The following is an announcement for the upcoming Open Art Spaces festival:
Open Art Spaces in Kensington, Chelsea & Fulham is ready to start the summer with an impressive selection of informal free fine art exhibitions all over the area. From 24 –26 June and 1 – 3 July 2016, the popular art festival will give visitors exclusive access to the studios and work of some of the area’s most talented artists including residency artists at the V&A and fine art graduates at Kensington & Chelsea College. The festival will also include a diverse group show in the Earls Court Project Rooms as well as pop-up spaces in Kings Road and Munster Road.
Now in its fourth year, Open Art Spaces (previously organised in autumn) is turning into a summer event. The free open access arts festival will see approximately 100 local artists, studios, colleges, and headline sponsor Faron Sutaria’s branches host informal exhibitions for the public all over the Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham area. More than ever, the focus will be on presenting the high quality of affordable fine art present throughout the area. In addition to this there will be a number of creative artist-driven studio events and happenings in public spaces as well as a large group exhibition.*
At the core of everything is still the chance for the public to view and buy art in the very space it has been created – the artist’s private home or studio – and to get behind the scenes and talk directly with artists and makers. But to make it more feasible for visitors to buy art works, Open Art Spaces has this year also launched a new website and online shop, where visitors can read about the individual artists and view and buy selected works.
The event is organised by Kensington local Julie Brodsgaard, a Christie’s educated curator of modern and contemporary art. She explains: “Open Art Spaces is all about showing how much exciting fine art is created in our local area and it’s about supporting these artists and the conditions for creative output. I’ve been amazed at the talent found amongst us and I feel that it is important to make this accessible to everyone in our area. Our festival is a chance for art enthusiasts to gain exclusive access to the work of their local artists through a platform that facilitates both affordable prices and exciting encounters and talks with the artists in their own studio, home or workplace.”
To reflect and highlight the area’s talented creative environment, a broad spectrum of art forms – from fine art painters and illustrators, to silversmiths and sculptors – are to be included. Both established and emerging artists as well as artists’ collectives form part of the festival; visitors can get a taste of the artistic diversity in the Group Exhibition, which will showcase works from all participating artists in one site. Faron Sutaria will also be hosting a string of exciting exhibitions in its local offices in South Kensington, Earls Court, Notting Hill, Chelsea and Fulham.
Faron Sutaria says: “With art and property blending so well together, Faron Sutaria is once again thrilled to be the headline sponsor of Open Art Spaces. We are delighted to be supporting creativity in West London, celebrating neighbourhood talent and injecting new creative energy to the local art scene. We look forward to welcoming artists and art lovers to our offices this summer.”
Visitors will be able to navigate between artists, events and venues via the Open Art Spaces map. They can also sign up for a guided studio tour through the website, which will be updated continuously with information.
Entry to all Open Art Spaces venues is free; artist profiles, maps, and opening times can be found online www.openartspaces.com or by picking up a brochure from your local library, cultural centre or a branch of Faron Sutaria from early June.
* A festival launch and private view for the Group Show will be held on Wednesday 22 June at the in Earls Court, Project Rooms 16-18 Empress Place, London SW6 1TT.
More information from Open Art Spaces or Signe Hansen (signev17 /at/ yahoo.dk or 07507362028) or Julie Brodsgaard (julie /at/ openartspaces.com).
