Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair May Close

July 2, 2009 By: Jena Tesse Fox

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The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair recently celebrated its 75th anniversary—but, we hear, it appears that the recent week-long fest might be the last. According to Luxist, The British Antique Dealers' Association has said the fair will close down as it is no longer financially viable. The event is held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London's Park Lane. This year more than 90 dealers exhibited works ranging from medieval sculpture to contemporary photographs. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attended the Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair Charity Gala on June 11.

In preparation for the fair, the Grosvenor House Hotel had to close down access to its Great Room for most of the month of June. The cost of the loss of revenue plus the increasing price of insurance and staging fees weighed down the fair budget. Like many other art and antiques fairs, The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair suffered a lack of corporate sponsorship this year.

The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair began in 1934 as a way of generating interest in art and antiques during the Great Depression. Over the years, the fair's popular gala opening event has been attended by royalty and celebrities. This year's fair was run under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra.