Contemporary Textiles Fair 2022 - The Contemporary Textiles Fair is somewhere textile enthusiasts, collectors and art lovers can come to find artworks with texture, wearable masterpieces, handmade homeware, and unique curiosities. This isn’t granny’s knitted teacosy territory, this is contemporary quality! From stitched wall-hangings with conceptual significance, to carefully designed and hand-crafted objects; this fair does not discriminate – the art/craft barrier fades away to reveal exceptional talent in textiles.

The Landmark Arts Centre is a Grade II* listed building, built in the 1880s as a magnificent gothic style church. With its soaring scale and striking architectural features, it is a memorable venue. With our four annual arts fairs (two art, textiles and a craft fair) at the core of our visual arts programme, the Landmark Arts Centre is a well-established destination for art lovers of all kinds. The unique setting and consistently high visitor numbers help to make the fairs enjoyable for visitors, collectors and artists alike.

Please note we do not now accept applications in any other format unless by prior arrangement.

DEADLINE to apply: 31st January 2022 – (11.59PM)

The fair is almost unique in its focus on textile artists & designer makers, unencumbered by suppliers and other craft disciplines. It is this clear focus, together with the unique setting and returning visitors that make this event both enjoyable and successful, time and time again.

The Contemporary Textiles Fair is somewhere textile enthusiasts, collectors and art lovers can come to find artworks with texture, wearable masterpieces, handmade homeware, and unique curiosities. This isn’t granny’s knitted teacosy territory, this is contemporary quality! From stitched wall-hangings with conceptual significance, to carefully designed and hand-crafted objects; this fair does not discriminate – the art/craft barrier fades away to reveal exceptional talent in textiles.

*Please note that from 2022 the fair will be held biennially rather than annually.* 

Criteria/Application Process

• The textile fair is open to UK-based artists and designer-makers who make high quality textiles, or textile-related work
• Applicants need to apply via the form, making sure they make a preference of stand (see STAND PLAN); there are a limited number of stands being offered at a reduced rate to students and recent graduates. Please refer to the FAQ's and state the Raw Fibres option in the Stand Choices section of the application form 
• No galleries or agents accepted. All work shown must be the exhibitor’s own work.
• After the closing deadline, we will review all applications.
• Applicants will then be informed of our decision and which space is available to them  
• If your application is successful you will be sent an acceptance email in which you will be given an invoice for the stand, including any extras you have requested. 
• If you are selected, you will be informed within a month of the submission deadline.
• You must then pay the balance of the invoice asap otherwise your stand will be reallocated.
• Please don’t send any payment before you have been allocated a stand. 
• We will confirm receipt of payments by email (on a weekly basis)
• An ‘exhibitor pack’ will be sent to all exhibitors, including physical and digital flyers and invites
• You will receive an ‘on the door’ pack when you arrive to set up your stand which will include name badges, a free wine ticket, an exhibitor’s questionnaire and information about catering, sales, tickets and further instructions.
• Your stand will be labelled with its number and the name you nominate in advance. 
• Raw Fibres is a section of the Contemporary Textile Fair open to students, recent graduates and fledgling businesses to apply for. The stands available through Raw Fibres are set at a reduced fee to help support promising new textile artists. When applying please make it clear you are applying for a RAW FIBRES stand in the Stand Choices section of the form. You will be allocated a stand from the selected area if you are successful. Please add a paragraph to your Achievements & Upcoming Events section of the form outlining your eligibility and how this opportunity will help you and forward your textile practice. Eligibility for Raw Fibres: current BA or MA students, recent graduates (last 2 years), fledgling businesses (never done a big fair/event like this before and less than 1 year since launching business). The stands in the ‘Raw Fibres’ section of the fair are all 2m wide x 1m deep x 2m tall, constructed of the same grey weave boards as the rest of the fair.
• Please ensure you have read all the terms and conditions before filling out the application form. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time before submitting the application form if you need clarification of any aspect of the fair.
  
  

Costs of stands vary so please refer to the STAND PLAN which is downloadable from our website as a PDF: https://landmarkartscentre.org/downloads/ct-fairs/LAC_CTF-2022-Stand-Plan.pdf 

Special Exhibitions

During the fairs there might be a special exhibition, and/or talks/workshops. In the past this has been local celebrities / well known artists / charity art groups with an exhibition of works to raise money for a charity and we have also hosted several exhibitions of emerging artists. This serves to both support other aspects of the creative industries and to attract more press and a wider variety of the public to see your work.

Fair Publicity

• A printed colour catalogue including your Stand No. Name, Image & Website, plus a map of the fair layout will be available for free on the door to visitors.
• If you are admitted late to the fair inclusion into the printed version of the catalogue won’t be possible, however the digital version can be amended with your details.
• A digital version of the catalogue will be emailed to our email database and it will also be included on the Landmark website.
• A digital invite emailed to you and to our digital database and available to download from our website.
• The fair will be featured in the Landmark’s seasonal events leaflet with 20,000 copies produced and distributed via direct mail, other venues etc. This listing will also appear in the What’s On section of our website and be publicised via email several times to the Landmark’s significant list of subscribers.
• 30,000+ art fair flyers distributed around greater London with specific reference to target markets, galleries etc., plus door-to-door in the locality.
• AA Road signs in the lead up and during the fair
• Advertisements and/or editorials in an extended list of national and local newspapers.
• Advertisements in a range of creative magazines and local publications.
• Posters, banners & flyers in the local vicinity.
• Online advertising/listings with known London and local services such as Crafts directory, Selvedge, A-N, TimeOut, ArtRabbit, Arts News (Arts Council), Galleries, news outlets etc…
• A significant social media presence including on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Fair Dates & Timings

18 – 20 March 2022

Thursday 17th - 12.30pm – 6.00pm – Artist arrival and set up

Friday 18th– 9.00am – 12.30pm– Artist arrival and set up

1.00pm – 8.00pm – Open to the public

Saturday 19th – 10.00am – 4.00pm – Open to the public

Sunday 20th – 10.00am – 4.00pm – Open to the public

5.00pm – 7.00pm – Artists’ take down

We very much realise that this makes Friday a very long day for many of you; however, it has worked extremely well for the two fairs we have had in 2021, and made visitors feel safer about attending. We made this decision to spread out the number of visitors over a longer time period instead of bunched up like the Private View normally is. This on top of the adapted layout has worked well in these pandemic times to make everyone feel safer. 

We very much look forward to receiving your submission. Please don’t hesitate to contact Abigail should you require further information or have any questions.

Terms & Conditions & any other info

• Please ONLY apply online. This lessens the possibility of mistakes being made in the catalogue etc.
• There is no on-site parking. Exhibitors will be emailed a drop off time for which you will be allowed to keep your vehicle on site for half an hour while you unload. Please follow the instructions of the parking attendant at all times. You then remove your vehicle to the surrounding streets (where there is free parking). You can come back to your stand and spend the rest of the day setting up. You must be finished setting up by 12.30pm on the Friday.
• You must be in the building, ready to sell to the public at opening time; 1pm Friday and for 10.00am on the weekend. The front door will be closed until 10.00am so you can enter the building via the buzzer. You must not begin to pack up until after 4.00pm on the Sunday.
• Take down will be from 4.00pm on the Sunday. You must not bring your vehicle on site until then. There are no allocated times, all the doors will be opened (see the floor plan). Please pack your work up before you bring your vehicle on site as this causes unnecessary congestion. As we share the area surrounding the Landmark with residents it is VITAL you do not park in a marked bay. The doors to the rear of the building will be opened, this area is for loading ONLY, we have had instances of artists getting a ticket if it looks like your vehicle is parked, doors closed and vehicle unattended, to avoid this as soon as you have finished packing your vehicle you MUST move it away from the area and follow the instructions of the parking attendant at all times.
• Public admission charge to the fair will be £5 and £4 for seniors and students, free entry to Landmark members and subscribers to certain magazines. Children 16yrs and younger are admitted free.
• There are two types of invite, a digital one which you will be emailed and is available on the website and paper ones which you can either collect from LAC if you’re local, or ask to receive in the post. The digital & paper 2 for 1: Two visitors may get in for the price of one, there must be 2 people in attendance for this to be used. As we are not having a Private View opening there will be no free tickets this year.
• When someone pays to come in they will receive a catalogue, they can use this, or their door receipt, to come back to the show as many times as they wish over the whole weekend.
• The event will be insured against public liability, but the organisers cannot be held responsible for any loss, theft or damage to artist’s work or personal possessions.
• Artists are strongly advised to make their own insurance arrangements. We accept no responsibility for stolen work during the fair as you are deemed responsible for it for the entirety of the fair.
• Please note: if you do not have a UK bank account we will deduct any bank transfer fees payable by us for sending payments to a non-UK bank account.
• There is no storage other than on, or behind (if against a wall or column) your stand, unless by prior arrangement.
• The building has been adapted for wheelchair access except for the studio space (which is only used during the fair for talks and workshops). However please notify us in advance of any access needs and we will endeavour to help. We have reserved parking spaces for disabled visitors, if you know of someone that is coming that this applies to please tell us in advance, we can reserve them a disabled parking space very close to the ramp to the front door.
• Exhibitors must not bring wine to the private view. In your artists pack you will receive a ‘free glass of wine’ ticket, further glasses for yourselves and clients will be available from the bar.
• The building has good natural light. Each stand will be individually lit with a minimum of 1 x 150w halogen exhibition light (depending on size of stand). All 2mtr and 2.4mtr wide fair stands are supplied with one 150watt exhibition light. Larger stands over 2.4mtrs wide are supplied with two 150watt exhibition lights.
• Tables & extra power sockets are available on request and for a nominal cost; but must be booked in advance. The electricity supply restrictions for power usage within the building is limited. If a power socket is agreed for your stand, it will be sufficient to power a laptop, your own credit card machine or additional low wattage lighting up to 150watts only. You must inform the Landmark Arts Centre what you will be intending on using the power socket for. The Landmark Arts Centre will check all power sockets supplied for extra lighting and reserves the right to remove any lighting which it deems unsuitable for the centre.
• There will be enough chairs available to you over the exhibition period if you require them just ask.
• You may collaborate with another artist if you wish to show in a group just state that on the form.
• Stands are non-transferable.
• No dealers or agents or galleries.
• The Landmark does not take any commission on sales. However, a 5% charge is levied by the bank on the use of the card machine at reception, which can be used to take customers money from sales; please note this service also incurs a VAT cost. We have had to apply for VAT registration recently, with immediate effect we will have to charge 20% VAT on the 5% commission. We will issue a VAT invoice for the commission. Your nominated representative will be sent a cheque for these payments once the amount has been agreed. You are strongly advised to keep your own records of sales. You will be posted a cheque shortly after the fair.
• You are welcome to use your own card machines to take payment, there is no charge or commission taken by the Landmark on this. There is WIFI in the building but given its size this can be intermittent, please don’t rely entirely on this for your sales.
• All work must be for sale or on commission basis, clearly priced, and displayed in a professional manner. Please don’t lower your prices towards the end of the fair, it is highly unprofessional and affects your fellow artists.
• You may fill your space with whatever you wish (furniture, display cabinets, browsers, easels etc.), however you must not bring anything that will spill out beyond the boundaries, cause a health and safety hazard or be deemed inappropriate at a professional fair such as very inexpensive work, ‘bargain bins’, etc. Cordial collaboration between your neighbours is recommended, please show consideration for the other exhibitors. You will be asked to remove anything that contradicts the above.
• On the application form you will request which BAND you would be happy to accept a stand from if the selection panel selects your work. Given the specific needs of many artists it may be that you are offered an alternative, please inform the curator ASAP if you don’t wish to take that stand so it can be reallocated. We will try our best to accommodate your choices and needs.

Cancellations

Following receipt of your payment after allocation of stands:

• 8 weeks or more before set-up day – full refund, if stand can be re-sold, less 10% admin charge.
• 4-8 weeks before set-up day – 75% refund, if stand can be re-sold.
• 4 weeks or less before set-up day – 50% refund, if stand can be re-sold.
• If your stand cannot be re-sold you will not receive a refund.

Hanging your work

• Screens supplied will be shell scheme grey polyweave fabric. 25mm thick. They have a groove running through the middle of the top elevation for hooks.
• Recommended method of hanging is using traditional picture hooks. From that comes a cord with an adjustable bottom hook. There are a wide range of products on the market see: www.picturehangingsystems.co.uk Artists are requested to use aesthetically appropriate hanging equipment, which will take at least 80Ibs of strain. You will be emailed detailed information about hanging systems. You need to have all your work with cord on the back. You may also use male Velcro but MUST secure this to the back of your work using a staple gun or suitable alternative. Experience has shown that the Velcro stays on the screens but can peel off the work especially over the night which results in damage. Do not use Velcro for any glazed or  particularly heavy work.
• We do not supply any other hanging systems apart from Velcro which you can buy from us at £2 per metre.
• Please note you musn’t under any circumstances use nails or screws, Blu-Tack or any other direct adhesives as these cause damage to the fabric of the screens.

Abigail Thomas

Visual Arts Curator