PRINCIPAL FAIRS

February

20|21 International Art Fair. Small and friendly, this important fair is exclusively devoted to modern and contemporary art in many media – oils, original prints, watercolours and drawings, plus some photography and ceramics – ranging from 1900 to the present. Offered by 52 UK-based dealers with international connections in Europe, Asia, Africa, the United States and the South Pacific – always with a large proportion of affordable especially British works. Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU. Tel. +44 (0)20 8742 1611. (Open daily) 18 – 21 February.

March

TEFAF Maastricht. This is probably the world's greatest art and antiques fair. A record number of 260 exhibitors from 17 countries will be showing their wares: many thousands of works from all periods in total. After last year's successful introduction of a Design section (which continues), this year will see a new section devoted to Works on Paper to include drawings, watercolours, photographs, prints, books and manuscripts. The Showcase section (now in its third year) offers recently established dealers a one-off chance of exhibiting at a major international fair. This year the great Anglo-German dealers Bernheimer-Colnaghi celebrates their 250^th anniversary by showing an especially fine selection of old master paintings, plus master drawings presented by Katrin Bellinger. Principal sponsor AXA Art. MECC Exhibition Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Tel. +31 411 64 50 90. (Open daily). www.tefaf.com 12 - 21 March.

The BADA Antiques and Art Fair. Uniquely prestigious and elegant fair with more than 100 exhibitors restricted to members of the British Antique Dealers' Association. In addition to the wide range of exhibits such as furniture, jewellery, clocks, antique and contemporary silver, impressionist, modern and contemporary art, this year's fair includes an unusual loan exhibition: Heroes or Villains? Selected from the unique collection of celebrity memorabilia assembled by David Gainsborough Roberts whose interest range from Lawrence of Arabia, Al Capone and Elvis Presley, to Humphrey Bogart, John Lennon, the Emperor Napoleon, Wyatt Earp and Field Marshal Montgomery. Green's of St James's presides over the restaurant and bar; Taittinger sponsors the champagne. BADA Antiques & Fine Art Fair. The Duke of York's Headquarters, Chelsea, London SW3. Tel. +44 (0)20 7589 6108. (Open daily) www.bada-antiques-fair.co.uk 17 – 23 March.

April

The London Original Print Fair. The 25^th anniversary of “the longest-running print fair in the world.” Held in the main galleries of the Royal Academy of Arts, it will be the largest ever with some 60 international exhibitors offering old master and modern prints as well as contemporary works - at a wide range of prices. The fair's chairman Gordon Cooke has every reason to be proud of this event which, as he says, has now entered the art world's mainstream for “many of our buyers collect paintings or drawings as well as prints.” A special loan exhibition is drawn from the collection of the British Museum, a personal selection made by its Keeper of Prints & Drawings, Antony Griffiths. London Original Print Fair, The Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1. Tel. +44 (0)20 7439 2000. (Open daily) www.londonprintfair.com 29 April – 3 May.

May

Collect. Presented by the Crafts Council and now in its seventh year, this fair can justifiably claim to the “the leading international art fair” for contemporary craft. There is fierce competition to be accepted as an exhibitor, this time 36 international galleries will be showing the work of some 300 artists. This will be the third year for Art Fund Collect, a joint initiative by the Crafts Council and the Art Fund charity, which will offering £75,000 to a short list of curators to buy significant work by international artists and makers. Collect, The Saatchi Gallery, King's Road, London. Tel. +44 (0)20 7278 7700. (Open daily) 14 – 17 May.

ART HK 10. Hong Kong International Art Fair. 27 – 30 May.

June

London International Fine Art Fair. Olympia, London. 4 – 13 June.

Art Antiques London. Important new fair organized by the incomparable Haughton International Fairs. It is to be held in a custom-built marquee on a spectacular site in London's Kensington Gardens, in the shadow of the Albert Memorial, opposite the Royal Albert Hall. Exhibitors will be offering furniture, paintings, jewellery, clocks, textiles, silver and ceramics, plus rare books and contemporary objects d'art. The new fair will be incorporating the organizers' famous annual International Ceramics Fair & Seminar and will be offering also a stimulating and attractive as well as wide-ranging lecture and seminar programme. Art Antiques London, Albert Memorial West Lawn, Kensington Gardens, Queen's Gate, Kensington Gore, London SW7. Tel. +44 (0)20 7389 6555. (Open daily) 9 – 16 June.

Masterpiece London. Chelsea, London. 24 – 30 June.

October

Frieze Art Fair. Regent's Park, London. Sponsored by Deutsche Bank. 14 – 17 October.

Please check opening times and days before travelling any distance.