Anthony Browne will stand down as executive chairman of BAMF at the end of June.
Browne has been involved in the art market all his working life. He has represented BAMF on many government committees and been the principal spokesman for the British art market.
“At the age of 75, with no ambitions to become President of the United States, I decided it was a good time to hand over to someone younger. I look forward to supporting Martin Wilson in his new role.” Browne told ATG.
“BAMF was created to represent the interests of the UK’s large and diverse art and antiques market in its contacts with government. As someone who was closely involved in the founding of the association, I am probably most proud that over 28 years we have succeeded in getting across to several governments that the British art market is something worth defending. Achieving a single united voice is something dealers and auctioneers in countries such as the US or France have not managed to replicate.”
While BAMF continues in its quest to have import VAT on works of art scrapped - and secured only small concessions on the ivory question - Browne cites his successes as the inclusion of the VAT margin scheme in EU legislation, the modification of the Droit de Suite directive to reduce its impact on the UK art market and persuading the government to disapply the EU regulation on cultural imports following Brexit.
Wilson, an art lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience in the field, is the author of Art Law and the Business of Art and founder and co-head of the Art Lawyers Association. He comes to BAMF having previously worked in senior legal and compliance roles at Christie’s and more recently Phillips. He has been a member of BAMF’s executive committee since 2014.
Art lawyer Martin Wilson will become executive chairman of BAMF on July 1.
Keen to ensure a smooth transition, Browne will take over as president of BAMF from Richard Inglewood, who will retire. Lord Inglewood succeeded founding president, the former arts minister Lord Peter Brooke, in 2014.
“I am very grateful to Anthony for his successful stewardship of BAMF over the past 28 years,” said Wilson.
“With his continuing support as president I am looking forward to taking on the chairmanship at a critical time for the British art market. The British art market is an economic and cultural success story and BAMF will continue to persuade and encourage the UK government to build upon that achievement.”
BAMF seeks to represent the hundreds of large, small and medium sized businesses that make up the British art market.
Its members are The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association, The Antiquities Dealers Association, Bonhams, The British Antique Dealers’ Association, LAPADA, The Society of Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, The Society of London Art Dealers plus Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips.
