Hollands international pride, the TEFAF Maastricht, will celebrate their Silver Jubilee in 2012. During the TEFAF, from 16 to 25 March, a number of initiatives will mark the 25 years since it transformed from a small-scale event into the most important art and antiques fair on a global level.

A treat for the public will be the exhibition of master drawings by some of the greatest artists in history, including Leonardo da Vinci, Guercino, Rembrandt van Rijn and Peter Paul Rubens, which are on loan from the Fondation Custodia in Paris, this in sharp contrast with the first-ever BMW Art Car, created by the American artist Alexander Calder in 1975.

Giovanni Francesco Barbieri called Guercino (1591-1666), Study of a nude child for the infant Christ, seated on the Virgin’s knee
Red chalk, washed over, heightened with white on buff paper, 254 x 197 mm; inv. no. 6170
Collection Fondation Custodia

For those who have visited the TEFAF in the past, the spectacular entrance, decorated with the Netherlands export product number one, is always a welcome treat when entering the fair grounds. In celebration of the 25th anniversary a new tulip variety was developed which will be unveiled at the fair. I wonder whether we will greeted at the entrance with a overwhelming sea of this new TEFAF Tulip in combination the light installation designed by the artist Leo Villareal.

A particularly interesting initiative is that the organisers will present together with artnet the Art Symposium, Change and Challenges – the Art Market’s Past 25 Years and its Future, on the morning of Friday, 16 March. As if a high-end culinary wizard waiting for the annual edition of the Michelin Guide, professional and collectors will have to be patient until Dr Clare McAndrew presents TEFAF 2012 Art Market Report as the first speaker of the symposium. Following are lectures by Professor Rachel Pownall, Associate Professor of Finance at Tilburg University, and Fabian Bocart, Quantitative Research Director at Tutela Capital. After a short break a panel discuss will be initiated, titled : Collecting - For Love or for Money? Panel members are Annabelle Birnie (Director Sponsoring, Art Management & Events  at ING) as the moderator, J. Patrice Marandel (Curator of Paintings at Los Angeles County Museum of Art), Philip Hoffman (Chief Executive at The Fine Art Fund Group), Fabian Bocart (Quantitative Research Director  at Tutela Capital), Francesco Micheli, (private collector) and  Xavier Auerbach (Tax expert at PricewaterhouseCoopers) Although all are invited to attend, priced at € 95,- per person, the  symposium will probably only attract professionals, avid collectors and press.