What does a city really gain when it invests in culture and why it can’t simply import the success of a global art fair?
Patrick Foret, Founder of Urban X Culture and former Director of Art Basel & Art Basel Cities, has spent years building connections between the art world, private partners and cities. From helping launch Art Basel in Hong Kong to developing Art Basel Cities, his work has explored how cultural networks can create opportunities that reach far beyond the exhibition hall.
In this conversation, recorded at Art Basel 2026 in Basel, Switzerland, Patrick reflects on how the fair evolved into a wider cultural meeting point and how its impact in Miami Beach grew through years of audience-building, international engagement and connections with the city’s wider creative life. He explains why cities asking for an Art Basel often need something more fundamental: a cultural ecosystem rooted in local identity, supported by sustainable funding and connected to the world.
Patrick shares lessons from Art Basel Cities in Buenos Aires, where the team began by listening to artists, galleries, institutions and government rather than arriving with a ready-made formula. The work included addressing practical barriers for artists, creating new funding sources and bringing international attention to local talent. The conversation also turns to the future: how culture can connect people across borders, what success looks like beyond visitor numbers, and whether AI might give artists more space to experiment, think and dream.
Topics Covered
How Art Basel grew beyond the art fair to become part of a citywide cultural experience
Why cultural impact takes years of audience-building and international engagement
Art Basel Cities in Buenos Aires: listening to local stakeholders and building a shared mission
Funding culture without diverting resources already supporting museums and non-profits
How cities can build identity, belonging and international connections through creativity
AI, artistic intelligence, freedom of expression and the value of time to dream
About Our Guest
Patrick Foret is Founder of Urban X Culture and former Director of Art Basel and Art Basel Cities. He has held senior leadership roles across major cultural developments in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas, bringing together governments, cultural institutions and private partners to create cultural and economic value.
At Art Basel (2010–2020), he helped drive the organisation’s international expansion, including the launch of Art Basel Hong Kong, the development of its global partnerships programme and the creation of Art Basel Cities in Buenos Aires. He also served as Business Manager for Saadiyat Island Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, where he represented the UAE government in strategic partnerships with leading international institutions, including the Louvre and Guggenheim Foundation.
Today, he brings this experience to Urban X Culture, building strategic partnerships that help cities unlock their cultural identities, attract investment and create lasting impact.
Join the Conversation
Who is your city built for? What would it take to make it work for everyone? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or LinkedIn @TalkingPlacePodcast using #TalkingPlacePodcast
Links and Mentions
Patrick Foret - https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-foret/
Urban X Culture - https://www.urbanxculture.com/
Art Basel - https://www.artbasel.com/
Art Basel Cities - https://www.artbasel.com/stories/creative-cities-art-districts-and-the-community
Patrick Foret on Art Basel Cities - https://news.artnet.com/art-world/patrick-foret-art-basel-cities-buenos-aires-interview-1345484
Talking Place is hosted by Tanisha Raffiuddin, Creative Director at Concept Culture.
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