The Absolut Company is proud to announce: ABSOLUT VODKA works through Absolut Art Bureau to support acclaimed artists, art writers and institutions

ABSOLUT has been active in the art world since 1985 and its recent collaboration is with Art Basel, the world's most prominent art fair for modern and contemporary works, which is held annually in Basel, Hong Kong, and Miami Beach. December 5th was the grand opening, this time in Miami.

Absolut Art Bureau, the newly formed unit of the Absolut Company is responsible for passing on the ABSOLUT VODKA art heritage. Through its diverse international sponsorships, Absolut Art Bureau encourages openness and experimentation in all visual media and across the full spectrum of contemporary art practice.

“We are delighted to be able to continue our creative heritage, to reach new audiences and to exchange ideas about art”, says Ulrika Lövdahl, Global Art Manager, Absolut Art Bureau. Most recently Absolut Art Bureau was Patron of dOCUMENTA 2012, one of the world's greatest art exhibitions, which takes place every fifth year in Kassel, Germany.

Holding discourse and the sharing of ideas is central to The Absolut Art Bureau and therefore it was now the Presenting Partner of “Art Basel Conversations”. “Art Basel Conversations” is a lively forum with programming ranging from artists sharing insight into their creative practices, to global art world opinion leaders including museum directors, curators, collectors, gallery directors and critics gathering to discuss some of today’s most important issues in the global art market and wider art community.

Continuing the conversations outdoors, Absolut Art Bureau with the Havanna-based artist collective Los Carpinteros, presented Guïro, an art bar installation.

"An important part of the process of exchanging ideas and holding discourse takes place at the spontaneous and informal meetings at the end of the day. We wanted to create a platform for these meetings. We tried out this concept during dOCUMENTA in Kassel with The Maybe Center for Conviviality and The Maybe Bar which proved to be very successful," says Ulrika.

Absolut Art Bureau is responsible for the Annual Absolut Art Award, which provides recognition and project funding not only for artists but also for art writers. The winners will be announced in September 2013, in Stockholm.

“We are very much looking forward to grant the Absolut Art Award at home in Stockholm, Sweden. In collaboration with all the city’s wonderful museums, galleries and other stakeholders within the field, our aim is to make it a weekend of the arts,” says Ulrika Lövdahl.

NOTES TO THE EDITORS

Absolut Art Bureau

Absolut Art Bureau is responsible for The Absolut Company’s international art initiatives. The first spirit brand to forge genuinely close ties with art and artists, ABSOLUT has been active in the art world since 1985, when it invited Andy Warhol to create the first in a series of iconic advertisements inspired by the ABSOLUT bottle. Since then, ABSOLUT has collaborated with more than 500 artists on over 800 commissioned projects. Today, ABSOLUT supports acclaimed artists, art writers, and institutions in their efforts to present new works, stimulate ideas, bring people together, and broaden access to creativity. Through its diverse international sponsorships, Absolut Art Bureau encourages openness and experimentation in all visual media and across the full spectrum of contemporary art practice.

Most recently, Absolut Art Bureau was Patron of dOCUMENTA (13) and supported The Maybe Center for Conviviality; Artists’ Cocktails Here at the Absolut Maybe Bar conceived by Ryan Gander and Mario García Torres; as well as On Conviviality: a Seminar on Living Together. The Bureau continues its long-term partnership with Art Basel as Associate Sponsor and Presenting Partner of Art Basel Conversations, a partnership which was launched at Art 43 Basel, and saw the presentation of artist Jeremy Shaw’s bar, The Kirlian. The full Art Basel Conversations program is available on www.artbasel.com/conversations.

In June 2012, ABSOLUT announced a new format for the Absolut Art Award, which will now provide recognition and project funding not only for artists but also for art writers. The selection panel will be led by Jury President, Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, Artistic Director of dOCUMENTA (13). The winners will be announced in September 2013, in Stockholm.

Art Basel

Art Basel stages the world’s premier art shows for modern and contemporary works, sited in Basel, Hong Kong, and Miami Beach. Designed by its host city and region, each show is unique, which is reflected in its participating galleries, artworks presented, and the content of parallel programming produced in collaboration with local institutions for each edition. In addition to ambitious stands featuring leading galleries from around the globe, each show’s singular exhibition sectors spotlight the latest developments in the visual arts, offering visitors new ideas, new inspiration, and new contacts in the art world.

For further information go to www.absolutartbureau.com or contact:

Björn von Matérn, VP Corporate Communications, The Absolut Company, +46 (0)70 586 72 50, bjorn.vonmatern@pernod-ricard.com

Elin Wibell, Senior Manager Corporate Communications, The Absolut Company, +46 (0)70 190 10 41, elin.wibell@pernod-ricard.com