Initially, the official website of Art Basel provides the visitor with an introductory statement about the art fair itself. The website is subdivided into different categories. Besides practical informations like ticket prices, travel and accomodation hints, which are very useful for visiting the fair, the site also presents specific information for different target groups, for example for the exhibitors or the press.
While the exhibitor‘s services include application forms, showkits and a link to the Art Agenda (a special feature where the participating art galleries are able to send advertisements in form of an e-mail announcement to the members of the Art Agenda, even after the fair event is already finished), the press section contains a lot of additional information refering to the Art Basel. There are press releases, newspaper articles as well as photos of the last art show and an Art Basel movie available as a download. The press section is a good opportunity to get a closer insight into the Art Basel.
James Rosenquist "Celebrating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Human Rights by Eleanor Roosevelt", 1998, Courtesy Acquavella Galleries, New York
To find out more about the last show, especially about the exhibiting galleries or artists, it is necessary to click on the exhibitors section. An index list refelcts details of the participating galleries and artists, and is additionally divided into the same categories like the art fair space of the 37th edition was organised. For instance, Art Unlimited gave space to 70 projects and works that are beyond the scope of exhibition booths at art fairs, galleries or even museums. One of the outsize sculptures, video projections, installations, wall paintings, photographic series, and performance art, displayed in the 12,000 square metres of Hall 1, was a work on the human rights theme created in three parts in 1998 by U.S. artist James Rosenquist - one of the largest paintings seen yet at an art fair. Another category, the Art Statements, lists the 22 young artists - chosen by the Art Basel Committee from over 250 applications – who were given the opportunity to create a unique one-person show.
Furthermore, the site states under 'special exhibitions and events', information concerning public programs and other special features that were held around the art show, like guided tours, the Art Lobby, a contact platform with interviews and talks with special guests as well as the Professional Day, where the exhibitors staged special activities at their booths.
Under 'Partners' there are further links to the websites of the associations, who supported the Art Basel. The sponsors included the financial institution UBS, who has had its own Art Banking department since 1998 and offers advice to wealthy clients on buying, selling and structuring their art portfolio, NetJets, the European leader in private aviation, Bulgarie, who organized the Art Basel Conservations, and the Baloise Insurance, who donated the Art Statements price.
Finally, the website is very useful to get a general impression of the Art Basel.