Art Basel in Basel | Health and Safety Measures

Art Basel looks forward to welcoming you to its 2021 show in Basel. The below COVID-19 guidelines have been formulated to ensure the safety of all visitors, exhibitors, and staff; to address the requirements that Art Basel must fulfill in order to stage fairs and events; and to comply with the requirements and recommendations of federal, state, or local authorities, as well as those imposed on the venues of our fairs and events by their particular owners and operators.

These rules and guidelines apply to all attendees of Art Basel’s 2021 show in Basel and of its related events. Children under the age of 16 are exempt from these guidelines but are required to wear a mask unless they are 12 years and under. In this instance, attendees include, but are not limited to exhibitors, VIP guests, customers, partners, suppliers, visitors, and service providers. Those unwilling to abide by these measures and protocols may be asked to leave, as their presence will represent a potential health and safety risk for other Art Basel attendees.

1. Swiss or EU COVID-19 Certificate

1.1 Swiss or EU COVID-19 Certificate and Wristband Obtention
To enter the fair, visitors will need to obtain an access wristband at the dedicated COVID-19 Certification Center, proving that they are in possession of a valid Swiss or EU COVID-19 certificate. This certificate will prove that the attendee fulfills one of the below criteria. The COVID-19 Certification Center will be located on Rosentalanlage, across the street from the fair. COVID-19 certificates are issued to people that either show:

proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA);
or proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with a vaccine administered in a EU or EFTA country and authorized by these agencies (EU COVID-19 certificate);
or a negative COVID-19 PCR test no older than 72 hours;
or a negative COVID-19 antigen test no older than 48 hours;
or a PCR test or official confirmation of isolation, proving they recovered from COVID-19.

The vaccines approved by the EMA are: AstraZeneca, Comirnaty (BioNTEch/Pfizer), Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

Should you be vaccinated against COVID-19, your vaccine cannot be older than 365 days (calculated on the basis of the date on which you received your last dose). You will be considered recovered from COVID-19 on the 11th day after your positive PCR test result or until 180 days after your positive test result.

To determine the eligibility of your vaccination, please refer to our vaccine overview table here.

1.2 Rules for Guests From a Country Other Than a EU/EFTA Member state or Switzerland vaccinated with a vaccine that has been approved by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health
Guests who were vaccinated in a non-EU/EFTA state with a vaccine that has been approved by the European Medicines Agency can simply present their proof of vaccination, as well as valid photo ID, at the COVID-19 Certification Center on-site. Upon certification of their proof of vacination, visitors will receive an Art Basel wristband that grants them entry into the fair.

1.3 Rules for Guests From a Country Other Than a EU/EFTA Member State or Switzerland Who Recovered From COVID-19
Guests from a non-EU/EFTA country who have recovered from COVID-19 less than 180 days ago, and whose proof of recovery has been issued by a country other than Switzerland or a EU/EFTA state, can obtain a certificate by sending an email to covid-cert@bs.ch by Monday, September 13, the latest. Please note that certificates can only be issued upon presentation of a positive PCR test.

1.4 Rules for Guests From a Country Other Than a EU/EFTA Member state or Switzerland vaccinated with a vaccine that has not been approved by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health
Guests who were vaccinated in a non-EU/EFTA state with a vaccine not approved by European Medicines Agency will have to get tested to enter the Art Basel halls. Attendees can get tested at the dedicated COVID-19 Certification Center, located across the street from Hall 2. We recommend that our guests book testing slots online in advance via c19t.ch/artbasel.

Should an attendee's test, proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery not be in line with the conditions of the Swiss Federal Office of Health and local authorities, we will offer them to get tested on-site to enter the fair. Test results will be available within 20 minutes from the moment the attendee has been tested. However, waiting times may exceed 20 minutes depending on the number of people needing to be tested.

Should a visitor's test be negative, they will be issued a temporary Swiss COVID-19 certificate at the COVID-19 Certification Center. Staff and accredited individuals (exhibitors, partners, suppliers) will be able to enter through dedicated lines.

For further detailed information, please visit the Website of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).

Entry and Exit Protocol

Vaccinated / Tested / Recovered Rule
Access to Art Basel will be restricted to people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a vaccine that is approved by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, can provide a recent negative COVID-19 test, or are fully recovered from COVID-19. Persons under 16 years of age are exempt from this requirement.

Should you not be vaccinated against or have recovered from COVID-19, you must provide a negative COVID-19 test to enter the fair. A negative PCR test result will be considered valid for 72 hours from the time the sample has been taken. A negative rapid antigen test result will be considered valid for 48 hours from the time the sample has been taken.

Entry Protocol
Attendees must show their negative COVID-19 test, proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery to enter the fair. Should an attendee's test, proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery not be in line with the conditions of the Swiss Federal Office of Health, we will offer them to get tested on-site to enter the fair. Staff and accredited individuals (exhibitors, partners, suppliers) will be able to enter through dedicated lines.

Those wishing to enter the venue will be instructed to wait in line and follow floor signage and host instructions. We encourage attendees waiting in line to wear a mask. Art Basel reserves the right to deny entry to the fair to attendees deemed a health and safety risk. In such an unlikely event, ticket costs may be reimbursed.

2. Hygiene and Contact Reduction

2.1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Wearing a mask on the fair's premises will be obligatory for all visitors and staff members. This includes the queuing areas prior to entering the halls. Additional, dedicated trash bins will be located throughout the halls in the event a mask needs to be discarded and replaced. Exhibitors will be provided complimentary face masks as part of their Art Basel care package. Furthermore, masks will be available for purchase on-site.

Lastly, all security staff, as well as hosts, will wear protective masks.

2.2. Hand Hygiene
Frequent, thorough handwashing with soap and water is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The venue will ensure that washing facilities with soap and water are available throughout the building.

If attendees cannot regularly wash their hands with soap and water, they must disinfect them with hand sanitizer. Hand-sanitizer stations will be positioned at entrances and exits, toilets, desks and welcoming areas, catering areas, as well as various common areas. In addition, exhibitors will be provided hand sanitizer as part of their Art Basel care package.

2.3. Reducing Surface Contact
In order to keep surface contact to a minimum, Art Basel will implement the following measures:

Touch-based artworks will be limited and regularly cleaned. Visitors must disinfect their hands prior to touching the work
Credential check upon entry will be contactless
Contactless payment will be available at points of sale
Physical contact between staff and attendees at entrances and security checks will be reduced to a minimum
Tickets for the cloakroom will not be reusable

2.4. No-contact Policy
We ask attendees and staff to avoid physical contact such as hugging and shaking hands.

3. Show Architecture and Physical Distancing

While physical distancing will not be obligatory inside the halls, Art Basel will nonetheless implement measures that may allow visitors to keep an adequate distance from each other.

Art Basel has implemented widened aisles throughout the show floor
Visitors should keep a distance of 1.5m between each other in the queuing areas outside the building
The number of visitors in the halls will be closely monitored. Should new capacity-related rules and recommendations be issued by local, cantonal, or federal authorities, Art Basel may adjust the halls’ capacity during public days
Fewer tickets will be sold for access to the fair on public days
Art Basel has adjusted its fair architecture for a more even distribution of attendees throughout the venues
Protective panels will be installed in areas where adequate distancing may not be possible, such as information and VIP desks, as well as sales counters

4. Sanitation

4.1. Cleaning of the facility
The venue will increase the frequency of cleaning and disinfection of premises, especially frequently touched surfaces and items. These include, but are not limited to bathrooms, counters, entrance and exit areas, cloakrooms, door handles, lift panels, stair railings, escalator handrails, and technical equipment.

In addition, Art Basel will provide surface disinfectant to all exhibitors as part of their care package, and encourages them to thoroughly disinfect all surfaces that will be regularly touched.

4.2. Air Quality
The venue will increase its ventilation protocols in all areas of the fair. Furthermore, Art Basel will demand that staff and exhibitors using smaller rooms ventilate as often as possible (at least four times a day).

All Unlimited booths with a ceiling will have a fan installed inside the booth to ensure adequate air circulation. Booths smaller than 100m2 will have one fan installed. Booths of 100 m2 or more will have two fans installed.

5. Ticketing And Registration

5.1. Ticketing
Art Basel has implemented digital ticketing. Box offices will no longer be available at the shows. Tickets can be purchased via artbasel.com.

5.2. VIP and Partner Cards
Art Basel VIP cards are now fully digital and available through the Art Basel app. Art Basel’s partners aim to provide digital cards as well.

5. 3. Contactless Checkpoints
Ticket and VIP card scanners that allow for contactless credential verification will be used at all entrances. Staff will be available to assist with any issues.

6. Catering

6.1. Vendors
Vendors have been instructed to follow strict hygienic standards. Hand disinfection stations will be available at all catering outlets. Waiting zones will be clearly marked. All catering staff will wear masks.

6.2. Seating and Layout
General seating in outdoor areas will be offered in cafes and markets, with tables and chairs placed so that guests will be at a safe distance from other guests. Please do not rearrange public seating to accommodate your own needs as it will have been arranged with health and safety measures in mind

7. Further Precautionary Measures

7.1 Health and Safety Guidance
Art Basel continues to monitor the epidemic situation thoroughly and remains in close contact with local and federal authorities to provide its visitors with the most accurate and recent information. It may be that additional measures will be required for entry to the show. Art Basel will communicate these details to attendees as early as possible.

7.2 First Aid and Paramedic Stations
A first aid and paramedic station will be present at each venue, should a person feel unwell or seek assistance. Signage indicating these stations will be on display, and staff will be able to direct attendees to the nearest location.

7.3 COVID-19 Protocol Assistants
To ensure that health and safety measures are being respected, several COVID-19 protocol assistants will be present on the fair’s premises. They will remind visitors and staff of the COVID-19 guidelines in place and can answer questions relating to this topic.

7.4 Events
To avoid large groups or crowds congregating, events hosted by Art Basel will take place with limited capacity. Those participating in these events must continue to abide by the rules described above, as they relate to health and safety measures. The format of specific Art Basel events might have to be altered in order to comply with the rules stipulated by local authorities, whether taking place on the fairgrounds or beyond. Art Basel will inform guests of event-specific health and safety measures should these differ from the rules outlined above. Art Basel cannot be held liable for the format and structure of events hosted by third parties, including partners and clients.

7.5 Contractors and Suppliers
All contractors and suppliers hired by MCH during Art Basel in Basel will have to wear masks whenever on the fair's premises, and will be subjected to regular PCR tests.

Basel

COVID-19 Guidelines

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