The Melbourne Art Fair Foundation was established to promote contemporary art and the ethical representation of living artists. The Melbourne Art Fair Foundation presents the Melbourne Art Fair and the Saab Melbourne Art Fair Awards for the Visual Arts. The Foundation also runs year-round programs with leading Australian and New Zealand collectors of contemporary art through the Foundation' s art Lover program. The Melbourne Art Fair Foundation is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.

The Melbourne Art Fair is registered on the federal government' s Register of Cultural Organisations, providing tax deductibility status for all donations to Melbourne Art Fair.


The Saab Melbourne Art Fair Awards demonstrates the Foundation' s commitment to recognising key artists and visionaries for their unwavering commitment to innovative art practice and leadership.

The rationale behind the establishment of the Saab Melbourne Art Fair Awards for the Visual Arts is to celebrate innovation and excellence in the Australian visual arts sector. Two Awards are given by the Foundation every two years. The first recognises the outstanding achievement made by an Australian Artist. The second Award recognises the outstanding contribution made by an Australian Visionary who has developed and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to progress the status of contemporary Australian art nationally and beyond.

The 2005 inaugural Awards were held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Artist, James Gleeson AO and, Arts Visionary James Mollison AO were the Award recipients.