Category: Art Industry

This new mid-year Art buyer’s event the ‘Summer Fair London’ is to be held at London’s Excel Exhibition Centre 17th -20th June 2007 and is the sister event to the more well known ‘Spring Fair’ and ‘Autumn Fair.’ The event has recently reported that more National (UK) and International exhibitors will be in attendance.

Some of the trade stand categories are to include: Art & card, Gift & Home Fashion and Fashion Accessories.

According to the ‘Summer Fair’ website:

“No other summer trade exhibition boasts such a mouth-watering line up of of international brands, many showing exclusively at Summer Fair London”

If you are in the Art trade, you can register now on the their website and get free entry, saving you £15.00.

thank you

Russell

The popular ‘Own Art’ scheme, which helps gallery customers buy art with Interest free loans, is now ‘on hold’ as the HFC Bank has decided to withdraw its credit for the scheme.

The scheme is run by the Arts Council & the Scottish Arts Council with HFC Bank being the credit provider.

Considering the scheme is only 3 years old, the stats are impressive. Since it was created in 2004, 305 English galleries and 40 Scottish art galleries have signed up to use the scheme, with 7000+ customers spending £5.5 million pounds sterling on art through ‘Own Art’ scheme. Loans range from between £100 – £2000.

The withdrawal of credit by HFC Bank starts in May 2007 and although the repayment agreements with existing customers will be unchanged, no new galleries will be allowed the sign up to the ‘Own Art’ scheme. I’m presuming the situation will change when a new credit provider comes forward.

A spokesman for the Arts Council said:

‘Over the coming weeks we will be making arrangements to secure a new credit provider to ensure its continued success’

thank you

Russell