Collect 2009: Details announced
Weiss by Jantje Fleischhut; Galerie Rob Koudijs; Photo by Jantje Fleischhut, 2008
The Crafts Council today announced further details for Collect 2009, the leading international art fair for contemporary objects that will take place from 15 – 17 May 2009 over three floors of the Saatchi Gallery’s new space on London’s King’s Road.
The fair will feature Select at Collect; a special selection of objects chosen by four outstanding individuals and an events programme devised in collaboration with Crafts Magazine. Known as the event to view and buy the best in international contemporary craft, Collect 2009 will present established artists alongside emerging talent, and will include ceramics, glass, jewellery, silver and fine metalwork, textiles, and wood and furniture. Advance tickets for Collect 2009 are now on sale.Select at Collect will showcase displays of works across the three floors of the fair, selected from the Crafts Council Collection, by a panel of four: CEO of Established & Sons, Alasdhair Willis; founder of Yellowdoor, retail guru and broadcaster, Mary Portas; Director of the Hayward Gallery, Ralph Rugoff and Director of Mint Museum of Craft & Design, Annie Carlano. The selectors have each chosen three or four objects, including vintage jewellery and contemporary glass, which will be exhibited alongside explanatory text outlining why the contributor has found each piece intriguing.
On selecting objects for the trail, Ralph Rugoff said: “There are so many interesting works in the Crafts Council Collection, reflecting the diversity and strength of contemporary crafts.”
Highlights of Collect 2009 will include three installations of new work by young ceramicist Jacob van der Beugel, showing with Contemporary Applied Arts. The Scottish Gallery will show new works by Max Lamb and Dorothy Hogg MBE, whilst Galerie Rob Koudijs will present new pieces by legendary jeweller Ted Noten. Clare Beck at Adrian Sassoon will be exhibiting an exciting juxtaposition of small and medium scale objects alongside large scale and monumental works by artists including Kate Malone and Elizabeth Fritsch.
Over 300 artists will exhibit at Collect 2009, represented by 37 galleries from the UK and Ireland, Central Europe and Scandinavia as well as the United States, Japan and Australia. First-time exhibitors for 2009 include the Crafts Council of Ireland National Craft Gallery; Collection d’Ateliers d’Art de France and Norwegian gallery Kunst1.
Collect 2009 also sees the return of Art Fund Collect, an initiative launched in 2008 by The Art Fund, the UK’s leading independent art charity, in partnership with the Crafts Council. The scheme provides funding for museums and galleries to bid to buy contemporary craft for UK public collections. For 2009 the fund has been increased to £75,000, allowing a shortlist of curators to select significant works by artists and makers of international status. The successful museums will be announced on 14 May 2009.
To coincide with Collect 2009, the Crafts Council will also present two site specific window displays featuring the work of recent graduates. From 1 – 17 May sculptural forms by Mikael Jackson will appear in the window of David Mellor Design on Sloane Square. During the same period light sculptures by Crafts Council Development Award recipient Richard Wheater will feature at the new TASCHEN store.
Press Contact
For further press information about Collect 2009 please contact Catherine Mason at Calum Sutton PR: +44 (0)20 7183 3577 or catherine@suttonpr.com
For further press information about the Crafts Council please contact Jill Read: +44 (0)20 7806 2526 or media@craftscouncil.org.uk
Press View
The Collect 2009 Press View will take place on Friday 15 May from 9.30am to 11.30am. To register your interest in attending, please email charley@suttonpr.com
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