A collectors' dinner on a boat during Art Basel Paris and Paris Photo

Every autumn, Paris art week packs fairs, private views and dinners into just a few days. For a gallery or brand wishing to host its collectors, the difficulty is not coming up with an idea: it is finding a venue that is available, peaceful and worthy of the invitation. Restaurants, hotels and private salons are in very high demand at this time.

Our blog has already covered the exhibition private view on a boat. Here we take a complementary angle: the intimate seated dinner, designed for collectors, curators and partners, during Art Basel Paris and Paris Photo.

Why traditional venues are overwhelmed during art week

During these few days, everyone is looking for the same thing: a table for a group, on a specific evening, close to the fairs. Well-known addresses are fully booked well in advance, and those that remain available often impose conditions that sit poorly with a gallery dinner: shared rooms, restricted hours, a set menu or background noise.

A collectors' dinner is built on conversation. You need to be able to introduce an artist, let the discussion flow and welcome a last-minute guest without disrupting the service. A crowded venue allows none of this.

What a privately hired boat offers

A privately hired boat resolves several of these constraints at once:

• Exclusivity: your guests are the only ones on board, with no other customers and no passers-by.
• An unexpected setting: the Seine and its quays offer a backdrop that collectors, who are often regulars at the same venues, rarely encounter.
• Control of the schedule: arrival times, service and speeches are organised around your programme.
• A space apart: the water creates a pause, away from the bustle of the fairs.

For a brand invited to take part in art week, it is also a way to offer a venue unlike any other event taking place at the same time.

Choosing the right format for the size of your dinner

The choice of boat depends first on the number of guests. For a small dinner bringing together a few collectors around an artist, a small-capacity yacht is well suited and encourages conversation. For a larger gallery dinner, with artists, partners and clients, a péniche offers more room and allows you to set up several tables.

A moored boat is another option: it lets you host guests without cruising, which can be useful if your programme includes a lot of speeches. For comparison, you can read our article on the seated dinner on a péniche. In every case, we advise you to confirm the number of guests as early as possible, as it determines the choice of boat.

Perfecting the dinner: table, service and speeches

A collectors' dinner is prepared like a stage production. A few points deserve particular attention:

• The seating plan: seat close together the people you would like to see talking, and, if possible, plan for the artist or gallery director to be present at each table.
• The menu: a caterer can offer a seasonal menu that takes everyone's dietary requirements into account. See our article on the gourmet dinner on board.
• The speech: plan a short moment, after the starter for example, to present the artist or the collection.
• Artwork on board: if you wish to display a piece or a print, raise it early, as the hanging and security need to be planned in advance.

Planning the logistics during a busy period

Even though a boat avoids the overcrowding of a traditional venue, art week remains a busy time for the whole city. Book early, choose an embarkation point that is easy for your guests to reach, and plan their journey home: taxis and ride-hailing cars are in very high demand after dinners.

Also make sure you communicate the boarding time clearly. Collectors often have several appointments throughout the day; precise details of the quay and the time help avoid delays. Finally, plan a fallback in case of difficult weather: a boat with heated indoor spaces remains pleasant in November.

The programme of these events changes every year: check the official dates of the fairs before fixing your evening, so that you choose a slot when your guests are genuinely in Paris.