At the start of its 15th year, Contemporary Istanbul, the annual art fair, has appointed the PR Office. The agency will manage the PR around its December fair and the launch of its first virtual platform, signalling it as the only major art event taking place in 2020.

The appointment will ensure that Contemporary Istanbul is supported with communications that highlight the region’s impressive contemporary art scene amongst the global art fair circuit, cementing its position as one of the most coveted cultural events of the year. The PR Office will engage with art trade, international, luxury, lifestyle and consumer media and audiences to position the fair as the city’s epicentre of creativity, bringing together the region’s extensive art market and collector base. Ultimately, the PR Office will assist in expressing the importance of the fair and its location – a hive of artistic heritage, ancient and contemporary, uniquely placed at the crossroads of Europe and Asia – as an access point to the best contemporary art from the wider region.

Since its inception, the ethos of Contemporary Istanbul has been to act as the lead conduit into the region’s art market, contributing to the art education, appreciation and the formation of new art collector clusters. In keeping with its founding spirit, the 2020 programme will centre on the importance of global connectivity, the tenacity of contemporary international artists and the inclusivity of art itself.

In a holistic fashion and in celebration of its 15th anniversary, Contemporary Istanbul will launch its digital platform created in partnership with, and tested by, global management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. The innovative platform is part of a long-term project and something the art world has yet to experience. The PR Office will assist in the launch of the experiential platform.

Shimon Cohen, chairman of the PR Office, says, “We are delighted to add Contemporary Istanbul to our growing international client list and join them in marking such a significant anniversary at such a poignant time.”

Contemporary Istanbul 2020 runs from the 16-20 December at the Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center