Auckland Art Fair 09 includes twice daily public lectures and panel discussions by a host of local and international art commentators.

The Big Idea, courtesy of Auckland City Council, will be posting an excerpt from a panel discussion ‘How do you know its good?', after the fair.  The panel includes Author and Economist Don Thompson, Auckland Art Gallery Director Chris Saines and Curator Ariane Craig-Smith. 

The discussion will be chaired by freelance arts journalist Josie McNaught.

Don Thompson will also be delivering the keynote lecture on Friday May 1, as part of the three day Auckland Art Fair at Viaduct Harbour, Auckland City from May 1-3.  The author of ‘The $12M Stuffed Shark’ will offer a global perspective on the curious economics of contemporary art.

Thompson has held positions at Harvard University and the London School of Economics and is presently Emeritus Professor of marketing and strategy at York University in Toronto, Canada.

Public Programme: Panel Discussions

Friday May 1 - 2pm (30 mins)
Artist and curator in conversation
Joanna Langford and Rob Garrett

Saturday May 2 - 11am (30 mins)
Why are we Scared by Photography?
Ron Brownson, Senior Curator New Zealand and Pacific Art

Saturday May 2- 2pm (45 Mins)
Panel Discussion
Cousins or Colleagues? Trans-Tasman art relations
Greg O’Brien, Artist, poet, senior curator Wellington City Gallery
Linda Tyler, Director of the Centre for New Zealand Art Research and Discovery at The University of Auckland
David Cross, Associate Professor, Director -Litmus Research Initiative
College of Creative Arts, Massey University, Wellington
Chaired by: Sue Gardiner, Art writer and co-Director of the Chartwell Collection

Sunday May 3 - 11 am (30 mins)
Taking Shape
Dr Robin Woodward, Senior lecturer Dept Art History, University of Auckland

Sunday May 3 - 2pm (45 mins)
Panel discussion: How do you know its good?
Don Thompson, Author and economist
Chris Saines, Director Auckland Art Gallery
Ariane Craig-Smith, Curator
Chaired by: Josie McNaught, Freelance arts journalist

All presentations will take place in the café area of the Art Fair except Joanna Langford and Rob Garrett’s which will be in the first shed under Joanna’s installation.

More information

Auckland Art Fair 2009 takes place from 1-3 May at the Marine Events Centre, Viaduct Harbour with 40 of New Zealand and Australia’s leading galleries showing works by the most exciting contemporary artists from both sides of the Tasman.