The Warp and Weft of an excellent Arts Fair

My mother suffers from dementia and as I have been recovering from ill health – nothing serious – these last ten days my mind has gone to my maternally inspired childhood and celebrating the vibrant woman she once was.

Her skills in dressmaking were magical, if I saw a dress I loved she would make it for me overnight, friends came to play and left with new outfits, if she needed an evening dress and matching coat the curtains would be miraculously transformed into a Dior copy – perfect in every way based in a fundamental understanding of the fabric and pattern cutting.

She taught and inspired me to look round problems, to tilt my head to see that different angle and to make sure that my seams were always straight – in my stockings as well as life.

I curate the Contemporary Arts Fair Discover:Gather:Give in Stratford-upon-Avon and I shamelessly researched other Fairs to see what worked, what made them special, why people visited them and if they returned year after year. I visited shows, Open Studios and events throughout the years, talking to organisers, exhibitors, security guards, café managers and visitors alike.

I have been putting the finishing plans into place for #Cafdgg17 on the 3^rd to 5^th November and I realised that what makes #Cafdgg work are the exhibitors, they are the very fabric of the event, they are everything.

I can facilitate a beautiful venue, do the marketing, public relations, support on social media and video the whole shebang, but without the quality exhibitors to bring in the visitors I have nothing.

So thank you to all the exhibitors who have trusted me with your art and reputations – I’m working on it.