The Paris Biennale was once the one of the most prestigious art and design event in the French Capital. But now its coming to an end after the event has been running for six decades.
The event was established by Syndicat National des Antiquaires (SNA) in 1959. The show was held at the Grand Palais every year. The event offered an expansive selection of works ranging from antiquities and jewellery to art and textile works. But in recent years, after the event’s antique dealers were accused of forgery in 2016, the event has fallen out of favour.
The Paris Biennale was challenged by other events and fair such as Frieze and The European Fine Art Fair (Tefaf), which reduced its audience dramatically. The SNA’s decision to convert it into an annual event in 2016 failed to help. Its audience decreased from 90000 visitors in 2012 to 32000 in 2017.
Covid-19 has also had an impact, with the Biennale’s 2020 iteration cancelled because of the pandemic. The event’s online auction with Christie’s only brought in €1.5m ($1.7m), which was very far from its estimated value of €7 million ($8.3m) to €10m ($11.9m).
A new event will replace the Paris Biennale in November, though details on what it will offer have yet to be announced. It is reported to include antique dealers, jewellers, watchmakers and other luxury craftsmen. The event will be held in a semi-permanent structure close to the Grand Palais as the historic site is undergoing reconstruction.