The foire internationale d’art contemporain, the biggest modern art fair of the Parisian calendar, stay in its grand venue of the Grand Palais but expands to expose certain works in a new space (for them), the Jardin des Plantes…

It used to be split between the Grand Palais and the Louvre, but thanks to some renovation, the Grand Palais can now hold 105 of the FIAC’s stalls in the giant main room, plus another sixty-odd in adjoining rooms. That makes a total of (around) 2,867 artists in all!

Each year, a number of large works are shown in the Tuileries Gardens (well worth seeing, and free!) but this year – for the first time – there will also be a selection in the lovely Jardin des Plantes, one of our favourite garden in Paris (and not far from our hotels!).During the art fair, there is also a late night opening of various Paris galleries that you can check out (Thursday 20th October). Check out the map with the full list of participants here (PDF).

And then there’s the Marcel Duchamp prize, the Lafayette prize…

The 2011 FIAC is at the Grand Palais (and elsewhere) from 20th – 23rd October 2011

Open from midday – 8pm each day

Admission: 32€/16€ (tickets here)

Official site: www.fiac.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/fiacparis

Twitter: www.twitter.com/FIAC