Contemporary art listings
There are lots of places to view and buy art, so it is impossible to provide a comprehensive list. Here are some of the places you will find blood members hunting for art.
1. Galleries
London has a wide range of galleries, public and private. No doubt you will find your favourites but until then there are several online pages and magazines that list many exhibitions open to the public.
For listings of mainly London area exhibitions, try www.newexhibitions.com, Time Out, Art Monthly and also The Guide (included in the Saturday edition of The Guardian) - read reviews, look out for exhibitions and pictures that catch your eye and mind, then get out there and see what interests you firsthand.
2. Art fairs
Throughout the year there is a selection of art fairs around the country. Some are more commercial than others but fairs are always good for a nose around. You never know what you might find. Here are a few examples of contemporary art fairs:
ARTfutures
Contemporary Art Society's own art fair, ARTfutures is the only commercial fair where a curator selects all the works for sale. Building on CAS's expertise in buying art for museums, Artfutures has exhibited work many of today's superstars yesterday. CAS curators are present to give advice on buying and collecting. Much of the work comes from up-and-coming recent graduates and also includes work by today's big names.
http://www.contempart.org.uk/artfutures2005.htm
Fresh Art
Held in the Business Design Centre in Islington, Fresh Art prides itself on only representing independent artists, studio groups and graduates. The majority of the work is singular and exciting. It is sometimes difficult to imagine owning these works, but you'll be glad you went.
Frieze Art Fair
Perhaps the best known, Frieze Art Fair, affiliated with the eponymous art magazine, is now held in London every October. Pitched up in Regent's Park, it sends the media into a frenzy and attracts teems of international collectors to London. It is advisable to take a whole day or two to visit this one - Frieze covers the entirety of the established international contemporary art world.
Glasgow Art Fair
Glasgow is a great city for the arts, with a tremendous reputation for their art school's degree show. The Glasgow art fair is the largest in the UK outside London. Held in April, the fair provides a good slant on Scottish art and a view of the rest of the UK too.
Zoo Art Fair
Zoo Art Fair, started in 2004, takes place in the London Zoo the same days as the Frieze Art Fair. Zoo Art Fair showcases some of London's newer dynamic galleries. Zoo Art Fair is a chance taker - and a wonderful compliment to visiting Frieze when you are already in Regent's Park.
3. Art schools/degree shows
Degree shows are fun. There is something quite special about seeing artists' work at this stage. It is usually the first major show any of the artists have been involved in and although there is no guarantee of the quality of the work, experimental and exploratory elements will be rife. Here is a list of schools who by reputation, churn out the best young hopefuls into a brave new world.
Birmingham Institute of Art & Design
Camberwell School of Arts
Central St Martins College of Art & Design
Chelsea College of Art & Design
Edinburgh School of Art
Falmouth College of Arts
Glasgow School of Art
Goldsmiths College
Royal Academy of Arts
Royal College of Art
The Slade School of Fine Art
Wimbledon School of Art
Related links
- Start-up collector tips
A few suggestions and practical tips to put yourself at ease before taking the plunge. - Contemporary Art Listings
Where blood members find art: Galleries, art fairs, art schools/degree shows - Money matters
You don't have to be rich to buy art: Art purchase schemes and how to get an insight into the art market. - Show and tell
We asked blood members and other collectors to show us a piece from their collection and tell us how and why they bought it. - A personal view
Interview with a collector.