The Open Art Fair

The Open Art Fair is a major showcase of fine art, design and antiques taking place in London in the early spring each year.

It came into existence after the British Antique Dealers’ Association sold a majority stake in its annual BADA Fair in 2019 to dealer Thomas Woodham-Smith and Harry Van der Hoorn, owner of Dutch stand builder Stabilo.

The fair retains strong representation from members of the British Antique Dealers’ Association but is also open to selected non-BADA members.


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The Open Art Fair plans new dates and venue after postponing 2023 edition

20 February 2023

The Open Art Fair (TOAF) is investigating new dates and venues after it was forced to scrap its edition for this year.

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The Open Art Fair called off due to insufficient interest

15 February 2023

The Open Art Fair (TOAF) has been scrapped for this year, the latest in a string of fair cancellations across the market.

The Open Art Fair

The Open Art Fair set to spring back into action

03 October 2022

The Open Art Fair is set to return next spring. Part owned by BADA (British Antique Dealers’ Association), it is scheduled to run in a purpose-built marquee in Duke of York Square, Chelsea, from April 19-23.

The Open Art Fair

The Open Art Fair organiser plans for return

07 March 2022

The organiser of The Open Art Fair (TOAF) in Chelsea vows the event will return next year.

ATG letter: Not really ‘sharing the pain’

22 March 2021

MADAM – Re: ‘Fair loses appeal over early closure’, front page, ATG No 2484.

The Open Art Fair

The Open Art Fair loses court appeal over early closure

15 March 2021

BADA Ltd, the organiser of The Open Art Fair, has lost an appeal against a small claims court ruling that said two dealers need pay only part of their stand fee as the event was cut short.

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Open Art Fair appeals court ruling on stand fee

11 January 2021

The organiser of The Open Art Fair is to appeal a small claims court ruling that said two dealers need pay only part of their stand fee as the event was cut short.

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Open Art Fair: BADA to refund 20% stand cost

13 April 2020

The British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA) Council is giving members who exhibited at the curtailed The Open Art Fair (TOAF) sums equivalent to 20% of their stand rental charges.

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The Open Art Fair goes ahead – but closes after two days

23 March 2020

The Open Art Fair, the new incarnation of what was the annual BADA fair in Chelsea, opened in hugely difficult circumstances on Wednesday March 18.

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Coronavirus fears force cancellations across antiques fairs calendar

16 March 2020

Salon du Dessin, Art & Antiques for Everyone and Chelsea shelved but TOAF to go ahead

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Interviews: First-time exhibitors and returning dealers at The Open Art Fair 2020

09 March 2020

The first edition of 'The Open Art Fair' opens this month having morphed out of the BADA Fair. Here we speak to three dealers who have previously stood at the BADA event and another who has signed up for the first time.

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The Open Art Fair: Open for business in every sense

09 March 2020

Organisers of the new fair launching this month aim for an atmosphere welcoming to all

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The Open Art Fair: exhibitors told fair debut 'is going ahead’ despite coronavirus fears

04 March 2020

Organisers of The Open Art Fair, successor to the BADA Fair, have written to exhibitors confirming the event will go ahead from March 18-24 in London – despite the cancellation of other high-profile art market on coronavirus concerns.

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Art After Hours - charity event launches at new The Open Art Fair

21 February 2020

The Open Art Fair taking place next month at Duke of York Square in Chelsea will host a Next Generation party to raise money for charity.

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2020 vision

23 December 2019

For better or worse, Brexit is finally set to proceed and will be a major factor in the year ahead – as will timed auctions, anti-money laundering rules, the looming prospect of a near-total ivory trade ban, antiquities challenges and a new buying ethos based on cultural sensitivities, changes at major fairs and a growing ‘green’ movement.

BADA makes better communication pledge

07 October 2019

The British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA) has committed to greater transparency and more consultation with its 300-plus members before key decisions affecting the trade body’s future are made.

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BADA set to hold meeting over fair sale

23 September 2019

The British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA) is to hold a meeting for members on October 1 to discuss the sale of its fair and other concerns raised recently.

Statement by officers of the BADA council

23 September 2019

BADA sent ATG this statement last week providing further details on the sale of a majority stake in its fair

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Other traditional fairs have stayed the same and perished

23 September 2019

MADAM – Amid the BADA voices calling for an EGM (ATG No 2409), let me add that one thing is certain: the days of traditional art and antiques fairs are numbered, thanks to changing tastes and an ageing buyer audience.

Better to sell viable proposition now

23 September 2019

MADAM – The decision by BADA’s council to sell a majority stake in the fair was based on reliable information that the event faced making significant losses in the coming years. When we were approached by Thomas Woodham-Smith and Harry Van der Hoorn with an offer to invest in the fair, we had the opportunity to say ‘no’.

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