Independent Collectors

Independent Collectors is an online community and editorial platform for contemporary art collectors.[1] Founder Christian Kaspar Schwarm originally launched the site in June 2008.[2] Independent Collectors is said to be the largest online resource of privately owned art and also offers a forum to discuss topics on collecting.[3][4] Independent Collectors is based in Berlin, Germany.[5] Die Zeit has described the site as a "Facebook for aesthetics".[6]

History

Christian Kaspar Schwarm originally came up with the idea based upon his own experiences of collecting contemporary artwork, noting that he was able to get to know gallery owners but not fellow collectors.[7] He then teamed up with Ulrich Grothe and Uwe Thomas to found the website in 2008, to allow for easier communication between collectors.[8][9] In 2009, the site entered into a partnership with automobile manufacturer BMW, as well as starting a content-based partnership with insurance company Allianz in 2014.[10]

Website

The Independent Collectors website offers a platform to showcase, share and discover contemporary art collections online.[11] In December 2016, the website's collectors community counts more than 5,000 registered members in 97 countries.[12][13] Members are required to adhere to the ethical code of Independent Collectors stating that they will not use the website for business related purposes.[14] Each member application is individually verified, yet approved users can select to keep their identity anonymous.[15]

Since 2008 Independent Collectors cooperates with various art fairs and institutions such as Art Basel, Frieze Art Fair, FIAC, The Armory Show and Frankfurter Allgemeine Forum conference, among others. Registered community members benefit from special offers such as VIP tickets, private tours and selected publications.

After a relaunch in early 2015, Independent Collectors complemented its closed community area with an open, publicly accessible editorial program on collecting. The website now incorporates a diverse program focused on online exhibitions and interviews, offering an insight into the culture of contemporary collecting.

BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors

In 2012, Independent Collectors and BMW created the BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors, an Art Guide then featuring 173 private but publicly accessible collections of contemporary art from around the world.[16] The first edition of the book was presented during Art Basel.[17] Next to listing the visitor information and descriptions of the respective collections, the publication features short essays concerning contemporary aspects of collecting art.[18]

In October 2016, the fourth extended version of the Art Guide was published by Hatje Cantz.[19][20] The book was launched during Frieze Art Fair London and includes 256 private art collections from 43 countries "featuring large and small, famous and the relatively unknown".[21]

The fourth BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors is published in print and digitally as an eBook and is available in English and German. Featured collections include, among others: Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), White Rabbit – Contemporary Chinese Art Collection, Lyon Housemuseum, Maison Particulière, Vanhaerents Art Collection, Herbert Foundation, Verbeke Foundation, Inhotim – Instituto de Arte Contemporânea & Jardim Botânico, Rennie Collection at Wing Sang, M Woods, Collection Lambert, La Maison Rouge, Museum Frieder Burda, Sammlung Boros and Sammlung Hoffmann.[22]

Since 2013, the publication is accompanied by theBMW Art Guide Blog. As a place for additional content, the blog focuses on collection visits, personal interviews with collectors from around the world and offers further background information and insights into art world related topics.[23]

Allianz Kunst Kolleg

In collaboration with Allianz Independent Collectors initiated the Kunst Kolleg in 2014. The Allianz Kunst Kolleg is a series of expert written articles that gather useful information for managing a collection. The topics discussed include art donation, conservation and transport, as well as art market related subjects such as art advisory, digitization and art flipping, among others.[24]

All twelve articles are written by art journalists and compiled as a downloadable eReader.[25] Published in 2016, the Allianz Kunst Kolleg is currently available in German.

References
  1. "News-Detail". Art-Magazin. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  2. "News-Detail". Artinfo. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  3. "Leidenschaft schlägt Kalkül". Handelsblatt. Retrieved 7 November 2012..
  4. "50 under 50: The most exciting young collectors worldwide (part II)". Artinfo. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  5. Quiero arte, no (solo) dinero, El País, 28 June 2011, retrieved 24 August 2012
  6. "Facebook für Ästheten". Zeit Online. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  7. Showroom im Netz, Tagesspiegel, 21 March 2009, retrieved 2 November 2012
  8. "Pon tus cuadros en mi muro". Vanguardia. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  9. Jane O'Sullivan (6 October 2011). "Collecting Trends: Christian Schwarm". Australian Art Collector. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  10. "In Partnership with Allianz: INDEPENDENT COLLECTORS". Independent Collectors. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  11. Christiane Fricke (1 October 2011), Leidenschaft schlägt Kalkül, Handelsblatt, retrieved 24 August 2012
  12. Jennifer Becker (10 January 2012), Relaunch bei den Independent Collectors, Kunst Magazin, retrieved 24 August 2012
  13. "Contemporary Club Culture - Interview with Independent Collector`s team". Indechs. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  14. "Collecting Trends: Christian Schwarm - Art Collector". www.artcollector.net.au. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
  15. "Indipendent-Collectors: intervista al padre della community per collezionisti". Collezione da Tiffany. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  16. BMW Art Guide=Sleek Mag, 29 June 2012, retrieved 2 November 2012
  17. "What people are talking about BMW Art Guide". Vogue Italia. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  18. "Eine Kirche namens Kunst". Monopol. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  19. http://www.hatjecantz.de/the-fourth-bmw-art-guide-by-independent-collectors-6940-1.html
  20. | title=Öffentliche Privatsache= Florian Zobl p.28 - 29.|date=24. November 2013|
  21. HYPERALLERGIC: The Fourth BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors
  22. "The Fourth BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors: the Global Guide to Private Collections". Hyperallergic. 2016-12-13. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
  23. Anna Rudenko (1 July 2013), BMW initiates a blog as a supplement to the paper edition of the "BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors", Popsop, retrieved 4 December 2013
  24. "Wa(h)re Kunst: Worauf Sammler achten sollten". www.allianzdeutschland.de. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
  25. https://www.allianzdeutschland.de/der-108-seitige-reader-worauf-sammler-achten-sollten-/id_79578668/tid_da/index
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