New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Art lovers will have to wait till Jan 23-26 next year for the next edition of the India Art Summit, which will open six months behind schedule.
The last two editions of the summit opened Aug 19.

Announcing the dates, the organisers of India Art Summit Monday said the registration process is underway and galleries and art houses from across the world can apply for exhibition space.

“We had to reschedule the summit because we were aiming at a bigger international participation. The pleasant January weather draws more tourists to the capital,” said Neha Kirpal, associate director of the India Art Summit.

The 2009 edition of the summit was held Aug 19-22 at the sprawling Pragati Maidan in the capital city.

The fair, which last year showcased video art as its highlight, will focus on solo projects in 2011, the organisers said.

“Unlike general exhibition at art fairs in which each gallery exhibits a number of artists, the solo project section will be dedicated to work by individual artists,” a spokesperson for the India Art Summit said.

The exhibits will cover all genres of contemporary art, including paintings, sculptures, photography, mix media, prints, installations, drawings, video art and performances.

Aesthetics aside, the fair will also turn its spotlight on business which will be represented by art magazines, publications, art funds, art insurance companies and art movers and packers.

“The business of arts will be allocated separate space,” the organisers said.

The third edition of the summit will also include a number of educational initiatives through a series of workshops, seminars, interface between buyers and sellers, international speakers’ forum and a variety of collateral events.

In 2009, the summit drew 40,000 visitors and was attended by 54 galleries from across India, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and America displaying works of 500 artists.

“Last year, we sold 50 percent of the art work valued at Rs.26 crore ($5.3 million) and had seen a three-fold growth in terms of scale and participation compared to 2008,” Kirpal said.

The third edition of the India Art Summit will host a 900 square-metre outdoor space for a sculpture park, which will be curated by a panel.