Jonathan Neil answers the eternal question–why don’t satellite fairs die?–in The Art Newspaper:

December’s first weekend in Miami saw just as many satellite fairs (depending on how you count them) as in years past. Some disappeared, such as Sea Fair (oh thank god), while others debuted, such as Verge (Dan Cameron was involved in this); some switched venues—Pulse (won), Nada (lost)—while others stayed put—Art Miami (nice floor), Design Miami (nice couch).

Now we hear that when the Armory Show opens in New York in March, it will be accompanied by (at least) two new satellite fairs: one called “Independent” and another called “Critical Design New York”. And the Art Show, the ADAA’s (Art Dealers Association of America) prestigious showcase, is moving its dates to coincide with Merchandise Mart’s spectacle on the piers (we should note that the two ran together in 2007 when the Armory Show shifted its dates to February).

The answer, of course, has to do with real estate.

Why Satellite Art Fairs Are Recession Proof (The Art Newspaper)