Art Basel’s Conversations and Salon series will once again bring together key speakers including leading artists, gallerists, art historians, curators, museum directors, critics, and collectors from across the world to discuss a diverse range of topics.

The 27 talks will feature speakers including, Rosella Biscotti, Julien Bismuth, Mariana Castillo Deball, Simone Fattal, Matthew Higgs, Susan Hiller, Christian Jankowski, Jean Lamore, Lu Jie, Jumana Manna, Robin Meier, Aïda Muluneh, Ciprian Mure?an, Shelly Nadashi, Moataz Nasr, Erkka Nissinen, Wael Shawky, Lara Schnitger, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Barthélémy Toguo, Ulay, Danh V?, Peter Wächtler and Anicka Yi.

Some interesting Art Basel Conversations and Talks:

Public/Private | Works in Progress: Building New Art Institutions in Africa
Thursday, June 18, 10am to 11am

Marie-Cécile Zinsou, President, Fondation Zinsou, Cotonou, Benin; Touria El Glaoui, Founder, 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, London; Koyo Kouoh, Founding Artistic Director, RAW Material Company, Dakar; Mark Coetzee, Director and Chief Curator, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, Cape Town , Raphael Chikukwa, Chief Curator, National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Moderator: András Szántó, Author and Cultural Consultant, New York

Africa is associated with enormous social and economic challenges, but has arguably the greatest opportunities of any world region. This discussion of leading curators and institutional innovators evaluates both the promise and challenges of a continent that is commanding increasing interest in the international art community. Where are the greatest opportunities in Africa for the emergence of a robust arts infrastructure? What are the persistent challenges that stand in the way of global cultural and commercial recognition?

Art Basel Salon: Discussion | What Can Contemporary Art Do?
Friday, June 19, 1 pm to 2 pm

Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, Curator, Art Critic and Director, SAVVY Contemporary, Berlin; Moataz Nasr, Artist, Founder, Darb 1718 Contemporary Art & Culture Center, Cairo; Chris Dercon, Director, Tate Modern, London; Jean Lamore, Artist, Writer and Filmmaker, Paris.
Moderator: Simon Njami, Writer, Independent Curator, Founder and Chief Editor, Revue Noire, Paris

Art Basel Salon: Collector Talk | Collecting Africa
Friday, June 19, 5 pm to 6 pm 

Prince Yemisi Shyllon, Collector and Founder, Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation, Lagos; Bruce Campbell Smith, Collector, Cape Town
Moderator: Bomi Odufunade, Director, Dash & Rallo Art Advisory, London/Lagos

Artist Talk | Cultural Producers Africa
Saturday, June 20, 5 pm to 6 pm 

Barthélémy Toguo, Knight in the Order of Arts and Literature, France, and Artist and Founder of Bandjoun Station, Paris/Bandjoun, Cameroon ; Aïda Muluneh, Artist, Addis Ababa

Moderator: Marie-Ann Yemsi, Curator, agent créatif(s), Paris

For further details on this year’s Conversations and Salon program visit: www.artbasel.com