Gallery owners, collectors, artists, curators and art lovers from all over the world were in Basel this week for the city's annual art fair known simply as ART -- a fair with a global reputation for artistic creativity and standards.

Gallery owners, collectors, artists, curators and art lovers from all over the world were in Basel this week for the city's annual art fair simply known as ART -- a fair with a global reputation for artistic creativity and standards.

Out of some 800 galleries which had applied to exhibit, less than a third were selected by the admission committee.

The result is what amounts to over 250 exhibitions under one roof, with some exhibitions featuring the 20th century's greatest artists and others showing the works of new talent.

For ART manager Lorenzo Rudolf the key to success is an insistance on the highest quality. "Art galleries have to make a big, big effort to attend," Rudolf said.

With works by such famous artists as Picasso, Miro, Dali and Warhol on display for sale, collectors were flocking to the ART fair, which is regarded by galleries as the most important fair of its kind.

ART Basel's 30th anniversary is being celebrated with concerts, dancing and other artistic events under the title "ArtZappening." Admission to the events is free.

The fair ends on June 21.

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