Sarah Douglas just published this scoop:
Art Culture Studio, the organizers of the Moscow World Fine Art Fair, have decided to cancel the sixth edition of the fair, which was to have taken place from May 25 to June 1. The company plans to announce the decision on Friday.
According to General Manager Sixtine Crutchfield, who was reached by phone, the cancellation came mainly due to the inability to secure sufficient sponsorship. Sponsorship covers the approximately €3 million ($3.9 million) production costs of the fair, said Crutchfield, while booth fees from dealers pay for the rental of the Manege building, where the fair takes place.
According to Douglas’s sources, dealers were plentiful but sponsors were few and prominent jewlers Bulgari and Harry Winston were presured by Mercury Group not to have their own booths. Nonetheless, organizers put a brave face on the decision and hoped for another shot in 2010.
Moscow World Fine Art Fair Canceled (ArtInfo)