A lover of all things cultural, Benedetta Ghione devotes her days to taking Middle Eastern art to the world, one Art Dubai fair at a time
Coming from a family of art collectors, it only seems natural that Benedetta Ghione, affectionately known as ‘Benny’ to those close to her, is in charge of the strategy, direction and delivery of Art Dubai, the region’s leading international art fair. Running from the 11th to 13th March, to say Benedetta is busy at the moment is an understatement. Having been at the helm of the fair for six years, she is well versed in the certain stresses that lead up to producing this globally-renowned event.
“The lead up to the fair is always a challenge,” says Benedetta. “Some of the challenges are the same each year – logistics and timelines, and ensuring we have the best possible programme and that our audience is engaged and aware. But of course, the past couple of years have presented a different set of challenges that are mostly to do with having to navigate a significant amount of uncertainty. This year in particular we are presenting our most ambitious programme to date with a record number of presentations and new elements – so that is proving challenging, yet exciting!”
The Italian native is always positive and proud of what her team produces each year, especially through the recent testing times with Covid. One of Benedetta’s most memorable moments came out of this trying time, as her team hosted the first international art fair to come back after the pandemic in 2021. “We pivoted, adapted, dug deep and showed resilience and grit through a very uncertain time – I was very proud of what we achieved and humbled by the support of our home city and community who cheered us on,” explains Benedetta.
With art fairs being hosted across the world’s biggest cities, she asserts that Dubai’s fair is indeed unique. “I feel we are different in two key ways,” says Benedetta. “On one hand, our content. We are proud of and committed to our Global South focus and are excited to continue promoting artistic production from this part of the world. Secondly, it is our scale and personality – we are a boutique art fair of just over 100 galleries that has continued to innovate and think outside the box. I think this model of innovation paired with a specific viewpoint is one that will make us meaningful and sustainable as we move forward.” Always ahead of her game, this year Benedetta has introduced a completely new segment of the fair. “We started thinking about the new digital section straight after the fair last year, and in the past year we have seen huge interest in and conversation around the rise in digital art and NFTs,” she says. “We think of the section as a laboratory – where people interested in finding out more about this evolving landscape can do so in a multitude of ways – be it by visiting the 17 international platforms that will be showcasing work, attending one of the many talks across both our Global Art Forum conference and the inaugural Bybit Talks Series, or by speaking to the participants who will be showcasing these new technologies.”
Waking up at 5am to exercise, do some journaling and get her daughter up, Benedetta is a mother on the go. Her go-to working wardrobe consists of “dresses, dresses and more dresses” and her handbag holds all her daily essentials including the all-important bug spray. “You won't find anything particularly glamourous in my bag,” laughs Benedetta. “A lot of pens, hair bands, notebooks, wallet, keys, sunglasses, and mosquito spray – the mosquitoes love me!” Confessing she is a bit of a workaholic, like many of us Benedetta strives to find that elusive work/life balance and admits there is no secret when it comes to sustaining a successful career. “Excellence requires hard work, determination and commitment – that I have seen modelled time and time again by the many mentors I have been fortunate to work alongside,” says Benedetta. “Don’t be afraid to work hard and gain as much experience as possible. Try to find mentors along the way who will gift you the invaluable learnings of their longer careers and different perspectives.”
When asked if she ever dabbles in creating works of art herself, Benedetta states: “Absolutely not! I am terrible at any creative work, and it helps me maintain a level of awe for any artistic endeavour – I find it endlessly fascinating to learn how artists create as they do.” Does the art lover have a piece at home that she will never part with? She smiles and says: “My daughter’s drawings – they are an endless source of joy to me.”
A Day In The Life Of Benedetta Ghione
My typical day... I am a creature of habit, so most days involve the same routine – wake up, meditation, yoga, journaling, get my daughter up, work, bedtime, reading and an early night.
My go-to working wardrobe consists of... Dresses, dresses and more dresses.
My go-to beauty look for the 9-5 is... Fresh and not too overdone.
For lunch I eat... Salad if I am being good.
What I love most about my job is... The variety and the impact of what we do.
And what I enjoy the least is... The stress.
When I get home I... Strive to be fully present with my daughter, leave my phone at the door and enter her magical world.
The gadget I can’t live without... Is my phone.
If I wasn’t in my current position, I would be... Probably looking to set up a business in wellness – I am passionate about motherhood and early years education. Follow Benedetta on Instagram. Learn more about Art Dubai and get tickets here
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