Miami Beach and Basel, Switzerland Officially Become Sister Cities

Our new Swiss Sis

​To locals, the word "Basel" means non-stop art and swanky parties. Sometimes it's easy to forget that the word is actually the name of a Swiss city that's home to the original Art Basel. To mark the tenth anniversary of Art Basel Miami Beach, the two towns finally decided to make it official and become sister cities.

"Today is the culmination of the fact that it is 10 years ago that Art Basel Miami Beach began and finally Basel is going to be a sister city," said Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower at this week's ceremony according to Examiner.com.

"Based on the close links between the origination of the Sister-City relationship and both Art Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach, both sides will do their best to further prosperity and development of the two art fairs," reads the proclamation.

Furthermore, the agreement says the two cities will cooperate in the areas of trade, education, research, promotion, and, of course, culture and tourism.

At the ceremony, Art Basel representative Rene Kamm also assured Bower not to be threatened by the recent announcement of yet a third Basel-branded art fair in Hong Kong.

"Don't be afraid. This will only increase awareness for Miami Beach. We will promote Miami Beach heavily, so Miami Beach will have a bright future and the brand will only be stronger," he said according to Examiner.

Besides, Basel and Hong Kong are just in the early stages of their relations. It ain't like they're sisters.

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