Hanmer MS&L Puts India Art Summit on Global Art Fairs Map

Hanmer MS&L, Manning Selvage & Lee’s network in India, has organized India Art Summit™, the largest exhibition of Indian art held to date in India. The Summit will take place in New Delhi from August 22-24, 2008, and is being considered the most comprehensive collection of modern and contemporary Indian art and India’s initiative in the world art fair circuit.  

The Summit includes exhibits from 35 renowned galleries from India and overseas and will showcase the work of over 200 artists. The first of its kind initiative has the support of the Government of India, Sotheby's and NBC, and is expected to be attended by a guest list of India's and the world's leading collectors of Indian art. A variety of mediums, including paintings, sculptures, photography, mixed media, video, prints, installations and drawings will be showcased, filling a void in India’s cultural and art scene.

The Hanmer MS&L team produced all aspects of the logistics and implementation for the inaugural event. Attendance of more than 6,000 art lovers and collectors is expected at the event, which is collaborative platform to increase the appreciation and accessibility of Indian art on a global scale.          

“At a juncture where the Indian art industry is estimated to be worth around $400 million, growing at over 30% each year, the time is just right for an industry platform to be introduced,” said Sunil Gautam, group managing director of Hanmer MS&L. “India Art Summit ™ is a pioneering step in that direction and an effort to help organize and upgrade the art market in India by providing a common stage to engage with artists, art lovers, collectors and other industry associates. We hope this event will fortify lasting partnerships between the art fraternity and the ever growing investor base in India.”

Globally acclaimed personalities from the art world are scheduled to attend and speak at the summit to share insights and discuss the future of Indian art. The Art Forum is an expert speaker session and panel discussion on Indian art by acclaimed international speakers which will take place on the second day of the fair (August 23), and will be attended by over 200 delegates. The two main focus areas of the Art Forum are growth and development of Indian art and Art Commerce. The speakers include Deepak Ananth, curator, art historian & writer; Dr. Deborah Swallow, Märit Rausing director, Courtauld Institute of Art and Dr. Robert Storr, Dean of Yale University School of Art, Dr. Hugo Weihe, International Director-Asian Art at Christie’s and Philip Hoffman, Chief Executive of The Fine Art Fund Group.

Hanmer MS&L, which started operations as Hanmer & Partners from a single office in Mumbai in 1999, today has emerged as the country’s largest independent multi-disciplinary communications agency. In October 2007, Hanmer & Partners was acquired by Publicis Groupe’s MS&L. Hanmer MS&L is a full- service firm with 415 staff in 43 major cities, servicing 200 top Indian and multinational clients. The agency has expertise in a wide range of verticals, including art and culture, consumer, lifestyle & hospitality, financial services, IT & telecom, media & entertainment, auto, aviation, engineering & infrastructure, and healthcare.

For nearly 15 years, MS&L Asia has counseled global, regional and local clients on important communications issues facing their businesses and led award-winning programs. Across six core practice areas of corporate, consumer, healthcare, technology, B2B and digital communications, its teams specialize in supporting international brands seeking to establish, strengthen, protect and expand their businesses in Asia. Regionally headquartered in China, the MS&L Asia network has more than 550 staff in 16 owned offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Its clients’ programs are strengthened by a network of 33 owned locations across India and strong partners in 15 additional Asia markets.

More details on the India Art Summit TM can be found at www.indiaartsummit.com.

About Manning Selvage & Lee
MS&L is one of the world's leading global communications firms. Headquartered in New York, MS&L has 54 offices throughout North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia-Pacific, as well as an extensive global affiliate network.  The agency meets the needs of global and local clients by providing best-in-class services in consumer marketing PR, healthcare PR, corporate communications and technology communications, as well as industry-leading work in digital communications.  In 2008, MS&L was named CRO’s #1 PR firm in Corporate Responsibility, won PRWeek’s Promotional Event of the Year award and the Holmes Report’s PR Product of the Year award for Innovation in Influencer Marketing.  

MS&L is a member of the Publicis Groupe (Euronext Paris: FR0000130577), the world’s fourth largest communications group, and a global leader in digital and online advertising, media consulting, and healthcare communications. With some 44,000 professionals in 104 countries, the Groupe's activities cover advertising through three global advertising networks:  Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, as well as through its two multi-hub networks Fallon Worldwide and 49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty; media agencies with two worldwide networks ZenithOptimedia and Starcom MediaVest Group; and marketing services, including digital and interactive communications through Digitas, relationship and direct marketing, public and media relations, corporate and financial communications, multicultural communications, and event communications. The Groupe is also the world leader in healthcare communications. Web site: www.publicisgroupe.com.
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