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2nd Annual Conference on art investment receives high marks

The 2nd Annual Conference on Art Investment was held on Friday, 30th May by the London Business School and received high marks from both financial and art market professionals. 

This year's conference was sponsored by FAWM and brought together over 130 attendees from around the world including private bankers, investment managers, art market professionals and academics in a unique one day forum. 

The conference is the only global forum of it's kind to focus exclusively on art as an alternative asset class and the disciplines required to analyse this complex field of investment. 

Keynote speaker at this year's conference was Dr. Clare McAndrew, an economist and analyst on the art market economy who presented her recently completed study on the global art market for The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF).  One of the most striking results of the study was the replacement of France by China as the second most important art market by value after New York and London. 

Randall Willette, Managing Director and Founder of FAWM spoke about the global emergence of art investment funds and some of the common trends developing with short term arbitrage opportunities and a focus predominantly on up and coming art markets driving much of current strategy. This was followed by a prestigous panel of academics, private bankers and art fund providers moderated by Jessica-Knopp Gwynne, Head of Strategy for FAWM.

The highlight of the afternoon session was an inspiring presentation by Neville Tuli, Founder and Chairman of Osians-Connoisseurs and the largest auction house in India.  Established in 2000 as a pioneering arts institution, Mr. Tuli presented his vision of creating a new infrastructure and model for Indian arts and culture independent of traditional patronage systems.