Why create an art center in Moscow is more interesting than in London

[iside]

Daria Lugansk , editor of ForbesLife:

[QUOTE] After 23 years of career as a consultant with Accenture Ken Sovereignty went into business as a hobby

"In Russia, I first visited in 1989 and fell in love. This country can either love or hate - the average is not necessary. A few years ago I decided to do something related to art outside Britain. How to open the original project in cities with well-established system of galleries like Berlin or Paris , I did not understand. In Russia I had a connection , here I found a growing market and a rich culture , "- explains his choice Ken Sovereignty , general manager of the new Moscow art center Exposed.

Exposed - a two-storey space of 600 square meters. m, which accommodates and photographic studio and exhibition halls, and a cafe, and VIP-room . All of this - in the former bearing plant GP3 -2 Shabolovke , where there are offices , cafes , bars, visa application center in Germany. The exposition of the art center - solid eclecticism : African women textured portraits , shot by British photographer John Kerry , and next - " monuments of Russian tsars' , a stylized green with bronze figures of polyurethane sculptor Leonid Sohranskogo . This is the feature of the art center : here carry that love by the owners .

Читать дальше... 

Gallery owner happy that did not attract investors (the return on their investment in the art market , but still fast, in his opinion , it is impossible in principle) . Sovereignty has invested in this venture with a partner Ivaylo Yordanov . Half- Russian , half- Bulgarian, Yordanov the last 14 years living in London , where he became friends with Sovereignty couple of years ago. Yordanov is engaged in IT- projects : it is one of the founders of the British company Espotting, one of the first in Europe to have implemented the advertising model pay per click. C as long as the U.S. FindWhat acquired Espotting, Yordanov engaged in their own projects online.

Another Russian Sovereignty friend , whose name he does not name , the British introduced the director GP3 -2 Vladimir Tereshchenko - so dare to question the place for the art center. A businessman does not see any problems in the location - still very close to the city center .

second life

The owner of a new art center primarily a businessman and art - his passion . Scot by birth , a graduate of the University of Glasgow, Sovereignty has made a career in a large consulting firm Accenture ( 318 th place in the list of the largest public companies in the world Forbes Global 2000 revenues of $ 30 billion ), which came in 1983. He has worked with international clients such as British American Tobacco, Microsoft ( Europe ) and Robinsons ( Singapore) . As a manager of Accenture and he was in Moscow for the first time . And in 1994, Sovereignty received the status of a partner. When was the IPO of the company, he also earned the acquired shares in 2001 , which gave him the opportunity to start their own projects .

"When I was 23 , I promised myself I would not spend half my life in one company , and by 46 I will have my work" - says the Briton . Since 2006, with the support of friends, he was engaged in business. Today he owns a stake in a small gallery Culture Capital ( including part of the 700 square meters. Meters of office space on the banks of the Thames , close to the Tate Modern ) . Some of the works on display in the Russian art center , just brought out Culture Capital. "I'm still interested in that project , but the case is my partner ," - says Ken about his studio in Britain. He founded it together with the photographer James Sparshattom .

Britain's second venture - a fitness center, which focuses on personal training service SIX3NINE. Ken - one of the three founders (he owns 45%of shares). This project launched recently by starting capital of $ 800,000 . According to plans of the owners in 2014 profit SIX3NINE to make $ 2 million in parallel they are working on the development of an international network - halls looking at including in Russia . Choosing a niche business Sovereignty explains simply: " I ​​am committed to what I have a passion ."

In London, faster

His passion for the arts and Russia into a concrete idea in 2011. In the process several times changed the business plan , about the delay . Eventually, the Russian architect drafted Exposed in 2012 - since then the business plan is not rearranged . On the physical embodiment of the project took one and a half years .

It is in the lengthy process of Sovereignty sees the main problem of the opening of the art center in Moscow. "The problem is not corruption : it is everywhere. In Russia, everything takes a lot of time. Physically, it is a space in England could be twice as fast , "- says Ken . Ken partly attributes this to the banal lack of necessary materials in Russia , for example , equipment for lighting and flooring materials were brought from Italy. Partially inhibits the process of bureaucracy . " Paper work here very much. But, on the other hand, to get permission to create art center possible in principle : in Russia are open to new ideas . In Britain, faster and faster, but more barriers , "- said Sovereignty . In London, the format that he wanted to embody - the art center for the middle and upper class at the same time - do not be caught .

 All for All

"In mature markets tend to have a rigid segmentation - only high art , only a certain style, and so on. Usually, studio , concert halls , and literary centers - these are separate organizations . But in London, some stores , such as Harrods and Selfridges, stood out from the crowd is the fact that offered a wide range of products of different styles and prices, " - Ken explains why such art has no place in the center of the British capital .

A look at the work of artists can be free. Sovereignty is going to make a sale. While prices vary from € 700 to € 12 000 . " Later will be more expensive , either bring big-name artists , or our grow up " - calculates the Briton . Part of the goods belongs Exposed, part remains the property of the artist, the art center receives a commission from the sale. According to estimates by Ken , will bring 150 to 250 works . In addition to paintings , sculptures or photographs here sell books on art and design , as well as vintage posters . By the end of 2014 before Exposed is optimistic goal - to gain by selling $ 1.25 million Release dates for Sovereignty does not expect profit . " If we become profitable after nine years, I 'll be happy ," - he said.

Today, in the State of Sovereignty in about 10 employees , he has lived in Moscow for about two months , and key decisions are made together with the Managing Director Raisa Sidorenko, an expert on Argentine art. Most of the exhibited artists - old friends Sovereignty , but in the long term in Exposed want to discover new names , including Russian .

In the opinion of the creators , the visitor must stay in the long Exposed : to see the exhibition , listen to the lecture. To date, the contract with " EKSMO " - there were well-known authors of the publisher.

If this format is accustomed on the basis of Moscow , the British model is going to move to other countries. While we are talking about Buenos Aires and Singapore - places where there are already business contacts .