Herts Visual Arts Launches a new Makers Fair

Following the continued success of their July Big Art Fair for Hertfordshire, Herts Visual Arts’ (HVA) first public art event in 2021 is the brand-new Big Makers Fair showcasing Hertfordshire artisan makers. Originally conceived as a vibrant weekend-long in-person affair on Saturday/Sunday 20th/21st March, the Makers Fair is designed to bring a positive focus to artists, their art/skills and the visiting public alike after a year of formal health-related restrictions.

Responding to the ongoing health situation, HVA is now launching their inaugural Big Makers Fair as a month-long virtual art extravaganza celebrating Spring alongside our member artists and their work. Building on last year’s Virtual Open Studios, Christmas Showcase and Winter Exhibition, the Big Makers Fair 2021 will again focus on video, live events and social media.

On Saturday/Sunday 20th/21st March, Herts Visual Arts will live-stream artist tours and presentations, enabling visitors to experience live-media, video and more on HVA and other social media accounts. Throughout March, the Big Makers Fair on Herts Visual Arts website will showcase creativity through an exhibition, gallery tour, videos (meet the maker, studio tours, artists at work) flipbook/video and social media live. Participating artists will be using the hashtag #BigMakersFair, collated onto the HVA social media wall.

Herts Visual Arts events are run by and for HVA members: artists and designer-makers across Hertfordshire. Moving on-line for Open Studios 2020 paved the way for our lively 2021 HVA calendar as we continue to bring art into the heart of our communities, all the while supporting the individual art journeys of our professional and amateur visual art members. Makers and designers can share their work, studios, workshops and exhibitions via a dedicated website: a full and exciting range of online offerings, supported by deep and flexible on-line search capabilities.

Of course, a bonus of bringing the Big Makers Fair online is that it is accessible to a far wider audience who can ‘travel’ and ‘visit’ from the comfort of their own home, at whatever time suits them.

In person, the Big Makers Fair was expected to feature around 50-60 3D and 2D makers. Our virtual, live 2021 event will now be able to showcase more than this, with artist registration opening in February. Visitors can expect a wide-ranging, exciting and enticing array of work: textiles, ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, glass, mixed media, paintings, printing, photography and more.

Full contact details in our participating artists’ HVAF Galleries make it easy for visitors to get in touch, find out more and perhaps purchase something special. From greetings cards to larger statement pieces, original unique art alongside limited editions, there’s something for every pocket – a range of prices that won’t break the bank.

"We expect this new fair to create an even bigger buzz than our 2020 virtual offerings, and anticipate it being very popular with artisan makers, artists and visitors alike", HVA Chair Hillary Taylor confirms, "we have such a talented and committed group of HVA members who create events like this, bringing an amazing wide range of art to the forefront. Although the health situation has certainly been a challenge, our ability to respond and develop new virtual opportunities for members and visitors alike is a testament to those organisers.”

Artists who want to take part, but are not yet members, can easily join Herts Visual Arts. They can then take full advantage of all member benefits, including networking, exhibiting at events and sharing on-line galleries. Membership for 2021/2022 is now open and artists can find out more/join here: https://www.hvaf.org.uk/artists

www.hvaf.org.uk ‘More creativity, more fun, more buzz, more laughter in our lives’

About

Herts Visual Arts is the largest county-wide volunteer run organisation for amateur and professional artists and makers in Hertfordshire. An annual programme includes members meetings, exhibitions, Art Showcases, the Big Art Fair and Herts Open Studios.

Many join simply to be part in Open Studios each year – but there is so much more to the excellent value annual membership (currently just £45 per year) *Registration for Open Studios is not included in the cost of membership.

Benefits of annual membership include a gallery on the HVA web site, social media promotion across HVA platforms and a PRIVATE Facebook group to connect with other members. There’s also access to opportunities and a full annual programme of meetings and events, just for members. A monthly newsletter includes news, opportunities and exhibitions across Hertfordshire, as well as hints, tips and articles on Open Studios, marketing and more. Members can also promote their workshops, classes, exhibitions and publications and contribute to the newsletter itself.

Non-members can sign up to our newsletters Free of Charge.

24th November 2020 - February 2021: Winter Exhibition https://www.hvaf.org.uk/latestshow
18th January 2021: Members Conference https://www.hvaf.org.uk/our-events/members-conference
20th/21st March 2021: Makers Fair https://www.hvaf.org.uk/our-events/makers-fair
16th-18th July 2021: Big Art Fair. https://www.hvaf.org.uk/our-events/big-art-fair
September 2021: Herts Open Studios https://www.hvaf.org.uk/our-events/herts-open-studios-2021
The easiest way to join HVA is online: www.hvaf.org.uk
Twitter: @HVAF #HertsOpenStudios Instagram @HertsVisualArts

Facebook: @HertsVisualArts
Press Release by Hillary Taylor chair@hvaf.org.uk
Press contacts are: For marketing email marketing@hvaf.org.uk

ENDS

PDF icon Herts Visual Arts launches a new Makers Fair

For more information visit https://www.hvaf.org.uk/our-events/makers-fair