Founder Christopher Alan Lane spoke about the years-long journey behind the project, the historical significance of the venue’s architecture, reflecting its Historism and Post-Modernist influences, and the programme for the Art Fair Weekend.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself first?
I am trained as an architect. I bring design and spatial knowledge to my work across the art and design sectors. My background combines formal architectural training with hands-on experience in the cultural field, working as director of Gallery Breyer, where I organize and curate exhibitions, art events, and happenings. This dual perspective, architectural paired with curatorial and event experience, allows me to approach projects with an understanding of how to bring creative concepts to life for an audience.
When and how did the idea for art.baden come about?
The idea for the art fair in Baden has existed for five years already. There have already been other new fairs taking place in Vienna in recent years, so we waited for them to consolidate. With a new management team in charge of Art and Culture at the City of Baden, an opportunity opened up.
It had been planned as a kind of „in-between“ fair in Austria, a mixed format, not one huge exhibition with a hundred galleries, but something more selective, a good mix of different galleries, still bigger than the established “boutique fairs” with around 25 exhibitors. The concept actually turned out to work well; it proved. The surprising part was that the announcement of the big fair’s cancellation didn’t change our concept in the end. The City of Baden supported my initiative. The mayor was on board immediately. Besides me, the main person involved was Florian Bendl from the Congress Center Baden. Florian Bendl is responsible for venue operations: events in halls, concerts, and so on.
Tell me about Baden as a location, and the venue: Casino Baden. What makes it unique?
Baden has a strong tradition, and Casino Baden itself is a unique space. Over the decades, it has undergone various transformations, from the 1990s annexes that made it Europe’s largest casino to more historic rooms and salons dating back to the spa house of the 1880s. The city of Baden was first mentioned in historical records in the early Middle Ages, while the hot springs were already known to the Romans. From the 18th century onwards, it developed into a popular destination for the Habsburgs and Austrian emperors. Casino Baden will remain in operation during the fair, giving the event an unusual, almost American character.
A lot is happening in Baden alongside the fair, right?
A Festival La Gacilly-Baden Photo is happening at the same time, right by the Casino, plus parks and other attractions you can explore. Baden is also essentially an open-air museum, with buildings dating back to the Biedermeier after the great fire of 1812. The Arnulf Rainer Museum is another highlight that visitors should definitely explore. Visitors could spend the morning discovering the museum, the exhibition, and taking a walk through the historic city centre or exploring other historic buildings, before coming to the fair and Casino Baden in the afternoon or evening.
How did you come into contact with galleries participating this year, and how many booths are going to be presented in the Congress Center?
We’re pleased to have some international positions: galleries from across Europe, and even one from Australia, which was partly a lucky coincidence through personal connections. Almost all contacts are coming down to personal contacts and trust; several galleries came through direct relationships rather than open applications. When you’re just starting, having those personal connections in place is essential.
We deliberately kept it small: around 40 booths and artist statements on 3 floors, focused on quality and contemporary work, rather than the 100+ booths you’d see at a big trade-fair-style event. We wanted something well-curated and focused.
We have different rooms at different price points depending on the historic character of the space; some rooms have more wall space, higher ceilings, better natural lighting, others are smaller with more constrained walls (e.g., under a sloped roof). We priced per meter of usable wall space rather than per square meter or flat booth fee, since the physical layout varies widely from room to room. Coming from an architecture background, that’s actually where I started, trying to optimize the use of each room.
How are galleries and sponsors linked in your model?
We were also inspired by a “sponsor-supported artist” model through our “Supported by…” program, curated by Marlene Heidinger. This model is more commonly used abroad (e.g., in the US) and is less common in Austria, mainly due to the lack of tax deductibility for art. The idea is that a sponsor — often a local collector or business — covers the cost of the booth and, in return, has their name associated with the presentation and becomes connected with the artist. The sponsor does not purchase the artwork itself but supports its presentation, and one of the works may become part of this relationship. If the connection develops over time, sponsors often remain involved as future patrons or collectors. It is not a direct sale; we are not a museum acquiring works. Rather, it is about building a network between artists, sponsors, and future collectors.
Will there be a special „surprise“ element to the fair?
Yes, we’re keeping some of it under wraps and not announcing everything in advance. There will be an artist talk, including a guest speaker discussing the broader art market, declining trust in some traditional houses, shifts in where collectors are focusing their attention, and related topics. We’ll also have someone from the local political/economic sphere joining a discussion about how the art market is taxed or supported. And there’s a photography exhibition and book signing planned as part of the program, and also studio visits and VIP tours.
What about funding? Is the fair publicly funded?
We are working together with Casino Baden, which provides the technical infrastructure and the exhibition spaces. We do have a small support and sponsorship structure in place. Curator and artist Marlene Heidinger has been securing sponsors for individual participating artists, mainly to help cover their booth costs. Renting the entire venue alone would amount to more than 100 thousand euros for the days of the fair, including setup and dismantling, so financing the space that way was never an option. Instead, this has developed through personal connections and networks.
Many things develop naturally through existing networks.
How big is the organizing team?
Very small; we are a team of five, not counting the house’s technical staff. We’re deliberately not trying to become a large bureaucratic operation; we rely heavily on personal connections.
What’s the plan going forward? Is this a one-off or an ongoing fair?
The idea, together with Florian Bendl, is to run the fair for a minimum of five years, and then see where it takes us. We are aware that launching something new is always a challenge, but we are very much looking forward to the fair.
How does someone get to the fair from Vienna?
The easiest way to get to Baden is by train. From the train station, it’s about a 10-minute walk through the city centre. You can also take the Badner Bahn, which takes a little longer but drops you off closer to the venue. If you are arriving by car, parking spaces are available right next to the Casino. But there will also be shuttle buses running, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings, approximately every hour, connecting Baden with other venues throughout the town.
Can you share your thoughts on what you’re hoping for from visitors and collectors?
Our goal is to attract an engaged audience, foster sustainable art sales, and encourage meaningful dialogue between collectors, galleries, and artists. We want Baden to become a recognized hub for the art scene, bringing cultural vibrancy to the city and creating long-term connections. And, of course, we aim for a full house!
art.baden – International art fair at Casino Baden
24 to 26 July 2026
Venue: Casino Baden, Kaiser Franz-Ring 1, 2500 Baden
Opening hours:
Fri., 24 July 2026, 6 PM – 7 PM (Vernissage)
Fri., 24 July 2026, 7 PM – 10 PM (Opening)
Sat., 25 July 2026, 2 PM – 11 PM (art.night)
Sun., 26 July, 2026, 2 PM – 8 PM
Tickets, full programme and further information: www.artbaden.at
Participating galleries (as of 7 July 2026): Galerie Lukas Feichtner / Wien, HEDWIG CHRISTEL ART COMMUNICATION / Berlin, ART NOVA / Berlin, DISTRICT4art & KunstohneEnde / Wien, Galerie Verve / Wien, EstherArtNewsletter ESTHER’S FRIENDS / Wien, Artcatto / Loule, Algarve / Portugal, Dr. Ema Kaiser / Wien, Galerie Breyer / Baden bei Wien, GALERIE BACHLECHNER / Graz, Galerie Maringer / St. Pölten, A0A;87 contemporary / Berlin / Deutschland, Kunstverein Baden / Baden, Galerie Heike Schumacher / Überlingen / Deutschland, Galerie Dürr/Gkotses / München / Germany, Ke.art NPO / Seoul / Südkorea, Archiv Josef Winkler / Katzelsdorf, Kunstverein Kärnten / Klagenfurt, Galerie Berggasse 29 / Wien, Atelier Galerie Roland Puschitz / Wien, wittignet – die Agentur / Klosterneuburg / Wien, Savarts Gallery / Wien, art moments / Wien, WOOMOI / Trzin / Slowenien, Artstore Pabst / Wien, Stefan Korinek / Gars am Kamp, Barbara Knoglinger-Janoth / Krems an der Donau, Ursula TheissI / Wien, Brigitte Hackl / Bad Vöslau
