The European Fine Art Foundation (Tefaf), which organises the prestigious annual fairs in Maastricht and New York, has appointed Dominique Savelkoul as its new managing director.
Savelkoul brings “extensive experience in board, governmental, and executive roles within the cultural sector to the role”, says a release. Most recently, she served as head of Mu.Zee, a museum in Oostende, Belgium, dedicated to Belgian art from 1850 to the present. Prior to that she held management positions at the Festival of Flanders, Brussels, the National Gallery, London and the Ruhr Triennale. She also served as an adviser in the cabinet of the Flemish minister of culture.
She is the fifth director of Tefaf in four years and arrives after a period of controversy at the fair brand. Her direct predecessor, Bart Drenth, stepped down in June 2023 less than six months into the role after controversial tweets, aimed at “leftists”, “Muslims” and “the woke”, were translated from Dutch to English and published by Artnet News. These included: “Speculating about the transition of the population is only a problem when you are not a Muslim,” and “normalise criticism of the Quran and the Prophet”.
Drenth was also criticised by his predecessor, Charlotte Van Leerdam, for publicly discussing her cancer diagnosis in the press. Van Leerdam died in July this year.
Savelkoul intends to use her background in museums to bolster Tefaf’s institutional presence. "Tefaf holds a significant role in connecting the institutional/non-profit sector with the constantly evolving art market," she says in a statement. "I am eager to use, together with the team, my experience and commitment to develop a compelling, sustainable, long-term vision for the foundation's future. As a prominent art institution and influential voice, Tefaf still has untapped potential to extend its societal and scholarly impact, ensuring excellence as a guardian and preserver of art historical knowledge for future generations of young art dealers and collectors alike."
Along with Savelkoul’s appointment, Tefaf has named two dealers, both based in London, to its board of trustees: Adrian Sassoon, whose eponymous Mayfair gallery sells contemporary art and 18th-century French porcelain and Valentina Vico, a director at Benappi Fine Art, which specialises in Italian and European Old Master painting and sculpture.
