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New art fair launches this weekend in neo-jacobean house.

Whithurst Park Fair

The Whithurst Park Art Fair is a brand new not- for-profit event supporting Maggie’s.
Hosting a stellar list of talent, including world-renowned sculptors Mark Coreth and Nic Fiddian Green, painter and musician Ian Bruce, best-selling author Jack Cooke and art critic Richard Cork.

50 talented artists (both established and emerging) will exhibit both inside the house and out in the parkland. These include Anthony Abrahams, Conall McAteer, Kate Ive, Kitty Shepherd, Philip Jackson and Jacob Wolff. Artwork will be priced affordably. Sales will go to artists, with 30% donated to Maggie’s.

We managed to catch some time with its Director James Elwes ahead of its opening this weekend.

1 Another art fair! So why is your one so different?
The setting and space is extraordinary. I still don’t believe we are just over an hour’s drive from Central London! It is South Downs secret jewel – perfect parkland and bold architecture tucked away in wooded West Sussex. It’s inspired everyone who’s been involved and encouraged the collaborative atmosphere we set out to build. It’s a truly dynamic fair – full of residencies, project spaces, performances and events.;

2 How long has it taken to plan the event?
It will have been 10 months since we first contacted Maggie’s about fundraising for them. That’s when the work started. The idea was first proposed a good three months before that and has germinated ever since.

3 You have some great partners, how are they involved?
The work of our partners has proved invaluable – we are very lucky to be working with galleries like Brocket, YAP, Sladmore and Pallant House as well as some terrific and very generous commercial sponsors and of course Maggie’s themselves have been brilliant. I have worked with several of our partners before now and have always been impressed by their commitment. There is a huge respect amongst cultural institutions for Maggie’s, their ethos and their cultural legacy. This has inspired all of us. It helps that the proposal was strong too, I guess!

4 How does it work with Maggie’s?
The Fair is not-for-profit. Anything we make goes to Maggie’s. We are fundraising through the sale of tickets, donations, a raffle and silent auction as well as asking all exhibiting artists to donate a proportion of their revenue from the Fair to the charity.

5 How will the commissions work?
We decided very early on not to charge commission in order to maximise money made through the sale of artwork that will go straight to the charity. This has worked very effectively – the artists are happier making a very direct and more significant contribution to the charity. They are also prepared to go the extra mile for the Fair – pitching new work and projects specific to the event itself. We have had to offset this with a huge amount of fundraising. I’m happy to say its all worked out thanks to our sponsors!

rhizo [miliatry green, nato, reed, pepperoni hot, pepperoni mild, banana joe, brimstone, butta..-2

6 How did you choose the artists and can artists apply for next year?
The vast majority of selected artists have existing working relationships with me or the partner galleries. With over 50 artists exhibiting and so much to manage, its been wonderful to be able to rely on those relationships. Technology also means that I can coordinate the exhibition of work with the likes of Jacob Wolff, who has been in Berlin all year, and Ian Bruce, who tours the world for months on end, with relative ease. I’d like to broaden the opportunity to exhibit in the future.

7 Are there special events/talks during the fair?
If I were you, I would make a beeline to see talks by bestselling author and pro tree climber Jack Cooke and art and architectural historian Boris Bogdanovich, the Hogarth-inspired performance by Jack Bullen and Agnes Lanza and a special collaboration between Overmantels and Thomas Birkett. The erotic rooms will also be worth a visit.

The Whithurst Park Art Fair 10th – 11th September 2016 More Details and Tickets: whithurst.com/artfair

J2203 Nic Fiddian GreenImpala-2

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