April 13, 2012 (Basel, Switzerland) — The Oettinger Davidoff Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is pleased to announce its major sponsorship with Art Basel, which stages the most prestigious international modern and contemporary art shows. The significant relationship elevates Davidoff into the top tier of Art Basel sponsors. Present sponsors include leading and renowned brands, such as UBS, AxaArt and Netjets.

Under the agreement, Davidoff will be an Associate Sponsor to Art Basel, at both its shows in Basel, Switzerland, and Miami Beach, Florida, where it will operate a 100 square meter (approx. 1,000 sq. ft.) VIP hospitality space within the Art Collectors Lounge. This Davidoff Lounge will feature a walk-in humidor and a master cigar roller from the Dominican Republic who will demonstrate the art of blending and rolling of a Davidoff cigar. In addition, two outdoor Cigar Lounges will be situated adjacent to the Art Collectors Lounge and next to the shows’ public area, to offer fair visitors a relaxed venue for discussion, reflection and enjoyment of a fine cigar.

With its enhanced profile at the annual fairs and related art sponsorship activities, Davidoff intends to collaborate with Art Basel over the long term as it expands the orbit of its influential art shows beyond Europe and North America to Asia.

Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, President and CEO of Oettinger Davidoff Group (Image courtesy Oettinger Davidoff Group)

In making the announcement, Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, President and CEO of Oettinger Davidoff Group, said: “Davidoff and Art Basel is a perfect fit, building on a well-established relationship between two organizations with joint roots in Basel. With historic ties to European markets, both companies have expanded rapidly in the US in recent years, while actively developing new markets around the globe, especially in Asia. Our customers share many common interests with Art Basel’s patrons. As we forge closer ties with the world of art, Art Basel is the ideal partner, and we look forward to a long-term collaboration as our brands evolve worldwide.”

Art Basel Co-Director Marc Spiegler noted on the occasion of the announcement: “We are delighted for Davidoff to become an Associate Sponsor at our shows in Basel and Miami Beach and look forward to developing this relationship further. As Art Basel is expanding, we seek partners like Davidoff who are intensifying their engagement with the arts.”

Davidoff’s products are deeply connected to the handcraft traditions involved in the rolling and blending of fine cigars as well as the art of marquetry (the inlaid wood designs frequently found on cigar humidors). This partnership with Art Basel marks a new chapter for the company, as it shifts its sponsorship in the direction of contemporary art.

Later this year, Davidoff will announce a new international initiative linking it more closely to the world of contemporary artists and collectors. The planned initiatives will extend Davidoff’s commitment to visual art well beyond its art-fair sponsorship.

Avatar photo

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.