BOLOGNA.- Signature photography will be one of the great new features of Arte Fiera 2014. There will be a special section dedicated to this art form, represented exclusively by galleries specializing in art photography. BolognaFiere has signed a multi-year agreement with MIA Fair, Italy’s first and most important art photography and video tradeshow, developed and directed by Fabio Castelli, who will be bringing top art photography galleries to Bologna’s up-coming edition of Arte Fiera .

The decision of Arte Fiera to broaden the scope of Exhibitors to include photography, initiating collaboration between two highly rated Italian tradeshows is indicative of the growing importance of photography as a contemporary art medium. The upcoming Arte Fiera acknowledges this artistic expression with a special new section.

“ARTEFIERA is working with the Milan show to develop Arte Fiera’s new photography section, thanks to a long-term agreement with MIA’s creator and curator who each year will bring to Bologna a selection of top art photography galleries”, explained BolognaFiere’s Chairman, Duccio Campagnoli.

“I’m very happy”, says Fabio Castelli, “about the partnership now underway between Arte Fiera and MIA Fair to bring art photography to one of Italy’s most prestigious showcases. It’s a further milestone for this expressive art form now recognized on a par with other artistic media. Participation in Arte Fiera is also a clear demonstration of this tradeshow’s openness and ability to read market trends; it also marks another chapter in the MIA Fair story that in just a few years has met with wide public and specialist acclaim.”

20 galleries have been selected by MIA Fair for this section: Al Quindici, Artistocratic, DaDa East, Dietrolequinte, Forma Galleria, mc2 gallery, Officine dell'Immagine, Galleria Pack, PH Neutro, Photographica Fine Art, R.B. Contemporary, Sabrina Raffaghello Arte Contemporanea, Romberg Arte Contemporanea, Galleria Six, Spazio Nuovo, Valeria Bella, Vision Quest, Fabbrica Eos, Little Birds Gallery and Glauco Cavaciuti Arte.

They will show art projects by Italian artists - Franco Fontana, Vittore Fossati, Maurizio Galimberti, Mario Giacomelli, Paolo Ventura - and international names like Andres Serrano (Cuba), Robert Gligorov (Macedonia), Gohar Dashti (Iran), Abbas Kiarostami (Iran) and Olivier Roller (France).

The aim is to present an historical overview of photography from early art work through to contemporary production by both well-known and emerging photographers. On show in some booths will be the work of several artists grouped under general topics like Journeys, Non-Places, the Human Body and Spaces. Other galleries will adopt the format of the Milan show and present monographic collections, providing an exhaustive and compelling overview of the work and development of a single artist.