Image: Michael Jacklin, Four Corners, 2017/© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2019 | Steven Aalders, Two Halves (Blue, Red), 2019, courtesy Slewe Gallery, Amsterdam

Dear customers and partners of Koelnmesse,

it is our firm goal to hold ART COLOGNE at the planned time from 19. to 22.11.2020 in Cologne on our trade fair grounds. Due to the latest decisions taken by government offices and public authorities in Germany on 06 May 2020, from 30 May 2020, the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia will be permitting the holding of trade fairs and congresses, subject to conditions.

As a trade fair, ART COLOGNE is fundamentally different from sporting events and public festivals. With trade fairs, the focus is upon personal conversations and business contacts. As event professionals, we see ourselves in a position to create framework conditions suitable to trade fairs, even in times such as these. With this in mind, we will define and implement specific criteria and steps to meet the conditions for hosting ART COLOGNE.

The measures indicated include appropriate hygiene, distancing between stakeholders and interaction with one another, as well as consequent specifications for the processes in place at entrances, in the halls and at the stands. We depend upon professional behaviour on the part of exhibitors and visitors; we will fully register participants and make use of the flexibility and size of our fair grounds as well as the capabilities of our digital guidance systems. Under these conditions we are continuing the preparations for ART COLOGNE and look forward to a successful trade fair together with our exhibitors and visitors!

UFI: Global framework for reopening exhibitions and B2B trade events post the emergence from COVID-19

European Exhibition Industry Alliance: Position Paper - Exhibitions and Live Events are the fast track to economic recovery

AUMA: German Economy Needs Exhibitions for Restart

As every international trade fair, the ART COLOGNE will play a decisive role in showing the participating industries the solutions and trends for a successful future again. Production, logistics, sales and communication will change, networking of the players, reactivation of economic relationships and the establishment of new business will be more important than ever before. It is essential for all market participants to actively prepare for this now.

You will find further information under https://www.koelnmesse.com/lp/corona-2.php

Cologne, 12.05.2020