About us
LAFA, the Luxembourg Association for Art Galleries and Practitioners, stands as a vibrant non-profit entity uniting about 20 members. Together, we navigate the evolving landscape of the art market addressing current challenges while preparing for future opportunities and raising awareness of risks faced by the art industry and providing practical guidance on establishing and implementing responsible practices to address those risks.
Purpose & Missions
LAFA is Luxembourg’s premier network of art market professionals, dedicated to promoting excellence and transparency within the industry. Through setting high standards and fostering dialogue, we elevate the importance of compliance and collaboration among our members. Our mission is to increase awareness and understanding of the local art ecosystem, art market regulations and mechanisms, but also to advocate for the interests of industry stakeholders in front of governemental bodies.
In practice
Acting as a vocal advocate for the sector, LAFA is dedicated to fostering professionalism, providing comprehensive training, and facilitating collaboration among all stakeholders within the industry, while also bridging the gap between the profession and the wider public through advocacy and dissemination of best practices.
To achieve this, the association pursues the following objectives:
- Championing the interests of its members.
- Engaging in dialogue with public policymakers to shape cultural and economic policies that benefit sector participants and facilitate the flow of cultural assets.
- Facilitating exchange, mediation, and sharing of experiences among its members.
- Fostering innovation by addressing emerging challenges and developing forward-thinking ideas relevant to the art market’s evolution.
- Educating the public and demystifying the workings of the art market in Luxembourg.
- Cultivating partnerships and knowledge-sharing with international networks.
- Promoting continuous professional development within the art market community.
Through these efforts, LAFA actively contributes to elevating the professionalism and enriching the cultural landscape of Luxembourg’s art scene.
Board Members
The LAFA board is comprised of six highly active members.
Honorary Members
The LAFA Association enjoys the support of honorary members including founding members and/or partners that contribute to enhancing the organisation’s influence and relevance of content.
Gérard Sousi
Honorary Member
President and Founder of Institut Art & Droit
Partners
LAFA is also supported by partners, to whom we extend our sincere gratitude for their invaluable support in the daily activities.
History
Our founder Alain Mestat, back then Managing Partner of PassionProtect® and Luxinvest Capital Advisors, recognised from his unique vantage point straddling the financial sector and the art world, the striking parallels between these disparate but seemingly realms, and the call for trust reaffirmation within the art market. This vision birthed in 2015 the Luxembourg Association for Art Law and Art Finance (LAFA), a beacon of trust comprised of professionals dedicated to applying rigorous, data driven methodologies to art investment. LAFA’s mission was at this time not only to elevate art business industry standards but also to champion transparency and professionalism. Nestled from its beginning within the esteemed Pinsent Masons Luxembourg law firm, former Wildgen law firm, LAFA changed its name (but not its acronym) and representative audience focus in June 2021. Under the leadership of current president Michel Giraud, galley owner and art dealer, LAFA continues its legacy, building upon the foundations laid by his predecessors who have shaped its trajectory. Presently dedicated to fostering professional practices among Luxembourg art galleries and market practitioners, LAFA vigorously defends its members’ interests, fosters cooperation and dialogue, and serves as the authoritative voice of the art market sector in front of decision-makers in Luxembourg and abroad.