SCOPE Art Show (also known as just SCOPE and SCOPE Art Fair) is one of several global contemporary art fairs. The first fair featured 28 booths of galleries representing emerging artists. The art fairs are now held annually in New York, Miami, East Hampton, London, and Basel, each presenting between 60 and 100 exhibitors. Total sales have now reached nearly $100 million and the number of visitors has exceeded 250,000[1]. SCOPE now also includes ongoing events, educational programs, and the SCOPE Foundation 501(c) 3.
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SCOPE was founded by artist and gallerist Alexis Hubshman and gallerist Peter Surace. The first art fair was held at New York’s Gershwin Hotel.. SCOPE began as an international exhibition of 28 galleries, curators, and art organizations. Each exhibitor featured one emerging artist. SCOPE planned to hold SCOPE New York annually and to possibly expand to other major cities. Daily events included a panel on the Harlem Renaissance, a Special Collectors’ Day, Cinema-SCOPE screenings of films and videos, and a day of performance art.
In 2004, SCOPE New York, on March 12–15 March at the Hotel Gansevoort, expanded to feature 65 international exhibitors and included the new Culture on the Verge Party to open the fair. In addition to the continuing Miami, New York, and Los Angeles fairs, SCOPE added a fair in London at the Melia White House in Regents Park on October 15–18 October 2004. This fair launched another new initiative, Performance-SCOPE.
In 2005, SCOPE included the Hamptons and Venice in its program. The first SCOPE Hamptons took place on July 15–17 July at Hampton Hall. Venice, a special project, featured artist Jason Hackensworth. SCOPE New York, Hamptons, London, and Miami were held again in 2005 and 2006.
In 2007, SCOPE Basel was held for the first time at E-Halle on June 12–17. SCOPE New York, Hamptons and Miami were held as well. SCOPE New York moved to Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center, where it would remain the following year. Shuttles ran between SCOPE New York and Armory Show throughout the fairs.
In a 2011 interview with art critic Brian Sherwin for FineArtViews, SCOPE Show Director Mollie White stated that SCOPE Art Show focuses on providing an international, innovative, and dynamic platform for contemporary art. White claimed that SCOPE explores art that is generally overlooked by other contemporary art fairs and that SCOPE is one of the first contemporary art fairs to fully embrace social media and the Internet.[2]
The Collector Mentorship Auction allows young collectors to further their knowledge of the art field by bidding on mentorship hours with established collectors. The silent auction takes place at each fair, begins at the preview reception and continues throughout each weekend. Young art collectors from the Whitney Contemporaries, the Guggenheim Museum’s Young Collectors Council, the Core Club, and the Soho House, among others, bid for the opportunity to work with more experienced collectors such as Beth Rudin DeWoody, Warhol collaborator Bob Colacello, Enrique Norten, Jed Walentas, and Brooklyn Museum director Arnold Lehman. The bidding starts at $500 and goes up in $100 increments.[3]
SCOPE Hamptons 2008 includes a Green Lecture/Panel Discussion featuring architects and representatives from both Verdant Magazine and the Parrish Art Museum. SCOPE has also replaced some of their products with eco-friendly substitutes, including recycled paper and soy-based inks.
The SCOPE Foundation benefits artists, curators, and under-serviced communities in its destination cities. Originally, the foundation offered grants to emerging artists and independent curators.
The Emerging Artist grant offers recipients a $2,000 grant. The cash award is intended to further the vision and career of artists with emerging talent, who demonstrate extraordinary future promise.
The Independent Curator Award is given to an emerging curator who is not funded or supported by a private or non-profit organization or a gallery. A panel of arts professionals reviews proposals submitted by participating curators; the winning curator receives an exhibition room at no cost during the next SCOPE fair.
The Arctic Circle (tac): A series of artist-led expeditions to The Arctic Circle aboard a traditionally rigged sailing vessel, followed by an international exhibit schedule.[4].
The Girl Project: explores the lives of American teenage girls through photographic images they create themselves. Using the raw, honest qualities of film, girls communicate female adolescence as only they know and understand it. For more information please visit thegirlproject.org.[5]
Orden, Erica (July 24, 2008). "Up for Bid at SCOPE Hamptons: Collector Mentorship". New York Sun. http://www.nysun.com/arts/up-for-bid-at-scope-hamptons-collector-mentorship/82508/. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
"SCOPE Basel 2008 Contemporary Art Fair". Artipedia. May 27, 2008. http://artipedia.org/artsnews/exhibitions/2008/05/27/scope-basel-2008-contemporary-art-fair/
"SCOPE Foundation". SCOPE Foundation. 2008-07-25. http://www.scope-foundation.org. Retrieved 2008-07-25.