Not your average Art Show – November 7th – 9th
For those not familiar with The Cranbrook Art show you could be forgiven for assuming it might be a small show in a small town, but this intimate show has built a strong reputation for excellence and following the phenomenal success of last year’s show, we are delighted to announce that the dates for 2024 are Thursday 7th to Saturday 9th November, with a Private View on Wednesday 6th.
Jackie Gwyther – Hydrangea Limelight
Once again it will take place in the beautiful Vestry Hall Cranbrook, adding a real sense of occasion to the event. The Cranbrook Art Show has always carefully selected the exhibitors to include as many creative disciplines as possible, by professional and emerging artists. But how did a small Kentish town become the venue for such a prestigious show?
Kat Chitham – Winter Ash
The town already had a history of artistic excellence with the formation of the Cranbrook Colony around 1854, a group of artists painting scenes of everyday life and local Landscapes. Fast forward to 1993 and a new Art Show was conceived by Kristina Avery, a long-time resident of Cranbrook, who was keen to showcase the quality of local artistic talent. With the Grade II Listed Vestry Hall in the centre of town, she had a striking venue in which to stage an annual exhibition. Very quickly the format of the annual event established itself, and remains much the same today, with the show now run, selected and curated by a team of artists on a voluntary basis following Kristinas retirement in 2012.
It is the quality of the exhibition that continues to set it apart and this year the Cranbrook Art Show will be showcasing a range of artists from familiar and collectable names, such as Kate Penoyre and Stephen Message, to exciting new talent exhibiting with us for the first time, like Gio Cuison and Katie Whitbread. This intimate show will bring you a selection of the very best contemporary artists working in the south east today.
Kate Penoyre – WildSea
Still not convinced the show is worth a visit? With so much of our lives post pandemic still very much online and a huge rise in online Art Galleries, there really is nothing like seeing work up close and personal, meeting the artist and finding out the story behind the work with a personal interaction. Seeing the texture of the surface, the layers of paint or feeling the form or a sculpture, the scale or impact of the work can be completely lost in a digital format. The connections made during these encounters and the understanding of the work itself is only heightened; it adds another layer of memory to the potential statement piece that may go on to enrich your everyday life.
Supporting artists through visiting exhibitions and galleries is vital to keep this in-person experience alive. The Cranbrook Art show is run by artists, for artists, on a not-for-profit basis, with a focus on bringing high quality work together for a 3 day event in the heart of the weald. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience 23 artists who come together to present a diverse show encompassing ceramics, painting, printmaking, sculpture, glass and jewellery.
Amanda Chalmers – jewellery
We look forward to welcoming you to enjoy the show, which is free to visit, and with over half of the artists selected this year being new to the event. It promises to be a fresh show filled with new artists to discover alongside some familiar favourites. Follow us on social media or sign up to the mailing list via the website to keep up to date and find out more about the artists that will be exhibiting in the 2024 Cranbrook Art Show.
November 7th – 9th
www.cranbrookartshow.org.uk
