Cosmoscow International Contemporary Art Fair Announces Dates, Venue, and Programming for 2016 Edition

Strategic partner of the fair 

Credit Suisse AG is one of the world's leading financial services providers and is part of the Credit Suisse group of companies (referred to here as 'Credit Suisse'). As an integrated bank, Credit Suisse offers clients its combined expertise in the areas of private banking, investment banking and asset management. Credit Suisse provides advisory services, comprehensive solutions and innovative products to companies, institutional clients and high-­net‐worth private clients globally, as well as to retail clients in Switzerland. Credit Suisse is headquartered in Zurich and operates in over 50 countries worldwide. The group employs approximately 48,200 people. The registered shares (CSGN) of Credit Suisse's parent company, Credit Suisse Group AG, are listed in Switzerland and, in the form of American Depositary Shares (CS), in New York. Further information about Credit Suisse can be found at www.credit-­suisse.com.

 Jewelry partner of the fair 

Carrera y Carrera is an international Spanish jewelry firm considered one of the most prestigious in the world. Present in over 40 countries, the company has subsidiaries in the USA, China, Japan and Russia, and boutiques all over the world. This iconic brand is characterized by a unique style and precise designs that help the combination of matte‐gloss gold and work in volumes and carving to yield exceptional jewelry pieces, where gold and precious stones come to life. Carrera у Carrera regularly takes part in various cultural initiatives and supports notable exhibitions in Spain as well as in Russia. Further information about Carrera у Carrera can be found at www.carreraycarrera.com/en/the-­brand/history.

The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya 

Partner-­hotel of the fair 

The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya is a brand new hotel located at the heart of Moscow, only a few minutes’ walk from the Red Square and the Kremlin, the well-­known Bolshoi Theatre, GUM and TSUM. The hotel has 210 spacious rooms and suites, including Presidential and Royal Suites 150 sq m each. Some rooms feature views of the Kremlin and Red Square, while others have balconies with views of the interior courtyard patio. St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya offers guests Italian Osteria A Tavola, Robusto Cognac room, Orlov Lobby bar and lounge as well as 6 conference halls, including a Rooftop Bar with a panoramic Kremlin view. The hotel also boasts Iridium Spa coming to Russia for the first time. The spa area offers guests a sauna, steam room, 10‐metre indoor pool and a fully equipped fitness centre. A hallmark of the hotel is St. Regis Butler Service which provides exceptional personalized service for each guest. 

OFF WHITE AUCTION PARTNERS 

 Naked Heart Foundation 

Naked Heart Foundation is an international charity founded in 2004 by Natalia Vodianova, supermodel and philanthropist. Its mission is to help build an inclusive society that is open to people with disabilities and special needs, through play and the creation of free support services for disadvantaged families. To date over 140 play facilities have been built, and the Foundation continues to support a range of other Russian NGOs focused on children with special needs, as well as running a Family Support Centre in Nizhny Novgorod, organising annual international "Every Child Deserves a Family" forum, and delivering many more projects. 

Christie’s Auction House 

Christie’s, the world's leading art business, was founded in 1766 by James Christie and has since conducted the greatest and most celebrated auctions through the centuries providing a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. 2016 marks Christie’s 250th anniversary. Christie’s offers around 350 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Christie’s has a global presence with 54 offices in 32 countries and 12 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Mumbai. More recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in growth markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai. 

PARALLEL PROGRAMME PARTNERS 

MMOMA 

The Moscow Museum of Modern Art was founded by Zurab Tsereteli, President of the Russian Academy of Arts. It is the first state Russian museum that concentrates exclusively on the art of the 20th and 21st centuries. Today the Museum, with its five venues in the historic center of the city, plays a vital part in the Moscow art scene. The Museum’s permanent collection represents the major stages in the formation and development of the avant-­garde, especially in Russia. Many works have been acquired from European and American galleries and auction houses, and thus returned from abroad to form an integral part of Russia’s cultural legacy. An extensive section of the permanent display is devoted to Non­‐Conformist art of the 1960s–1980s. Apart from expanding the permanent collection and organizing multiple temporary exhibitions each year, the Museum engages in various other activities, including research and conservation work, book publishing and others. One of the Museum’s priorities is to promote young and emerging artists, bringing them into the contemporary artistic process. 

Valery Koshlyakov Exhibition at the Russian Impressionism Museum in Moscow 

In September 2016, right after opening its doors to the public, the new Russian Impressionism museum will present the first ever personal exhibition of one of the most known and important contemporary Russian artists – Valery Koshlyakov. Valery Koshlyakov has represented Russia at leading international art events, including the Venice Biennale and the São Paulo Art Biennial. His works has been exhibited at major European and USA museums, including the Louvre in Paris, State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, the Guggenheim Museum in New York and Bilbao, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington and many other institutions. Some of his works are part of the major private and public collections all over the world. The exhibition will be accompanied by the publication of an extensive catalogue and a documentary. 

Vladimir Smirnov and Konstantin Sorokin Foundation 

In 2008, combining their efforts and creative ideas, Vladimir Smirnov and Konstantine Sorokin created the Modern Arts Fund. Its doors were thrown wide open to artists creating their art without frameworks, borders or conditions. The Fund’s mission is to promote young Russian artists, and it supports them by providing opportunities to put creative ideas into practice. The Fund put on its first project, “WC”, with great success in December of 2010 within the framework of the first Cosmoscow art fair. In 2011, the Fund acquired its own studios. The former factory premises today bring the visions of contemporary Russian artists to life, as works are created for the Fund’s projects. With each new project, the Fund’s capabilities aimed at the realization of its goals are strengthened and enhanced. The Fund’s foreign projects attract even more aRention of contemporary art lovers. 

The Ekaterina Cultural Foundation 

The Ekaterina Cultural Foundation was established by Ekaterina and Vladimir Semenikhin in 2002. Since then the Foundation has been engaged in a variety of activities, such as organizing exhibitions, publishing, collecting works by contemporary artists, and supporting cultural and educational projects. In February 2007, the first private exhibition space opened in Moscow — the halls of the Ekaterina Cultural Foundation in Kuznetsky Most. Since the very beginning the Foundation effectively cooperates with state museums, art centers, foundations and other non-­‐ commercial institutions both in Russia and abroad. One of the important aspects of the Foundation’s exhibition program is the introduction of Russian and international contemporary art to the Russian public. The publishing program requires the special attention. Almost all the exhibitions in the past have been preceded by an original catalogue. 

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 

Svetlana Shuvaeva was born in 1986 in Bugulma (Tatarstan Republic). In 2010 she graduated from the Samara State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (design faculty). In 2008 she has also taken part at the School of Contemporary Art by Vladimir Logutov. In 2010 she moved to Moscow where she lives and works today. Since 2007 she took part in group exhibitions in Russia, Ukraine and Austria. Svetlana’s first personal exhibitions took place in 2009 at 11 Rooms Gallery (Samara), Two Dots Gallery (Togliaf) and Marat Guelman Gallery (Moscow). Her latest personal exhibition to date took place in 2015 at the Peresvetov Pereulok Gallery (Moscow).