Art World News

Moss, Pine Bark, and Roots Camouflage Tiny Refuges Among the Wild Swedish Forests and Farmland

Moss, Pine Bark, and Roots Camouflage Tiny Refuges Among the Wild Swedish Forests and Farmland

“Moss Hut.” All images © Ulf Mejergren, shared with permission

Artist and architect Ulf Mejergren (previously) continues his interest in cozy, outdoor constructions with a new series titled Farm Art. Collaborating with farmer Robert Pettersson, Mejergren built several site-specific structures from materials found around Pettersson’s property in Grödinge, Sweden.

For “Pine Bark Hut,” the pair layered thick, gnarly wood into a slender cabin camouflaged between two trees, a space first used for hunting and then storing tools. Similarly, “Root Hut” entwines gathered branches with the existing roots to create a small, sand pit enclosure nestled beneath the forest, while the circular “Moss Hut” stands 4.5 meters tall among the trees. The latter work “stems from the farmers’ hunting interest,” Mejergren writes. “For many years, he has put food at certain points in the forests so wild boars come to feed there. The problem is they are like bulldozers in the forests, looking for insects and roots in the soil, so they have dug up moss from the forest floor and left them scattered in big droves.” Cloaked in the remaining lichen, the structure is a disguised refuge among the wild landscape.

Other works in Farm Art are more aesthetically driven, like the vivid “Sunset.” Made of dandelion heads at full bloom, the spherical form appears to glow in a field of weeds and wildflowers. Find the full series on Mejergren’s site and Instagram.

 

a hut in between two trees made of bark. a person peers out from the center

“Pine Bark Hut”

a young girl sits underneath a large round circle made of bright yellow dandelions

“Sunset”

a man peers out from the center of a mossy hut

Detail of “Moss Hut”

two girls sit in front of a bright yellow orb made of dandelions

“Sunset”

a child sits under bank with a branch-constructed hut in front of him

“Root Hut”

dried hay envelops a home

“Hay House”

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Moss, Pine Bark, and Roots Camouflage Tiny Refuges Among the Wild Swedish Forests and Farmland appeared first on Colossal.

The 2023 Hertel Avenue Christmas Market

The 2023 Hertel Avenue Christmas Market

Hertel Avenue has its own Christmas Market. The quaint market, operated by the Daly family, features 10 sheds, each of which is occupied by a different marketeer. Vendors at the 2023 market will range from a candy maker to an artisan that specializes in making custom western hats. The market will also feature a Christmas tree vendor and food trucks.

Currently, the Dalys are looking for a couple more vendors to round out the market, which will run on Saturdays (12pm-8pm) from November 25 to December 23.

Anyone interested in learning more about selling at the market – located at 1849 Hertel Avenue – can call 716.573.5013 to inquire.

Stay Informed with Buffalo Rising



Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week blends traditional and modern designs at runway shows and an artisan market till November 23

Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week blends traditional and modern designs at runway shows and an artisan market till November 23
image

VANCOUVER INDIGENOUS FASHION WEEK is on all week, with an event that brings together contemporary fashion and Indigenous tradition in striking new ways.

Now in its fourth annual iteration, the showcase prioritizes celebration and reconciliation with 32 Indigenous designers from across Turtle Island, plus an artisan market with up to 50 vendors. Runway shows take place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, each with a different theme, including All My Relations, Indigenous Futures, and Spirit of the West Coast.

All My Relations on November 21 melds traditional practices with contemporary aesthetics in an all-out fashion showdown. November 22 has sovereignty advocacy in store at Indigenous Futures, and on November 23, Spirit of the West Coast puts a local spin on designs, highlighting the land and people of the West Coast. The Supernatural Kiki Ball hosted by Van Vogue Jam closes out the week on November 25, in a celebratory homage to the natural world.

This year, there’s also a special emphasis on artists from the Northwest Territories. Four designers from the region are represented on the runway, and 11 others are selling their creations at the artisan market.

On the runway at All My Relations, Dene clothing designer Cheryl Fennell presents her collection Drums in My Heart. Born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Fennell crafts works using hide, beads, fish skin, and fur that are inspired by early memories of drum beats, and her lived experiences across the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Greenland.

At Spirit of the West Coast, Musqueam mother-daughter duo Debra and Aleen Sparrow meld Coast Salish weaving with contemporary fashion in an homage to their heritage. An acclaimed local designer, weaver, and jewellery-maker, Debra recently collaborated as a design consultant on the new Vancouver Art Gallery building, which will have a copper veil-clad exterior that resembles Coast Salish weaving.

At the market in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre’s lobby, Anishinaabe artist and fashion designer Lesley Hampton showcases her self-titled, size-inclusive high quality fashion brand LESLEY HAMPTON. The curve model and representation advocate from northern Ontario’s Temagami First Nation creates an incredibly wide range of clothing and accessories—think everything from evening wear to athleisure. Her designs, which push to decolonize Eurocentric standards, are also set to appear on the runway in All My Relations.

Elsewhere at the market, Gatineau, Quebec-based MINI TIPI specializes in eco-friendly wool blend fabrics woven with authentic Indigenous art, across cozy blankets, ponchos, shawls, and bags. Langley-based Sweetgrass Soaps, meanwhile, have new holiday offerings, including a red-and-green Have Yourself a Rezzy Little Christmas soap made with with natural ginger and black tea, and Lumps of Coal stocking stuffers created with activated charcoal and scented with an Alpine & Eucalyptus fragrance.

Holiday markets around Colorado offer a way to celebrate and support local artisans. Here’s where you can find them this year

Holiday markets around Colorado offer a way to celebrate and support local artisans. Here’s where you can find them this year

Thousands of Coloradans flock to one of the state’s numerous Christmas markets every year to meet Santa, shop for one-of-a-kind gifts handcrafted by local artisans, feast on delectable treats and enjoy the best in live music.

Here is a rundown of locations throughout the state where you can enjoy seasonal entertainment and shopping.

Please note that specific markets can be closed or have limited hours around Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.


Cherry Creek Holiday Market

Nov. 16 – Dec. 24

The Holiday Market on Fillmore Plaza includes more than 300 local merchants, and the first-ever Cherry Creek North pop-up holiday bar, the Mistletoe Lounge. The Million Light Plug-in event lights up the entire 16-block region. Another new initiative this year is a collaboration with Giving Machines, which are charitable vending machines that collect donations for two global and five local charities. Closed on Nov. 20, Nov. 27 and Dec. 4. 

Click here for more information.

Denver’s Christkindl Market

Nov. 18 – Dec. 23

This genuine German-style Christmas market is held at Denver Civic Center Park and features local and European artisans, food sellers, and performers. The Denver Christkindlmarket is produced by the German American Chamber of Commerce – Colorado Chapter (GACC-CO).

Click here for more information.

Golden’s Holiday Art Market

Nov. 19 – Dec. 29

Golden’s Foothills Art Center 48th Holiday Art Market lets visitors see over 3,000 one-of-a-kind creations from Colorado artisans. High-quality ceramics, jewelry, glass, fiber, leather, metal, wood, edibles, ornaments, and greeting cards are just a few of the artisanal goods offered.

Member preview: Thursday, Nov. 30, noon to 7 p.m.

Public opening: Friday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Market in Arvada’s historic Downtown

Weekends Nov. 25 – Dec. 18

This year, Olde Town Arvada  is decorated with German Christmas Market-style huts to create a holiday wonderland. The market opens on Friday, Nov. 24, and runs every weekend until Saturday, Dec. 23. Each weekend has new vendors!

Click here for more information.

Arvada Center’s Holiday Pottery Sale

Nov. 30 – Dec. 17

The annual Holiday Pottery Sale features a wide variety of sculptural and functional pottery made by students and instructors in the ceramics teaching studio at the Arvada Center. The sale supports both the studio’s operations and the artists who created the items.

Sale hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday. 1 to 5 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Arvada Center’s Fine Art Market 

Nov. 30 – Dec. 17

Get your holiday shopping done and support local Colorado artists by purchasing unique works of art like jewelry, ceramics, decorations, paintings, greeting cards, and more at the Arvada Center Fine Art Market. Proceeds support artists and the Arvada Center Galleries. Free admission and open to the public.

Sale hours: Wednesdays and Thursdays noon – 7:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Sundays 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Westminster’s Orchard Town Center Holiday Handmade Market

Weekends Dec. 8 – 24

The Orchard’s Holiday Craft Market by Denver Makers Market features handmade goods. Three weekends of indoor shopping from chosen handcrafted craftspeople, fine artists, and artisan producers. Discover their method and find your own unique item. Located inside at the corner of 146th and Orchard Parkway, across the street from Lululemon.

Sale hours: Fridays, 4 – 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sundays 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Telluride Arts Holiday Bazaar

Dec. 1 – 3

Since 1973, Telluride residents have gathered for the annual Telluride Arts Holiday Bazaar, where vendors sell a wide range of high-quality handcrafted items such as jewelry made by local artisans, organic body care products, gourmet foods, pottery, clothing, and more. The Bazaar is a three-day event in the heart of Telluride.

Click here for more information.

Lyons Holiday Artisan Market

Dec. 2 – 3

A decades-long tradition in Lyons returns again this year, hosted at Lyons Elementary School from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., artisan craft artisans will sell their handmade goods. Local artisans display their work at this craft fair for visitors and locals. The event has about 60 innovative vendors and Santa Claus visits daily. 

Click here for more information.

Georgetown Christmas Market

Dec. 3 – 4

The 63rd edition of this outdoor European Christmas market draws craftspeople from around the world. Get roasted chestnuts at Strousse Park, view the Santa Lucia Children’s Procession and speak with St. Nicholas as he walks down the street. Join the carolers if you can.

Click here for more information.

Durango Farmers Market Holiday Market

Dec. 9

The Durango Farmers Market Holiday Market Dec. 9 9 a.m – 2 p.m. at  La Plata County Fair Grounds. Find unusual and excellent gifts for relatives and friends while picking up December fresh foods and holiday cooking ingredients. 

Click here for more information.

Cripple Creek Gold Camp Christmas

Nov. 11 – Dec. 14

Cripple Creek and Victor have A Whoville Christmas in the Gold Camps

Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. -3 p.m. Annual Gold Camp Christmas Craft Fair, June Hack Community Center, Parks & Recreation.

Click here for more information.

Seattle Museum Month Returns to Offer Art, Culture, and Major Savings for February Hotel Guests

Seattle Museum Month Returns to Offer Art, Culture, and Major Savings for February Hotel Guests

The annual program is back in 2024 with half-off at more than 25 diverse museums

SEATTLEAccording to a recent survey by Destination Analysts, one in three American travelers is driven to travel for museums, cultural institutions, and historical attractions, making Seattle Museum Month the ideal program for travelers to take advantage of in February. From February 1-29, guests staying in one of more than 70 downtown Seattle hotels will receive a Seattle Museum Month pass for up to four people, granting half-off admission at all participating venues. That includes fascinating cultural exhibits at The Museum of Flight, Seattle Art Museum, and Chihuly Garden and Glass, as well as the Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo, Museum of Pop Culture, and many others. To see the full list of participants, visit seattlemuseummonth.com 

“Palihotel Seattle is delighted to participate in Seattle Museum Month again in 2024,” said Derek Onisk, Director of Sales at Palihotel Seattle. “As a neighborhood hotel located just steps away from Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Aquarium and Olympic Sculpture Park, our guests will have the opportunity to explore Museum Month from a convenient home base. Visiting Seattle’s unique museums and cultural institutions gives you a true sense of what makes the downtown Seattle community so vibrant.” 

New displays and exhibits include Seattle Art Museum’s Calder: In Motion, The Shirley Family Collection exhibition. This collection traces Alexander Calder’s revolutionary career, highlighting his most important themes, styles, and materials from the 1920s through the 1970s. Calder’s dynamic abstract mobiles mingle with an array of his stationary stabiles of various scales, the first comprehensive public display of 48 seminal works generously donated by Jon and Kim Shirley. 

“We are thrilled to invite visitors to experience the dynamic genius of Alexander Calder,” says José Carlos Diaz, the exhibition’s curator and the Susan Brotman Deputy Director for Art at the Seattle Art Museum. “This exhibition is a rare opportunity to see this recently gifted collection all together in public for the first time, and we believe it offers something for everyone, whether it’s your first encounter with Calder’s iconic mobiles and other works or whether you’re already a fan.” 

Also new is Roots of Wisdom: Native Knowledge. Shared Science. at the Museum of History & Industry, wherein stories from four Indigenous communities demonstrate how traditional knowledge and cutting-edge science can be blended to provide complementary solutions to contemporary concerns.  

“Seattle Museum Month is a celebration of our vibrant cultural landscape, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore the rich history and diverse experiences our museums have to offer,” said MOHAI Executive Director Leonard Garfield. “At MOHAI, we are excited to showcase our engaging exhibits and immersive experiences that bring the stories of Seattle to life. We invite visitors to join us this month and discover the treasures that make our city’s museums truly exceptional.” 

With half-off admission costs at these venues, visitors who make the most of the Seattle Museum Month offer can essentially recoup the cost of their hotel stay, making for a more affordable, culturally rich vacation. Guests simply stay at a participating hotel and request an official Seattle Museum Month guest pass for use at any of the below museums to redeem the discounts.   

Participating area museums for Seattle Museum Month: 

  1. Bainbridge Island Museum of Art* 
  1. Bainbridge Island Historical Museum*  
  1. Bellevue Arts Museum 
  1. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center* 
  1. Burke Museum 
  1. Center for Wooden Boats* 
  1. Chihuly Garden and Glass 
  1. Frye Art Museum* 
  1. Henry Art Gallery* 
  1. Kids Discovery Museum 
  1. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park* 
  1. Museum of Glass 
  1. Museum of History & Industry 
  1. Museum of Pop Culture 
  1. National Nordic Museum 
  1. Olympic Sculpture Park* 
  1. Pacific Bonsai Museum* 
  1. Pacific Science Cener 
  1. Seattle Aquarium 
  1. Seattle Art Museum 
  1. Seattle Asian Art Museum 
  1. Seattle Children’s Museum 
  1. Seattle Pinball Museum 
  1. The Museum of Flight 
  1. USS Turner Joy 
  1. Wing Luke Museum 
  1. Woodland Park Zoo 

* = free admission year-round 

“Seattle Museum Month offers a perfect opportunity for a cultural getaway on a budget,” said Visit Seattle’s Senior Director of Cultural Tourism, Tracey Wickersham. “Whether you are traveling with a family, a group of friends or a romantic getaway partner, there’s nothing like filling your February days in Seattle with exploration through fun, engaging and thought-provoking exhibitions, especially with a cozy hotel to return to.” 

 

Media images are available here. 

 

About Visit Seattle
Visit Seattle has served as the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Seattle and King County for more than 50 years. A 501(c)(6) organization, Visit Seattle enhances the economic prosperity of the region through global destination branding along with competitive programs and campaigns in leisure travel marketing, convention sales and overseas tourism development. Visit visitseattle.org.    

About Seattle Museum Month
Seattle Museum Month is produced by Visit Seattle and funded by the Seattle Tourism Improvement Area (STIA); a dedicated marketing fund assessed from guests at several downtown Seattle hotels. The program was created to encourage travelers to visit Seattle in February and celebrate the remarkable collection of unique museums in the region.  

Shop from makers of all art mediums at the Flux Market on November 25

Shop from makers of all art mediums at the Flux Market on November 25

Sixty vendors, amazing food and drink, and opportunities to create masterpieces will all be coming to The Flux Market in Grand Rapids on November 25.

The truly unique experience brings small businesses are artists of different mediums together, creating a unique marketplace to browse, admire, and shop for handmade goods. Maker types include potters, stained glass makers, ceramic artists, macrame artists, and so much more.

The event will also be hosting free hand-building and wheel-throwing workshops throughout the duration of the event. Make an ornament or take your turn at the potter’s wheel and learn to throw a pot on the wheel. 

The event will take place at D2D Studios at 401 Hall St. SW from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Three weekends of winter produce, handmade art at Astoria Holiday Market

Three weekends of winter produce, handmade art at Astoria Holiday Market







Higgins ceramic piece

A ceramic vase and birds by Autumn Higgins, who will be one of nearly 90 rotating vendors at the Astoria Holiday Market.


Squash, onions, leeks and other winter produce. Hand-painted ceramics. Dried flower arrangements and evergreen wreaths. Fresh-baked specialty breads.

These are just a few of the items that will be available at the Astoria Holiday Market, taking place at the Astoria Armory from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Sunday, as well as on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10.

The holiday market, presented by the Astoria Sunday Market and the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association, will feature fine art, jewelry, clothing, ceramics, pickles and winter produce from a lineup of nearly 90 local and regional vendors.

There will be roughly 65 vendors for each market, with the mix varying slightly from week to week, similar to the rotating lineup of the Astoria Sunday Market, which runs from May to October.

New and familiar

Many of the vendors are well-known names and faces from the summer market, but there are some newcomers as well, such as Autumn Higgins.

Higgins, who creates unique hand-painted ceramics, recently moved back to Portland from Minneapolis. She looks forward to expanding to the Oregon Coast and getting to know other artists from the Pacific Northwest.







Autumn Higgins

Illustrator and potter Autumn Higgins, of Portland, is new to this year’s holiday market.


“It’s a familiar type of experience, but a new experience,” she said. “It will be nice to branch out into the art community.”

For Higgins’ whole life, she said, “I’ve had handmade ceramics around because my grandparents did pottery.”

This helped spur her professional journey. She recalls signing up for her first ceramics class 20 years ago and being excited, thinking, “One day, all my dishes will be handmade.” Her graduate studies also focused on ceramics.

Higgins’ work includes mugs, bowls, plates, vases, butter dishes and ring holders that she paints with cityscapes, landscapes, animals, flowers and fruit. She creates everything on a pottery wheel and then uses an inlay technique to etch designs. She fills in the lines with a black stain and, eventually, paints on colors.

While she tends to do custom orders, fine craft shows and gallery showings, markets give her an additional opportunity to interact face-to-face with customers. When it comes to a ceramic piece, there is a value to people “being able to pick it up and hold it.”

“Hopefully it sparks feelings or memories of their own,” she said, and that “adds another level to their eating or drinking experience.” “Any handmade ceramic can do that because it’s something (the artist) put their heart into. It feels warmer.”

Sharing memories

Ashley Johnston, who runs the bakery at Blackberry Bog Farm in Svensen, also values the mindfulness and memory-making aspect of creating and sharing homemade baked goods.

Johnston recalled an experience where she shared a new flavor of scone — blueberry cardamom — with a regular customer, and they held it like it was a child. People will cradle and cherish baked goods, Johnston said, because they’re warm, and comforting and have flavors reminiscent of their childhood.







Blackberry Bog Farm

Scott Thompson opens a greenhouse door at Blackberry Bog Farm.




“I love what it brings out in people,” she said. “It starts with baked goods. It’s food. Scones bring people, everywhere, together.”

Johnston will be at the holiday market to sell pastries, breads, jams and jellies, pickled treats and coffee, while the farm also will have winter produce available.

Blackberry Bog Farm is a regular at both the Astoria Sunday Market and the Seaside Farmers Market, but this is the first time they’ll be at the Astoria Holiday Market.







Cardamom bread

Fresh cardamom bread from Blackberry Bog Farm in Svensen.


As the bakery relies on using ingredients grown on the farm, Johnston plans to bring pumpkin carrot cake, apple treats, sweet breads and other seasonal items. She also is excited to share pulla, a traditional Finnish cardamom bread often served this time of year.

“It’s been fun to be getting into winter season,” Johnston said.

Connecting with community

For Zachary Peyton and Autum Christensen, who run River City Flower Farm in the Nehalem Valley, winter means adding lush, evergreen holiday wreaths to their customary offering of dried flower arrangements.

According to Christensen, the farm — which is rooted in eco-friendly and sustainable practices — has a few connections for sourcing evergreen boughs that would otherwise go to waste.

For example, one of their friends grows fir trees and gives them the bottom branches, which traditionally get trimmed for Christmas trees. Another provides the boughs he prunes off the specialty conifers in his nursery.

“We have a pretty amazing selection of evergreen,” Christensen said. “That’s kind of what sets us apart.”







Evergreen wreath

An evergreen arrangement from River City Flower Farm.


Sometimes, she’ll add their dried flowers to the evergreen arrangements for a unique look. The flowers are also used for wreaths and bouquets.

Peyton and Christensen started farming flowers a few years ago to fill a need in the local market. Plus, Christensen says, “flowers are a lot more fun to grow than vegetables.” For about half the year, they offer fresh-cut flowers and then transition from fresh to dry when the frost comes.

They also tend to take dried arrangements to the market, as visitors appreciate taking home something that lasts longer.

“Everybody loves flowers because you get a dopamine hit just from looking at them,” Christensen says. “You don’t feed your mouth with them, but you feed your soul with them, and that’s just as important.”

River City Flower Farm has been a vendor at the Astoria Sunday Market for the past three years, and they look forward to joining this year’s holiday market.

“We’re just trying to get more well-known with the locals and people who value local products,” Christensen says. “It’s nice to have a community, and you get that with your farmers markets. Not just the customers but the other vendors too.”

Seller’s Remorse: How a Thrift Store Owner Let a $191,000 Painting Slip Through His Fingers for $4

Seller’s Remorse: How a Thrift Store Owner Let a $191,000 Painting Slip Through His Fingers for $4

When one savvy thrifter managed to make a $191,000 profit on a painting she picked up for just $4 at a Savers thrift store in New Hampshire in 2017, she was overjoyed and immediately booked a trip to Germany to see family. But for every boastful bargain hunter, there’s a remorseful seller who is left to ponder the “what ifs” of having realized what they had, while they still had it.

The painting, which turned out to be a rare example by the American illustrator N.C. Wyeth, was a hit at auction, easily making its presale estimate of $150,000-$250,000 at a sale of American Art at Bonhams Skinner in Marlborough, Massachusetts in September.

Newell Convers Wyeth, Ramona. Image courtesy of Bonhams.

The current owner of that Savers store has been identified as Shaun Edson, and he is able to shed some light on how this masterpiece could have come to collect dust in a thrift store. “From what I understand, that painting was donated through our donation centre and then made its way out to the floor,” he told The Sun. “Our donations are done anonymously.”

“We look at all the donations we receive and we place a value on them as best we can,” he added, according to The Independent. “We are not connoisseurs of paintings. We do our best to evaluate the pieces and value them appropriately.”

“Obviously we missed the boat,” he admitted.

The lucky woman who scooped up the precious Wyeth in 2017 didn’t realize she had struck gold until many years later, when she was clearing out her closets earlier this year. Turning to the help of Facebook sleuths from the group “Things Found in Walls,”  she eventually made contact with the art conservator Lauren Lewis, who informed her that she was accidentally harboring something special.

Wyeth, who was born in 1882 and died in 1945, was an illustrator mainly for periodicals and novels. It is thought that the thrift shop painting may have been one of four possible designs for the frontispiece of a 1939 edition of Helen Hunt Jackson’s novel Ramona. It dramatizes the moment when the protagonist confronts her adoptive mother Señora Moreno, an austere figure in formal black dress. How these pieces, which Wyeth mailed to his publishers in Little, Brown and Co in Boston in the late 1930s, ended up in Manchester, New Hampshire is anyone’s guess.

More Trending Stories:  

A Shipwreck Off the Coast of Colombia May Hold $20 Billion Worth of Treasure 

Hot! How a Backyard Photographer Captured Some of the Most Detailed Images of the Sun 

Chinese Artist Chen Ke Celebrates the Women of Bauhaus in a Colorful, Mixed-Media Paris Debut 

A Centuries-Spanning Exhibition Investigates the Age-Old Lure of Money 

Meet the Woman Behind ‘Weird Medieval Guys,’ the Internet Hit Mining Odd Art From the Middle Ages 

Conservators Find a ‘Monstrous Figure’ Hidden in an 18th-Century Joshua Reynolds Painting 

A First-Class Dinner Menu Salvaged From the Titanic Makes Waves at Auction 

The Louvre Seeks Donations to Stop an American Museum From Acquiring a French Masterpiece 

Follow Artnet News on Facebook:
Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward.

British Art Market Federation Unveils New Economic Report

British Art Market Federation Unveils New Economic Report

Good morning. I am delighted to be with you today for the launch of the latest economic survey of the UK art market by Dr. Clare McAndrew.

Thank you to Anthony Browne for inviting me to join you and to say a few words.

Anthony regularly comes to brief the Secretary of State, our officials, and me on the state of the art market, and the challenges facing it – As well he should as the issue is an asset of huge national importance.

There’s the economic impact, of course – providing direct employment to tens of thousands of highly-skilled people, and supporting almost as many jobs again in the ancillary businesses which provide the specialist skills it draws on.

There’s the fiscal contribution of some £1.5 billion, and the great benefit to the Exchequer of being a global hub for the international trade – with billions of pounds’ worth of works of art being imported and exported across our borders each year.

There’s the soft power of being the marketplace for some of the world’s most important artworks, antiques, and antiquities – and sharing the UK’s extraordinary creativity with ever larger audiences around the world.

There’s the magnetic effect it has for our visitor economy – something on fine display last month, as we marked 20 years of Frieze London, which the Prime Minister was proud to celebrate with a reception at 10 Downing Street.

The art market sustains and inspires so many wonderful exhibitions, art fairs, and other vibrant events which create additional spending and employment and attract tourists, both around the country and around the world.

Visitors to London during Frieze Week were spoiled for choice this year – with world-class exhibitions including Sarah Lucas at Tate Britain, Marina Abramović at the Royal Academy, Claudette Johnson at the Courtauld, and Frans Hals at the National Gallery – and that’s only mentioning a handful in Zone One.

That reflects the wider, and integral role the UK art market plays in our cultural life.

Our commercial galleries and dealers play a vital role in nurturing the careers of the UK’s visual artists. That’s why London has the greatest concentration of artists of any city anywhere in the world – and why so many other towns and cities across the country are similarly fizzing with artistic talent.

And I am very grateful for the expertise of the many art market professionals who advise my Department on cultural property matters.

So today is a chance for me to say thank you for the part you all contribute to that global success story.

And it is, of course, a moment to ensure we are doing everything we can to maintain it.

Today, we have the second largest art market in the world – behind only the United States, and larger than the rest of Europe put together.

But the global market is increasingly competitive – and that position is not ours by rights.

Dr. McAndrew’s report has charted the extraordinary resilience of the UK art market as it bounces back from the bleak months of the pandemic.

It has been able to draw on its great wealth of expertise and dynamism to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 – and those will be invaluable resources to draw on as it faces the challenges of the future.

But Government must play its part too. That is why I am glad to join you today – and glad to have ongoing relationship we do with the British Art Market Federation reassure you that we recognise what a great asset we have in the UK art market, and that we stand behind the sector as it works to retain its international competitive edge – and to remain a great British success story long into the future.

I know, from my conversations with Anthony and others, that leaving the European Union has brought new processes, not all of them favourable.

But having sovereign control of our borders has also brought the opportunity to innovate; to review and refine our customs rules.

We have already revoked the EU Regulation which will require import licences and importer statements for many cultural goods when it comes into effect in 2025, so that it will not apply to imports into Great Britain.

Our ambition is to have the world’s most effective border – and I am grateful to all those who have already made time to engage with our officials on the development of the new Single Trade Window.

That will provide a gateway between businesses and our border processes and systems – including, in time, export licences which I am glad to say are in the process of being digitised by our colleagues at the Arts Council.

This will allow people to meet their import, export and transit obligations by submitting information once, and in one place.

We are also reviewing Temporary Admission to reduce administrative burdens and simplify the rules – further evidence, I hope you will agree, that the Government is listening to the UK art market.

We know that you make frequent use of the Temporary Admission procedure, and are grateful for the constructive approach taken by the British Art Market Federation and art market practitioners in their responses to the recent public consultation.

We are considering what you have told us carefully and plan further engagement, including with the art market, in the New Year. So please do keep talking to us about it.

So I hope you will see that the Government is watching not just with pride at what we have at present, but a determination to preserve it – and with appreciation for all the evidence you bring to us which helps us in our conversations across government.

Chief among that, of course, is Dr. McAndrew’s annual report – an invaluable source of information, So I’m delighted to be here today and looking forward to hearing the evidence within it.

Thanks for having me.

/Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.

Launch of the British Art Market Federation’s new economic report

Launch of the British Art Market Federation’s new economic report

Lord Parkinson speech from the launch of the British Art Market Federation’s new economic report: ‘The British Art Market in 2023’.

The British Art Market in 2023 report

Good morning. I am delighted to be with you today for the launch of the latest economic survey of the UK art market by Dr. Clare McAndrew.

Thank you to Anthony Browne for inviting me to join you and to say a few words.

Anthony regularly comes to brief the Secretary of State, our officials, and me on the state of the art market, and the challenges facing it — As well he should as the issue is an asset of huge national importance.

There’s the economic impact, of course — providing direct employment to tens of thousands of highly-skilled people, and supporting almost as many jobs again in the ancillary businesses which provide the specialist skills it draws on. 

There’s the fiscal contribution of some £1.5 billion, and the great benefit to the Exchequer of being a global hub for the international trade — with billions of pounds’ worth of works of art being imported and exported across our borders each year. 

There’s the soft power of being the marketplace for some of the world’s most important artworks, antiques, and antiquities – and sharing the UK’s extraordinary creativity with ever larger audiences around the world.

There’s the magnetic effect it has for our visitor economy — something on fine display last month, as we marked 20 years of Frieze London, which the Prime Minister was proud to celebrate with a reception at 10 Downing Street. 

The art market sustains and inspires so many wonderful exhibitions, art fairs, and other vibrant events which create additional spending and employment and attract tourists, both around the country and around the world. 

Visitors to London during Frieze Week were spoiled for choice this year — with world-class exhibitions including Sarah Lucas at Tate Britain, Marina Abramović at the Royal Academy, Claudette Johnson at the Courtauld, and Frans Hals at the National Gallery — and that’s only mentioning a handful in Zone One. 

That reflects the wider, and integral role the UK art market plays in our cultural life.

Our commercial galleries and dealers play a vital role in nurturing the careers of the UK’s visual artists. That’s why London has the greatest concentration of artists of any city anywhere in the world – and why so many other towns and cities across the country are similarly fizzing with artistic talent.

And I am very grateful for the expertise of the many art market professionals who advise my Department on cultural property matters.
So today is a chance for me to say thank you for the part you all contribute to that global success story.

And it is, of course, a moment to ensure we are doing everything we can to maintain it.

Today, we have the second largest art market in the world – behind only the United States, and larger than the rest of Europe put together.

But the global market is increasingly competitive – and that position is not ours by rights.

Dr. McAndrew’s report has charted the extraordinary resilience of the UK art market as it bounces back from the bleak months of the pandemic.

It has been able to draw on its great wealth of expertise and dynamism to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 – and those will be invaluable resources to draw on as it faces the challenges of the future. 

But Government must play its part too. That is why I am glad to join you today – and glad to have ongoing relationship we do with the British Art Market Federation reassure you that we recognise what a great asset we have in the UK art market, and that we stand behind the sector as it works to retain its international competitive edge – and to remain a great British success story long into the future.

I know, from my conversations with Anthony and others, that leaving the European Union has brought new processes, not all of them favourable.

But having sovereign control of our borders has also brought the opportunity to innovate; to review and refine our customs rules.  

We have already revoked the EU Regulation which will require import licences and importer statements for many cultural goods when it comes into effect in 2025, so that it will not apply to imports into Great Britain.

Our ambition is to have the world’s most effective border – and I am grateful to all those who have already made time to engage with our officials on the development of the new Single Trade Window. 

That will provide a gateway between businesses and our border processes and systems – including, in time,  export licences which I am glad to say are in the process of being digitised by our colleagues at the Arts Council.  

This will allow people to meet their import, export and transit obligations by submitting information once, and in one place. 

We are also reviewing Temporary Admission to reduce administrative burdens and simplify the rules – further evidence, I hope you will agree, that the Government is listening to the UK art market. 

We know that you make frequent use of the Temporary Admission procedure, and are grateful for the constructive approach taken by the British Art Market Federation and art market practitioners in their responses to the recent public consultation.  

We are considering what you have told us carefully and plan further engagement, including with the art market, in the New Year. So please do keep talking to us about it. 

So I hope you will see that the Government is watching not just with pride at what we have at present, but a determination to preserve it – and with appreciation for all the evidence you bring to us which helps us in our conversations across government.

Chief among that, of course, is Dr. McAndrew’s annual report – an invaluable source of information, So I’m delighted to be here today and looking forward to hearing the evidence within it. 

Thanks for having me.

Published 21 November 2023