Behind the Scenes of New York’s Art World with Editor-in-Chief Sarah Douglas
Timing
5 Days, 4 Nights, October 29-November 2, 2023
Summary
Enjoy a rare chance to go behind the scenes in New York City’s art world, meeting with art dealers, non-profit leaders, collectors, and emerging and established artists. This program, designed and led by native New Yorker and ARTnews Editor in Chief Sarah Douglas, offers an opportunity to discover the many facets of New York’s vibrant art scene: from private studios and centers for up-and-coming artists to promising new galleries and a historic auction house. Then, celebrate your immersion into New York’s art world with an exclusive invitation to the preview gala for the 35th annual Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA) Art Show and a return visit to the Art Show on opening day for a special welcome and a tour designed just for ARTnews members.
Highlights
Attend the exclusive The Art Show Benefit Preview gala and mingle with members of the Art Dealers Association of America at a welcome event before touring the show.
Meet a world-renowned artist at her studio and visit an art non-profit that supports New York’s emerging artists.
Learn about the inner workings of art auctions on a tour of an auction house.
Gather for a private lunch at the ARTnews headquarters with leaders in New York’s non-profit art world.
Go gallery-hopping with Sarah Douglas in Chelsea and Tribeca, discovering the works of renowned and emerging artists.
Itinerary
Sunday, October 29: Welcome to New York City
Arrive in New York City and check in to your hotel, a historic building in the heart New York City. Gather at a nearby restaurant for a welcome dinner and meet Sarah Douglas, the editor in chief of ARTnews magazine, a native New Yorker, and your host for the week. She will give a briefing about the Art Dealers Association of America and The Art Show, a non-profit show that is one of the longest-running art fairs in the country, as well as an overview of the state of the arts in New York City.
Monday, October 30: An Insider’s Look at the NYC Art World
Begin the day at Christie’s, a world-renowned auction house that was established in London in 1766. Its founder, James Christie, a friend of Thomas Gainsborough and Thomas Chippendale, became a key player in the London art world, eventually selling collections to the likes of Russian empress Catherine the Great. Take a specialist-led tour of the auction house and learn about the journey of a piece of art from owner to the auction floor and beyond. Then walk down Fifth Avenue to the headquarters of ARTnews, located across from the iconic New York Public Library. Here, join leaders of New York’s non-profit art world for lunch and a discussion of their work in supporting public art and emerging artists. Head south to Chelsea to visit noteworthy galleries including the renowned Jack Shainman Gallery. After returning to the hotel, your evening is at leisure.
Spend the morning on a gallery walk in Tribeca, where a burgeoning grassroots arts community of galleries, studios, and eclectic architecture has turned into one of the city’s most exciting art scenes. After lunch at a local restaurant, travel to Artists Space, an art non-profit established in the 1970s to support New York’s up-and-coming artists. See the exhibition and learn about the center’s role in the city’s alternative art world. The remainder of the day is yours to visit the nearby Whitney Museum or the New Museum, or continue gallery-hopping with Sarah Douglas.
Wednesday, November 1: The Art Show Benefit Preview
In the morning, travel to the Bronx to visit the studio of Kim Dacres, a former teacher and now world-renowned artist who uses recycled tires and other rubber to create evocative sculptures. Hear an interpretation of the work and its inspiration from the artist herself. Return to the hotel and enjoy the afternoon exploring Manhattan and its restaurant scene on your own.
Don your cocktail attire and set off to the nearby Park Avenue Armory to attend The Art Show Benefit Preview gala. This exclusive gala is generally open only to benefactors of Henry Street Settlement, a non-profit that seeks to provide opportunities to New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds through health care, social services, and arts programs. Over 35 years, The Art Show and its gala have raised more than $36 million for the charitable organization. Experience the gala at your own pace, mingling with art connoisseurs, viewing the artwork on display, and witnessing the excitement of the first sales of the show. The event will feature a generous array of appetizers and tapas along with beer, wine, and other refreshments.
Return to the Armory this morning to attend the opening day of the Art Show. Meet with ADAA leaders for mimosas and coffee and an introduction to The Art Show. Then set off on a guided tour of the show with Sarah Douglas, visiting gallery booths she has selected for their noteworthy works and compelling stories. Afterwards, bid farewell to New York City as you depart for individual flights home.
Sarah Douglas was appointed editor-in-chief of ARTnews in July 2014. She has been an art journalist and editor for numerous publications for 20 years, beginning with four years running the US editorial office of the Art Newspaper, after a stint writing exhibition reviews and previews for the New York Times online. Before ARTnews, she was culture editor at the New York Observer, and she launched a visual art site called Gallerist. Prior to that, she spent six years as a staff writer at Art+Auction magazine and its website, Artinfo.com. Sarah has contributed to the New York Times, New York magazine, the Economist, Flash Art, and the National, among other publications, writing about art, the art market, and the art world. She has also participated in and led numerous panel discussions on topics ranging from art collectors’ estate planning to museum funding. Douglas has been interviewed about the art market on the NPR programs “Marketplace” and “Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen.” Books about the art world and the art market that cite her work include Don Thompson’s $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art and Michael Shnayerson’s Boom: Mad Money, Mega Dealers, and the Rise of Contemporary Art. In 2013 Sarah received ArtTable’s New Leadership award. She is not to be confused with the English actress Sarah Douglas who played the Kryptonian supervillian Ursa in Superman and Superman II. She tweets at @SarahLDouglas.
Accommodations
Hotel NH Collection New York Madison Avenue
Located in 100-year old building in the heart of New York City, this 288-room hotel has been fully renovated with cutting-edge interior design that gives a nod to Madison Avenue’s golden age of advertising. Warmly furnished rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, Nespresso coffee machines, and a kettle and selection of teas. Onsite amenities include a gym, Serafina Restaurant which serves contemporary Italian cuisine, and the stylish MAD Bar & Lounge, the perfect place to relax after a full day of gallery visits.
