Light+Building, Mostra Convegno Expocomfort, Salone del Mobile and MIPIM Cannes are the first events paying the price of the Coronavirus, and they have reprogrammed their efforts – the first two for September, with the Salone and MIPIM now slated for June.
After the difficult decision to focus without further ado on a new season for design, news of the shift of MIPIM Cannes also arrived. And it is a decision – to hold the worldwide event on the real estate market in June – that brings a (positive) sense of surprise: in a nation like France that is just starting to feel the effects of the Coronavirus (President Macron has publicly spoken of a possible epidemic), the choice of not leaping to the fall reflects the more balanced, rational approach of the French to the problem of the virus.
The new June dates for MIPIM represent a positive development for the Salone del Mobile as well: if an event – though a small one with respect to the others mentioned – that has a very high intrinsic value and influence on the global economy moves to June, it is like telling the rest of the world: “stand up, have no fear, we can do it!”
The fairs that have chosen September – Light+Building and MCE – have also done so for reasons connected with the programming of fair facilities; as biennial happenings, they have the option of choosing the best dates with greater ease.
No word has arrived as yet from NYCXDesign which is scheduled for May, but since it is a very USA-oriented event (though Italian companies have always been very active in their promotional efforts here, both at ICFF and in the high-end trade district) the situation may not have particular repercussions (if Trump doesn’t block the borders, the Europeans will be there).
It will be interesting to see what happens in Shanghai in May, the first sector event to be held in China.
In 1985 David Byrne of the Talking Heads wrote Road to Nowhere: “We’re not little children, and we know what we want, the future is certain, give us time to work it out.”
From the road to nowhere to the road to the future.
