Breakfast will be served in the Statler Room at the Boston Park Plaza, before the General Session begins in the Georgian Room.

Rob WeisbergInvaluable CEO

In 2015, consulting firm Accenture estimated that the Millennial generation of consumers are on track to spend $1.4 trillion annually by 2020 and inherit $30 billion in the coming years. This discussion will address tactics for reaching rising collectors, including where to find them, how to reach them using social media and other channels, and how to foster meaningful relationships with this group. This discussion will also include insight from auction buyers under the age of 40 around their expectations to provide a better understanding of what young collectors are looking for as part of the auction experience.

Panelists: John Albrecht (Leonard Joel), Gabe Boyers (Young Collector), Josh Eldred (Eldred’s), Lucy Grogan (Grogan & Co), John O'Leary (MFA Museum Council) Moderator: Sarah Hanson (The Art Newspaper)

According to industry reports, the United States remains the largest regional market for fine art, but Asia, Europe and the UK are quickly growing. While China was found to be the largest-grossing market for auction sales in 2016, ArtTactic identified Africa, South Asia, US and Latin America as the markets with the strongest positive outlook for 2017 in the 2017 Global Market Outlook report. At the same time, tangible assets have become increasingly financialized as buyers acquire them across financial and legal jurisdictions to be used as hedges against macro-economic shifts. Art and tangible assets now also play a central role in wealth planning and asset allocation for many families. How will global buyers influence the art market? What are the potential impacts of Macroeconomic and political events on the art market? How will buyers behave as art increasingly trades as an asset? This panel discussion will explore shifting demographics, risk management, and the impact of the geopolitical shocks on buyer behavior in the global art market.

Panelists: Evan Beard (US Trust), Andrea Danese (Athena Art), Rodica Seward (Tajan), Gene Shapiro (Shapiro Auctions) Moderator: Marion Maneker (Art Market Monitor)

Lunch will be served in the Statler Room at the Park Plaza Hotel.

Over the past 20 years, technology has enabled a huge shift in the way business is conducted in nearly every industry around the world, perhaps except for the art industry. Amazon, for example, was estimated to have accounted for 34% of all online retail sales in the United States in 2016. It's been predicted that by 2020, $1 of every $4 spent at auction will be spent online. This panel discussion will explore how auction companies should (and are) preparing for the future, whether in 3 years, 5 years or 10 years from now. How are you shifting your brand presence to do more business online? What are the most important elements of growing a brand online? What is holding the industry back from true disruption? This panel will discuss current trends in e-commerce; along with growing your brand online and in the digital space. It will also explore predictions for the future and ways that auction houses can get ahead of the curve.

Panelists: Anthony Calnek (Sotheby's), Jakob Dupont (Bruun Rasmussen), Andy Foster (Phillips), Sandra Germain (Shannon's), Joe Waddell (Leland Little Auctions) Moderator: Rob Weisberg (Invaluable)

Ivory trade continues to be a hot topic in the auction world, and there continues to be debate around rules and regulations around the sale of antique in the marketplace. This panel will explore recent laws regarding import/export, how regulations impact business of houses that deal in ivory and similar materials. Panelists will discuss repatriation, documentation, and customs issues surrounding ivory, and what the future will hold for these types of objects.

Panelists: John Albrecht (Leonard Joel), Lark Mason (Lark Mason Associates), Elle Shushan (Fine Portrait Miniatures) Moderator: Kelly Wright (ARTBnk)

In recent years, the estates of celebrities and public figures – including David Bowie, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Rivers, and Emily & Jeff Spiegel have made major headlines in the news, and the selling of estates remains big business. With competition for estate sales on the rise, how is the very nature of estate sales shifting? How do you deal with the challenges of valuing estates involving fine art? Are more sellers asking for guarantees or reduced commissions? How do you deal with ownership disputes, or consignments split between heirs? Are more families looking for online exposure to drive increased demand, and how does that impact the way estates are now marketed? This panel will discuss the challenges and risks of selling estates in today’s world, including how technology is helping to streamline the process.

Panelists: Jeff Jeffers (Garth's), Leland LIttle (Leland LIttle Auctions), Ron Long (Charlton Hall), Colin Stair (Stair Galleries), Nick Thorn (Litchfield) Moderator: Colleen Boyle (Pall Mall Art Advisory)

Breakfast will be served in the Statler Room at the Boston Park Plaza, before the General Session begins in the Georgian Room.

It's virtually impossible today to discuss the art market without debate around increased transparency. Some argue that increased transparency will boost the art market by creating more trust, while others claim it threatens privacy/anonymity and the mystique around buying art. This panel discussion will discuss the advantages of raising standards to reduce risk and friction and attract more collectors, while also exploring ways in which data is being used to do this. What does increased transparency mean for auction businesses and consumer confidence? What new technologies are making this possible? How will this trend help drive liquidity?

Panelists: Pip Deely (Wolfram Ventures), Nanne Dekking (Artory), Julian Radcliffe (The Art Loss Register), Robin Roche (SGS Art Services) Moderator: Jared Bowen (WBGH)

A serious pain point for both auction houses and collectors is the process of shipping and logistics around fine art and priceless objects. This panel will address how is technology is enabling companies to deal with current pain points and frustrations, and streamline current processes (installation, transportation, packing & crating, collection management, insurance, storage and logistics).

Panelists: Thomas Burns (Fortress), Adam Fields (Arta), Simon Hornby (Crozier Fine Arts) Moderator: Beth Beiriger (Invaluable)

While advances in technology are making it easier to disseminate information, they also raise questions around legal issues as it relates to copyright, data protection, and more. This panel will explore how advancements in online bidding and digital marketing impact art law, including things like copyright issues and online image reproduction. It will also touch on how auction houses and collectors are impacted by laws regarding international trade.

Speaker: Joshua Kaufman, Partner at Venable LLP

Lunch will be served in the Statler Room at the Park Plaza Hotel.

According to this year's Hiscox Online Art Trade Report, Instagram has become the leading social media tool in the art world, particularly for users under the age of 35. Leonardo DiCaprio was reported to have purchased a work at PULSE New York in 2015 after seeing it on Instagram, and other news stories have appeared about auction houses selling works immediately after posting online. As more people are using social media and mobile apps to discover, engage with (and in many cases, purchase) art, how are museums, auction houses and other cultural institutions using these tools? This panel discussion will explore ways in which auction houses, galleries, museums and other art institutions are using social media and other tools to create awareness and make sales, the impact social media and mobile technology is having on the overall art market, and best practices to get the most out of these important mediums.

Panelists: Brendan Ciecko (Cuseum), Alexandra Lambert (Paddle 8), Danielle Miele (Gem Gossip), Megan Newcome (Phillips) Moderator: Tara Theune Davis, Marketing Consultant

Advances in technology – including techniques like UV and infrared reflectography and X-radiography – are making it easier to vet and authenticate items, but still sophisticated fakes and mis-represented objects are entering the market. This session will explore how advances in technology are being used to authenticate property and best practices in the field.

Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Mass, President of Scientific Analysis of Fine Art, LLC

Newspapers are folding and magazines are turning to digital-only formats, while personalization is becoming more important to customers in all industries. This panel will discuss the future of paper catalogs, print advertising and email marketing, and the ability to scale via the internet. Currently, the auction industry is the only industry where it actually costs more to buy online – how does this impact the user experience? What will the future hold for Buyer’s Premiums? Discussion points will include ways in which technology can help streamline the way we share information, increase personalization and connect buyers with exactly what they are looking for in an easy, seamless manner, as well as best practices for marketing and selling online.

Panelists: Redge Martin (Clars), Sheila Scott (Karl & Faber), Alexandra Nelson (Swann Auction Galleries) Moderator: O’Neal Rowe (Invaluable)