which is also offering a limited-edition tote bag designed in collaboration with the Swiss artist Claudia Comte, while supplies last—allows the company to “share the experience of Art Basel with young audiences in Switzerland, bringing them closer to contemporary art and artists”. The move comes as part of an ongoing effort to make the fair more accessible to a broader public.
For even younger audiences, Art Basel offers free admission to children up to 12 years old—as long as they are accompanied by an adult with their own ticket or pass. There is also a special programme for children at the fair, including workshops and craft-making. “These diverse programmes underscore Art Basel’s commitment to making art an inclusive experience,” an Art Basel representative said in a statement, “engaging young audiences and fostering connections between art and local communities.”
An anonymous art-world mum in London feels that all art fairs should be free for small children. “Surely we should be encouraging young minds to be interested in art,” she says.
Among other Basel fairs, Liste is also free for children up to age 12. The upstart June art fair is free for everyone. In London last year, Frieze charged £10 for visitors aged 2-12 (£6 for early bird), although it does also offer more than 1,000 free passes to schools and non-profit organisations.
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