Reflections on past, present and the future of #Cafdgg

It is the time of year for reflection, contemplation and acknowledgement of where I am now with #Cafdgg and from where I started.

The Contemporary Arts Fair Discover:Gather:Give (#Cafdgg) is now firmly established in the Arts Calendar after four years as a Fair to visit and enjoy the high quality art work exhibited at Stratford-upon-Avon Town Hall.

I am hugely indebted to my mentors who started me on this fabulous road of artistic discovery; Ann Donnelly for sharing her huge knowledge on setting up and running successful exhibitions, Jane Moore for giving me the exhibitors view of how an Arts Fair should be run after many moons on top of her game as an Internationally renown jeweller; Nancy Singleton from Stratford Business Enterprise and Tourism SDC and her Team for raising the red tape solutions, the entire team at Shakespeare’s England for teaching me how to do a press release and finally Sharon Walpole for her overview of the whole enterprise, of giving my ideas substance, talking me through the whole gritty process and never stinting in her belief that I can set up this Fair and do it with style, flair and a huge amount of joy.

The joy comes from giving Artists a platform in which to shine, of seeing their new work and progression, in talking to like-minded people and learning from those with different views, in watching peoples faces as they fall in love with a piece of art, the sharing of ideas between artists and visitors, and mostly from a job well done in opening people’s mind to the need of good design, whatever form it takes.

Here’s wishing you all the best Christmas and Hogmanay yet, as in 2018 I will be putting on a Summer Fair in June and a Winter Fair in November….