Now in their 21st year of championing affordable art, join the Affordable Art Fair this 12 – 15 March and discover 1,000's of original artworks from a fantastically diverse selection of more than 110 handpicked international galleries, with everything priced between £50 and £6,000.
Ahead of the grand opening, we spoke to UK Fair Director, Elizabeth Dellert, about the fair's unique appeal, and some of the intriguing new features set to launch this Spring.
Tickets for the Fair are now on sale now, book now to secure half-price tickets across the weekend or free Friday entry - click here.
For those who have never visited before, what they can expect from an Affordable Art Fair?
With more than two decades of providing hand-picked original artworks of all shapes and sizes to 1,000s of visitors every year, we're now the go-to place for experienced collectors and first-time art buyers alike. Visit us in Battersea Park this Spring, 12 - 15 March, or on Hampstead Heath, 30 April – 3 May, and you’ll find 1,000s of contemporary artworks priced between £50 and £6,000, from over 110 galleries. The atmosphere is fun, relaxed and friendly so whether it's a weekend culture-fix or some quality time with friends and family we've got you covered. You might even fall for an artwork while you're at it!
Is there a piece or exhibition at this year's Battersea event that visitors just cannot miss?
As always, there’s lots in store but this year we're launching a focus on prints entitled 'Access' at our Battersea Spring fair. 'Access' will run alongside the Fair's existing line-up of over 110 galleries, and for this edition it will explore the diverse world of prints and multiples. You'll be able to learn more about the astonishing range of this format – from lino-cuts to lithographs, originals to numbered editions through a curated selection of 'ones to watch' and a free programme of workshops including 'Printmaking & Prosecco' for the big kids and a Warhol-inspired workshop for our mini-masters.
How do you encourage people who wouldn’t think of themselves as 'art lovers' to come to your events?
We are so much more than simply art on white walls. Our fairs are relaxed and fun places to learn more about art, whether you're a seasoned fair-goer or just starting out. We create a programme of free, drop-in talks and workshops throughout our fairs to encourage people to find their inner creative or learn a little more about subjects such as interiors, art history or collecting. Best of all, our gallerists are friendly, approachable experts always looking to share more information on their artists or give advice.
The Affordable Art Fair takes place in various countries, can you give us a quick summary of how it became such a global event?
The very first edition of the Affordable Art Fair launched in London’s Battersea Park in October 1999. That fair welcomed 10,000 art lovers who bought 1,000s of original contemporary paintings, sculptures, photographs and prints. Knowing he was onto something special, Fair Founder Will Ramsay looked for ways to take his patented style of a more relaxed and fun art fair to new locations and now, two decades later, we welcome over 185,000 art enthusiasts each year to our fairs globally. We hold fairs in 10 cities around the world including London, New York, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Hamburg, Brussels, Singapore, Milan, Stockholm and Melbourne – but, that’s not where the story ends! We also offer a curated selection of artwork from our exhibiting galleries online too, so I guess you could say we are truly making art accessible, 365/24/7!
You have championed accessible art – but do you still think there is work to be done to change the perception that the words 'affordable' and 'art' can’t work together?
Of course, 'affordable' is a relative term but it can absolutely be applied to art. If you come to one of our fairs you'll find a huge variety of work on display with prices starting from around £50. If you're looking for something from the lower end then my suggestion would be to start with the stands stocked with unframed prints, or keep an eye out for editioned photography. As visitors grow in confidence (and budget!) they tend to look towards paintings or sculpture, but there's no rush, you could have years of collecting ahead of you yet.
How important do you think it is that art is affordable and accessible to the masses?
Incredibly! Art should be for all and I think that twenty years on we still play an important part in democratising the art market – our founding mission from 1999. Owning and living with original art is something that can give back to you on a daily basis, it's a lifelong investment in your well-being, and that’s something I have personally enjoyed and want to share with as many others as possible.
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