It was one of the most anticipated artistic and commercial events of the Parisian season. The Design Miami Paris fair was to be held in October on the sidelines of Paris+, the new contemporary art fair succeeding the FIAC, at the ephemeral Grand Palais. The ace ! The inaugural edition supposed to bring together the cream of international design merchants, some forty-six exhibitors, has just been canceled. The former prefect of Paris, Didier Lallement, in fact, refused in June the request to occupy the Place de la Concorde, where she had planned to pitch her tent. A decision confirmed on July 29 by his successor, Laurent Nunez.
The City of Paris and the Rue de Valois had nevertheless shown themselves in favor of an event with a strong economic impact, which promised to attract celebrities, decorators and collectors with deep pockets to the capital. Technically, the organization of a fair posed no problem, the site having already hosted events as varied as Solidays, Who’s Next or La Nuit blanche, as well as, for twelve years, the Paris forum for employment, whose next edition takes place on October 7 and 8. “If the Olympic Games can take place at Place de la Concorde, why couldn’t a design fair be held there? »is surprised Michel Lefèvre, general manager of Paris pour l’emploi, who had proposed to Design Miami to pool its marquee.
Fear of social movements
When contacted, the prefecture takes refuge laconically behind “security issues”. For those close to the case, the excessively long occupation of the square, which should have been secured for more than a week, as well as the fear of social movements justified the prefectural ban.
“The authorities fear demonstrations of the type” yellow vests “”believes someone familiar with the case, recalling “the proximity of the Elysée and the United States Embassy”. The final negotiations carried out at the end of July to make Laurent Nunez relent, reputed to be more diplomatic than his severe predecessor Didier Lallement, did not succeed. “The City of Paris remains committed to ensuring that events dedicated to contemporary creation can take place in the capital”nevertheless assures the entourage of Anne Hidalgo.