Art Market Monitor

Howard Rehs

Back in 1997 I was asked to assume the position of President of the Fine Art Dealers Association (FADA), one I gladly accepted.  This 2 year term turned into 12 year stint and along the way I was lucky enough to be involved in the growth of an amazing art dealer association.  When I took the position there were just 17 members, most specializing in traditional art; today we have over 50 members spanning the Old Master to Emerging Art fields.  Among the keys factors to this successful growth has been the Board’s desire to work for the benefit of all its members by negotiating attractive group advertising rates, developing FADA.com and expanding the Los Angeles Art Show.  In addition we pride ourselves on the support we give to the art community; these include donations to worthy art causes (IFAR, Archives of American Art, 19th Century Art Worldwide, etc.) and exhibition space for young artists to exhibit their works at the Los Angeles Art Show.

The Fine Art Dealers Association was founded in 1990 as a non-profit membership organization by a group of California art dealers.  FADA’s goal was to bring together respected and established dealers from across the United States who wee dedicated to promoting and maintaining the highest degree of professionalism, scholarship and integrity in all business conducted with colleagues, institutions and the art buying public. Membership in FADA is highly selective and by invitation only. In addition, each member has expert knowledge of the artist or periods in which he or she specializes, maintains a corresponding inventory and strives to enrich the cultural lives of their communities through significant exhibitions, informative catalogs, and by offering quality works of art whose authenticity is unconditionally guaranteed.

FADA also owns The Los Angeles Art Show, which is now in its 15th year.  From our humble beginnings at the Pasadena Civic Center, with just 14 exhibitors, we have grown to become one of the leading international art shows with over 120 international exhibitors.  Today, the Los Angeles Art Show take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center at the end of January and, like our membership, is an encyclopedic exhibition featuring Old Master to 19th Century to Modernist to Contemporary works of art.

Along my 12 year journey I also had the pleasure of developing both FADA.com and its corresponding advertising campaign.  FADA.com is among the finest, most up-to-date and easiest to navigate art association web sites on the World Wide Web.  Each FADA member has their own individually managed sub-sites on FADA.com and there are over 5700 works featured.  In addition, all of our members participate in a group advertising campaign to promote the site.  By the end of 2009 we will have placed more than 30 two-page spreads in many of the leading art magazines and newspapers illustrating the diversity of works available from our members.

This July I stepped down from the President’s position and the Board of Directors was pleased to

Betina Tasende

announce that Betina Tasende, Tasende Gallery, agreed to assume the role.  I have worked with Betina for a number of years and she has been one of the driving forces behind the FADA scene.  Betina has been a Board member for many years and involved in every meeting and decision we have made.  While Betina is strong willed, she is also very level headed and I, the Board and our members know that she guide FADA and the Los Angeles Art Show down the right paths.

Among Betina’s goals is a desire to grow the Los Angeles Art Show on an international scale; expanding the reach and influence of the Los Angeles Art Show and FADA’s membership. In addition, she will develop new Board Committees. Chaired by a board member, these committees will be open to all members of the Fine Art Dealers Association.  Proposed committees currently include: The Los Angeles Art Show, Sponsorship, Membership, Advertising/Website and Media among others.  This new committee system will open the doors for the general FADA members to have a greater voice and influence in the continued growth of the organization.

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