Herts Visual Arts

Herts Visual Arts / News / Fri 04 Jun 2021

Herts Visual Arts re-starts in-person events

Herts Visual Arts re-starts in-person events

HERTS VISUAL ARTS IS BACK WITH LIVE EVENTS

After more than a year of on-line art events, Herts Visual Arts is celebrating the return of in-person opportunities in 2021. May sees Call for Artists launched for the next 3 exciting events in a calendar that again brings art into our county community.

Run by and for Hertfordshire artists, these are hugely popular with artists and visitors alike. This year, our in-person Exhibitions are backed by a virtual capability developed in 2020. From on-line flipbooks, to videos, live Social Media streams and on-line exhibitions, we have even more ways of bringing the work of our talented members to audiences in Hertfordshire and beyond.

First up is the Living Crafts Showcase at Hatfield House where visitors can watch artist and artisan- maker demonstrations, get to know our members, perhaps purchase something special and find out more about our artists and events. Over the 4 days of Living Crafts from 17th-20th June the Herts Visual Arts marquee will feature a different selection every day, including painting, jewellery, weaving, drawing, textiles and more.

The highly successful Big Art Fair is also back at Hitchin Town Hall from 16th-18th July during the ever- popular Hitchin Festival. Open to the public from 10am-5.30pm on Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sunday the Big Art Fair is free to enter both days. The Preview Evening on Friday 16th July is just £2 on the door and features our popular Sponsors Choice Award presentations, plus the launch of 2021 Herts Open Studios. A number of exhibitors will be at the Fair during the weekend, offering unique opportunities to meet the artists themselves.

The Big Art Fair will feature more than 50 2D and 3D artists and artisans. Perfect for every taste, there’s an exciting and enticing array of paintings, mixed media, printing, photography, textiles, ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, glass and more awaiting visitors - all for sale. With options from greetings cards to larger statement pieces, original unique art alongside limited editions, there’s something for every pocket – a range of prices that won’t break the bank. This year we’re also introducing event flipbooks and videos.

Herts Open Studios is back this year with another hybrid event that captures the best of both worlds. Artists will again be opening their studios, pop-ups and exhibitions to the public, free of charge with a special focus on local art trails and community collaborations that make it even easier to visit. This original Open Studios format is now backed by all the virtual capability developed last year.

Bringing back the themes introduced in 2020, our website is an invitation for the whole of Hertfordshire (and beyond) to join our amazing celebration of the visual arts. We’re bringing artists, artisans and art- lovers together for inspiration, discovery and a rich opportunity bringing art into the heart of our communities across Hertfordshire. For in-person visitors, there are opportunities viewable by art form, opening days and map - and location-based options.

Powerful, simple and effective searches on our website allows viewers to explore trails via art media, theme, location, opening day and other personal searches. A special section includes live information, featuring up to the minute news from around the county, collated from Social media. Would you like a personal virtual appointment with one of the Open Studios Artists? Just get in touch via their Gallery page to arrange an appointment. Want to see working studios? There will be plenty of in-person options and also video studio tours to browse. Want to find out more about an artist? Again, biographies and meet-the-artist videos are a simple and informative way to start.

With the second issue of our Quarterly magazine-style Newsletter, we are also strengthening the bonds between our artists, sponsors, supporters and wider communities. It’s simple to subscribe to be kept up to date with everything related to Herts Visual Arts.

"These annual events always create a huge buzz. In 2020 we developed an amazing Virtual Open Studios that proved very popular. This paved the way to complement our in-person events with fantastic on- line resources that will bring an extra dimension to our events.", HVA Chair Hillary Taylor confirms, "we have such a talented and committed group of HVA members who create and repeat events like this to bring an amazing and even wider range of art to the forefront and benefit our members too.”

www.hvaf.org.uk ‘More creativity, more fun, more buzz, more laughter in our lives’

About

Herts Visual Arts is the largest county-wide volunteer run organisation for amateur and professional artists and makers in Hertfordshire. An annual programme includes members meetings, exhibitions, Art Showcases, the Big Art Fair and Herts Open Studios.

Many join simply to be part in Open Studios each year – but there is so much more to the excellent value annual membership (currently just £45 per year)*. Registration for Open Studios and some other events is not included in the cost of membership.

Benefits of annual membership include a gallery on the HVA web site, social media promotion across HVA platforms and a PRIVATE Facebook group to connect with other members. There’s also access to opportunities and a full annual programme of meetings and events, just for members. Newsletters, including our new Quarterly News ‘magazine’ include news, opportunities and exhibitions across Hertfordshire, as well as hints, tips and articles on Open Studios, marketing and more. Members can also promote their workshops, classes, exhibitions and publications and contribute to the newsletter itself.

Non-members can sign up to our newsletters Free of Charge via a form at the end of any page on our website.

Sponsors can also take advantage of a number of opportunities to engage with the Hertfordshire art community: https://www.hvaf.org.uk/news

17th-20th June: Herts Visual Arts Living Crafts Showcase at Hatfield House. Visit the HVA Marquee at Living Crafts for a fantastic opportunity to meet up to 24 members. Each day six different 2D and 3D artists will be on hand, ready to talk to visitors who can experience art in the making, watch demonstrations and see completed work on show. A unique chance to purchase direct from the artist/maker. https://www.hvaf.org.uk/our-events/living-crafts-showcase

17th-18th July: Herts Visual Arts Big Art Fair. Our exclusive Preview Evening on Friday 16th July will feature Sponsors Choice Award Certificates and also the launch the Herts Open Studios publicity. There is a comprehensive advertising and sponsorship offering. https://www.hvaf.org.uk/our-events/big-art-fair

September 2021: Herts Open Studios 2021 https://www.hvaf.org.uk/our-events/herts-open-studios-2021

Herts Open Studios is Herts Visual Arts annual flagship event, when artists open their doors to visitors. Details of participating venues and artists will be available on line from the summer. There is a comprehensive advertising and sponsorship offering.

The easiest way to join HVA is online Web: https://www.hvaf.org.uk/artists
News: https://www.hvaf.org.uk/news

#HertsOpenStudios #BigArtFair #LivingCraftsShowcase

Twitter: @HVAF

Facebook: @HertsVisualArts
Instagram: @HertsVisualArts
Instagram: @HertsVisualArtsChair

YouTube: Herts Visual Arts
Press Release by Hillary Taylor chair@hvaf.org.uk Press contacts are:
For marketing email marketing@hvaf.org.uk

ENDS

For more information visit https://www.hvaf.org.uk/news/herts-visual-arts-restarts-person-events

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