Diplomat Affairs Magazine and PAN Amsterdam: In touch with the Dutch Diplomat Affairs Magazine is delighted to partner with PAN Amsterdam 2021 to highlight this outstanding Dutch Art fair. We were delighted to ask Mr Mark Grol, Managing Director of PAN a few questions. BY JULIE KENNEDY/PORTRET DESIREE ENGELAGE
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Mr Grol, I can imagine that your first year as managing Director under the aegis of the Corona pandemic was not what you had expected and the lockdown and cancellation of the 2020 version a hard blow, what insights would you say you gathered from this period? I think I am not alone in saying that the Covid experience has turned our lives and our busi-nesses upside down. As an Art fair, our whole raison d’etre is to bring people together to enjoy art and to network with others who share their passion. Although having to cancel the 2020 PAN Amsterdam was a massive blow 86 DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS
both us and to all of the participants, who are shareholders of the fair, it has been inspiring to see how they embraced the new Covid reality and exploited the exciting possibilities offered by social media and online sales. As a result, our world has not just survived, but as thrived in many areas, through new initiatives and diversification. I think there has been a lot of trepidation in the art world about moving online but the pandemic has shown us that it is possible and that the new technology currently available can really help propel us forward as an industry. I find it amusing how many people would have scoffed at joining a
Zoom event just 2 years ago and now must be per-suaded to turn up in person! Luckily everyone loves an art fair, especially after such an ex-traordinary year and a half, so it’s good to see ticket sales reflecting everyone’s desire to jump back into real life. As mentioned previously, PAN then had to operate in stealth mode to recoup losses and is now in full swing as PAN 2021 is about to open doors. What are you most excited about? That we’re coming back with a bang! We have the most amazing line up of participants, not just the galleries themselves who are, of course,
