If no one assumes responsibility as spokesman, the Frankfurt Galleries Interest Group (IG Galleries) will decide to end it in March.

The incumbent speakers, the gallery owners Anita Beckers, Heike Strelow and Jacky Strenz, put the dissolution at the top of the agenda in the invitation to the IG meeting at the end of March.

It was already clear when they were elected two years ago that they would not run again.

This means that an association that has existed for more than 30 years and which, among other things, organizes the start of the season together and forms a platform, would be on the verge of collapse.

Christopher Schutte

Freelance author in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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This development is not surprising.

Again and again we heard about differences of opinion among the members: How to present yourself apart from the joint start of the season, for example, who should take care of the digital presence, the accounting, the newsletter and who does all the unpaid work.

Apparently everyone was already busy looking after their own artists, fairs and exhibitions and sales.

"A thankless job" was the organization, was heard again and again.

With just 500 euros a month with practically no budget, there is no question of a necessary mini job or part-time job, especially since some do not even want to pay the annual membership fee of 200 euros.

Not to mention the content.

Sometimes non-members should also be invited to take part in the tour of the galleries, sometimes not, sometimes free spaces should be mentioned in the program and sometimes not at all, regular participants report that it was never possible to "please everyone", not to mention recognition anyway.

Sometimes, also due to high fluctuation, it was not clear who the members of the IG were - and what the common interests were.

Different interests

When the last newsletter announced last year that the IG was discontinuing regular information about exhibitions and trade fair participation by its members, it was basically clear: the cohesion is not looking good.

Perhaps the form of the IG has survived after a good 35 years of joint appearance.

After all, the interests and profile of regional, national or international galleries, including the remaining 30 or so represented under the umbrella of the IG, are quite different.

And now they are all being challenged by the pandemic.

It's still sad and not necessarily conducive to the public image.

The multifaceted range of media, styles and temperaments has always characterized Frankfurt as a gallery location.

After all, the start of the season, the joint appearance after the summer break in September, should be retained: exploring the possibilities for this is also on the agenda for the decisive meeting.

Maybe there will be someone by the end of March to organize one of the oldest season starts in Germany.

Even if he can't please anyone in the end.