Art fairs

The annual calendar is published in January, then updated every week. Each entry gives the name of the fair, the city, the dates, the intended audience — trade or general public —, the specialty and the organiser's website.

Fairs that do not meet the due diligence commitments may be removed from the calendar as a precautionary measure.

Organisers declare their fair at least thirty days in advance, undertake to request a provenance certificate for the most prominently displayed works, display the OIMAP charter and report any incident to the authorities.

A due diligence officer is appointed for each fair. The officer answers questions from visitors and authorities and receives training from the Academy.

For the largest fairs, OIMAP agents and customs officers may inspect the stands. They check that documents are present, compare works against the BIOP registry and advise exhibitors.

These checks are announced to organisers and are carried out with respect for visitors and exhibitors.

Exhibitors prepare their file in advance: work records with provenance, certificates of authenticity, export permits. They keep these documents at the stand and can show them on request.

An exhibitor who receives a BIOP alert must withdraw the work from the stand without delay and inform the organiser.

Visitors may ask to see the provenance documents for a work, check its OIMAP number and report an anomaly to the organiser. Purchases must be accompanied by an itemised invoice and a certificate.

For major purchases, it is advisable to ask for a period of reflection and to have the work examined by an accredited expert.