Introducing HOUSE The Event for Inspiring Interiors, Design & Decoration
The launch of the HOUSE event, 17-20 June 2015 at London Olympia is not to be missed. A curated collection of prestigious, leading and emerging house brands and specialists in a showcase of style, design and decoration at London’s House event dedicated to providing inspiration and ideas for every room. Visitors can source a wide range of interiors, furniture and key furnishings for every room to enhance or create a sophisticated living space with a focus on heritage and craftsmanship whilst featuring classic examples of traditional British design.
The HOUSE Theatre will feature best in industry, expert-led presentations with a focus on current trends in interior design and decoration. Farrow & Ball, John Sims-Hilditch of Neptune and the British Institute of Interior Design are just a few examples of the leading experts who will be hosting talks. Visitors can engage in one-to-one design consultations with exhibiting companies at the event to discuss any specific design needs.
The Fair is the perfect opportunity to source the latest trend ideas and integral pieces for your home with brands including; Pret-a-Vivre, Marston and Langinger, David Harber and Katherine Pooley Ltd. There will also be ample of inspiration including the creation of ‘The HOUSE designed by April Russell’, a spectacular showpiece house feature, presenting a collection of designed living spaces, both inside and out, curated and presented by April Russell, a leading interior design studio based in London and New York. Focusing on ‘The Art of Interiors’ visitors will gain invaluable inspiration and design ideas through the use of art pieces alongside key interiors from HOUSE. Expect the stunning use of art and objéts as an integral element of a beautifully dressed house and garden space.
HOUSE will be co-located with the Spirit of Summer Fair, where visitors can shop for those all-important accessories for their home as well as updating their summer wardrobe, find perfect summer gifts and enjoy delicious food and drink including artisans from The Great Taste Awards.
For more information visit www.HOUSE.events
New Sculpture by Sophie Dickens at Sladmore Contemporary 1st to 24th October 2014 - Dynamic Mix of Human and Animal, Myth, and Metamorphosis
'Powerful, funny, sexy, innocent and passionate,' writes Luke Syson, curator and Renaissance historian, 'full of bucolic shenanigans and beastly bravado'.
Eloquent, perceptive words, from a distinguished scholar, admirer and collector of Sophie's sculpture. He says 'all the rooms of my New York apartment are energized by the presence of bronzes by Sophie Dickens.'
Figurative sculptor Sophie Dickens, great great granddaughter of Charles Dickens, has been influenced by the 'kinematic' skills of photographer Eadweard Muybridge, with an emphasis on muscularity and circular forms (here in the shape of the Four Winds, dancing like dervishes).
Sophie Dickens' solo exhibition, the fruit of her labours over the past two years, will include a troop of seven acrobatic monkeys, and a pack of thirteen energetic rats, creeping, and running about and climbing. Sophie takes a contrarian view of rats, believing they make 'perfect pets.'
Eloquent, perceptive words, from a distinguished scholar, admirer and collector of Sophie's sculpture. He says 'all the rooms of my New York apartment are energized by the presence of bronzes by Sophie Dickens.'
Figurative sculptor Sophie Dickens, great great granddaughter of Charles Dickens, has been influenced by the 'kinematic' skills of photographer Eadweard Muybridge, with an emphasis on muscularity and circular forms (here in the shape of the Four Winds, dancing like dervishes).
Sophie Dickens' solo exhibition, the fruit of her labours over the past two years, will include a troop of seven acrobatic monkeys, and a pack of thirteen energetic rats, creeping, and running about and climbing. Sophie takes a contrarian view of rats, believing they make 'perfect pets.'
Blenheim Palace's Festival of Transport
The Blenheim Palace Festival of Transport is gearing up, galvanising the glorious grounds and getting set for the 8th annual weekend celebration.
Perfect for families, auto aficionados and festival fans the Festival of Transport is a hullabaloo of hot rods, vintage classics, exhibitions, trade stands, competitions and history.
Sunday 24th August will feature the Classic Car Show and Monday 25th August will include not only the Classic Cars but also motorcycles, Minis and VW's, Customs, Hot Rods and Americans, Kit and Sports Cars.
The bank holiday bonanza this year includes vehicle judging lead by former BBC radio presenter Les Clayton. Les, whose apprenticeship at Triumph and subsequent 17 years of specialist commentary will get all the family excited about the vehicular spectacle. Expect plenty to see and do around the grounds.
Event organisers Classic Shows have been running auctions and specialist car shows for almost 30 years and know exactly what gets the 'petrol head' in all of us hot under the bonnet. The show will have exhibitors, trade stalls and plenty of knowledgeable amateurs and motoring professionals offering a wealth of information, history and tonics about specialist vehicles.
From young to old the Festival of Transport is a true celebration of motoring history and achievement with plenty of exciting things to see, hear and do to keep all the family entertained.
www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events
WHAT: Festival of Transport
WHEN: 24th – 25th August
WHY VISIT: Auto aficionados, families and enthusiasts will all enjoy the inclusive motoring festival set in the grounds of Britain's Greatest Palace.
ADMISSION: Park & Gardens ticket required: Adult £13.50 / Child £6.60 (Age 5-16) /
Concession £10.20 / Family £36.00 (2 Adults & 2 Children)
WEBSITE: www.blenheimpalace.com for more information
INFO LINE: 0800 849 6500
Perfect for families, auto aficionados and festival fans the Festival of Transport is a hullabaloo of hot rods, vintage classics, exhibitions, trade stands, competitions and history.
Sunday 24th August will feature the Classic Car Show and Monday 25th August will include not only the Classic Cars but also motorcycles, Minis and VW's, Customs, Hot Rods and Americans, Kit and Sports Cars.
The bank holiday bonanza this year includes vehicle judging lead by former BBC radio presenter Les Clayton. Les, whose apprenticeship at Triumph and subsequent 17 years of specialist commentary will get all the family excited about the vehicular spectacle. Expect plenty to see and do around the grounds.
Event organisers Classic Shows have been running auctions and specialist car shows for almost 30 years and know exactly what gets the 'petrol head' in all of us hot under the bonnet. The show will have exhibitors, trade stalls and plenty of knowledgeable amateurs and motoring professionals offering a wealth of information, history and tonics about specialist vehicles.
From young to old the Festival of Transport is a true celebration of motoring history and achievement with plenty of exciting things to see, hear and do to keep all the family entertained.
www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events
WHAT: Festival of Transport
WHEN: 24th – 25th August
WHY VISIT: Auto aficionados, families and enthusiasts will all enjoy the inclusive motoring festival set in the grounds of Britain's Greatest Palace.
ADMISSION: Park & Gardens ticket required: Adult £13.50 / Child £6.60 (Age 5-16) /
Concession £10.20 / Family £36.00 (2 Adults & 2 Children)
WEBSITE: www.blenheimpalace.com for more information
INFO LINE: 0800 849 6500
Russian Avante-Garde Theatre; War Revolution and Design,
1913-1933
In collaboration with the A. A. Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum
18 October 2014 – 25 January 2015
This autumn a new display will present more than 150 radical designs for theatrical productions by celebrated figures of the Russian avant-garde. On view in the V&A's Theatre and Performance galleries will be set and costume designs conceived between 1913 and 1933 from leading artists and designers including Kazimir Malevich, Alexander Rodchenko, Vladimir Tatlin, Alexandra Exter, El Lissitsky, Liubov Popova and Varvara Stepanova.
Created over the course of two decades marked by the Russian revolutions and First World War, the works represent an extraordinary point in Russian culture during which artistic, literary and musical traditions underwent profound transformations. New types of theatrical productions demanded innovative design solutions and benefitted from the unprecedented symbiosis of artists, musicians, directors and performers which characterized the period. Artists who worked in a variety of mediums including painting, architecture, textiles, photography and graphics worked collaboratively on theatrical productions to create a rich variety of design. For the avant-garde this work in theatrical innovation came to inform wider artistic practices.
The display takes as its starting point set and costume designs by the prominent painter Kazimir Malevich. On view will be sketches and lithographs for Victory Over the Sun, a Futurist opera which premiered in 1913 in St Petersburg. Malevich designed backdrops made from cloth sheets printed with monochrome graphic forms. A design for one scene depicts a large black and white square divided diagonally. The concept for the set is a forerunner of Malevich's renowned non-representational painting Black Square (1915), a work which embodies the aesthetics of the Suprematist movement originated by the artist. The sketches which will go on display at the V&A illustrate the earliest examples of Suprematism. Malevich's costume designs for Victory Over the Sun will additionally be on view and show voluminous creations in bold colours which reshape the human figure.
The prodigious artist and photographer Alexander Rodchenko will also be represented. For Vladimir Mayakovsky's satirical play The Bedbug (1929) Rodchenko designed radically futuristic ensembles featuring wide silhouettes and breathing apparatus to convey men
from later decades. A series of costume designs for We (1920), a Proletcult Theatre production that was eventually banned by the authorities, are characterized by Rodchenko's use of bold geometric form and bright colour.
Works on display from Rodchenko's fellow Constructivist artist Liubov Popova will include a maquette for a set model for The Magnanimous Cuckold (1922), a farce by Fernand Crommelynck performed at the radical Meyerhold Theatre. Popova's set design was comprised of a mechanical mill, wheels and conveyer belts and provided a backdrop for director Vsevolod Meyerhold to present his acting theory of biomechanics, which favoured gesture and movement over psychological interpretation.
A dozen examples of work by the influential theatrical designer Alexandra Exter for ballet, opera and plays will be included. Exter was known for the austerity of her designs and use of lighting rather than physical structure to construct sets. On display will be a set model,
stage and costume designs for Salome, performed at The Camerny Theatre in 1917, as well as costume design for alien beings for the 1924 Soviet science fiction film Aelita: Queen of Mars. Designs for stage by the renowned film director and theorist Sergei Eisenstein,
known for pioneering work in the practice of montage in film, are also on display. These include costume and set designs for a 1921 production of Macbeth performed in The Vasilii Polenov Theatre, Moscow.
Works on display in Russian Avant-Garde Theatre: War, Revolution and Design, 1913 – 1933 will be drawn primarily from the A. A. Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum (Moscow) and St. Petersburg State Museum of Theatre and Music. It is part of the Russian
Year of Culture.
18 October 2014 – 25 January 2015
This autumn a new display will present more than 150 radical designs for theatrical productions by celebrated figures of the Russian avant-garde. On view in the V&A's Theatre and Performance galleries will be set and costume designs conceived between 1913 and 1933 from leading artists and designers including Kazimir Malevich, Alexander Rodchenko, Vladimir Tatlin, Alexandra Exter, El Lissitsky, Liubov Popova and Varvara Stepanova.
Created over the course of two decades marked by the Russian revolutions and First World War, the works represent an extraordinary point in Russian culture during which artistic, literary and musical traditions underwent profound transformations. New types of theatrical productions demanded innovative design solutions and benefitted from the unprecedented symbiosis of artists, musicians, directors and performers which characterized the period. Artists who worked in a variety of mediums including painting, architecture, textiles, photography and graphics worked collaboratively on theatrical productions to create a rich variety of design. For the avant-garde this work in theatrical innovation came to inform wider artistic practices.
The display takes as its starting point set and costume designs by the prominent painter Kazimir Malevich. On view will be sketches and lithographs for Victory Over the Sun, a Futurist opera which premiered in 1913 in St Petersburg. Malevich designed backdrops made from cloth sheets printed with monochrome graphic forms. A design for one scene depicts a large black and white square divided diagonally. The concept for the set is a forerunner of Malevich's renowned non-representational painting Black Square (1915), a work which embodies the aesthetics of the Suprematist movement originated by the artist. The sketches which will go on display at the V&A illustrate the earliest examples of Suprematism. Malevich's costume designs for Victory Over the Sun will additionally be on view and show voluminous creations in bold colours which reshape the human figure.
The prodigious artist and photographer Alexander Rodchenko will also be represented. For Vladimir Mayakovsky's satirical play The Bedbug (1929) Rodchenko designed radically futuristic ensembles featuring wide silhouettes and breathing apparatus to convey men
from later decades. A series of costume designs for We (1920), a Proletcult Theatre production that was eventually banned by the authorities, are characterized by Rodchenko's use of bold geometric form and bright colour.
Works on display from Rodchenko's fellow Constructivist artist Liubov Popova will include a maquette for a set model for The Magnanimous Cuckold (1922), a farce by Fernand Crommelynck performed at the radical Meyerhold Theatre. Popova's set design was comprised of a mechanical mill, wheels and conveyer belts and provided a backdrop for director Vsevolod Meyerhold to present his acting theory of biomechanics, which favoured gesture and movement over psychological interpretation.
A dozen examples of work by the influential theatrical designer Alexandra Exter for ballet, opera and plays will be included. Exter was known for the austerity of her designs and use of lighting rather than physical structure to construct sets. On display will be a set model,
stage and costume designs for Salome, performed at The Camerny Theatre in 1917, as well as costume design for alien beings for the 1924 Soviet science fiction film Aelita: Queen of Mars. Designs for stage by the renowned film director and theorist Sergei Eisenstein,
known for pioneering work in the practice of montage in film, are also on display. These include costume and set designs for a 1921 production of Macbeth performed in The Vasilii Polenov Theatre, Moscow.
Works on display in Russian Avant-Garde Theatre: War, Revolution and Design, 1913 – 1933 will be drawn primarily from the A. A. Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum (Moscow) and St. Petersburg State Museum of Theatre and Music. It is part of the Russian
Year of Culture.
Spring Fashion At Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair
Overhaul your wardrobe for spring at Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair
Fashion lovers looking for unique pieces to update their wardrobe this spring have one shopping event in their diaries this March; Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair.
With over 50 stalls selling authentic, one-of-a-kind vintage womenswear, menswear and accessories, the fair has become the definitive place to get fashionable outfits without being a catwalk clone. Proving that you can wear vintage and be on-trend, hand-selected traders offer originals of this season’s most-wanted looks such as 1950s-inspired full skirts and 1930s-inspired trench coats for men. Just check out the CVFF blog to see more ss14 vintage trends http://bit.ly/Mj5OSf.
Visitors are treated to more than just beautiful clothing; Sweet Patisserie will be providing delicious tea and cake in our Tearoom des Artist, while the beautiful Noelle Vaughn will be serenading shoppers with her soulful voice and Demains Nails will pamper ladies with cute polka dot and leopard print manicures. On-the-spot alterations will also be at hand for any quick nip and tucks to new purchases for the perfect fit.
It’s the must-visit event to start this spring in style.
Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair’s spring fashion edition takes place on Sunday 23rd March 2014 from 11am until 5pm at Old Finsbury Town Hall, Rosebury Avenue, London, EC1R 4RP. Entry is £4 for public and £2 for students.
For further information, images or interview requests contact Savitri Coleman [email protected].
Fashion lovers looking for unique pieces to update their wardrobe this spring have one shopping event in their diaries this March; Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair.
With over 50 stalls selling authentic, one-of-a-kind vintage womenswear, menswear and accessories, the fair has become the definitive place to get fashionable outfits without being a catwalk clone. Proving that you can wear vintage and be on-trend, hand-selected traders offer originals of this season’s most-wanted looks such as 1950s-inspired full skirts and 1930s-inspired trench coats for men. Just check out the CVFF blog to see more ss14 vintage trends http://bit.ly/Mj5OSf.
Visitors are treated to more than just beautiful clothing; Sweet Patisserie will be providing delicious tea and cake in our Tearoom des Artist, while the beautiful Noelle Vaughn will be serenading shoppers with her soulful voice and Demains Nails will pamper ladies with cute polka dot and leopard print manicures. On-the-spot alterations will also be at hand for any quick nip and tucks to new purchases for the perfect fit.
It’s the must-visit event to start this spring in style.
Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair’s spring fashion edition takes place on Sunday 23rd March 2014 from 11am until 5pm at Old Finsbury Town Hall, Rosebury Avenue, London, EC1R 4RP. Entry is £4 for public and £2 for students.
For further information, images or interview requests contact Savitri Coleman [email protected].
Paperwork: A Brief History Of Artists' Scrapbooks
The scrapbook has long been used as a storehouse for memories — to preserve a lock of hair, a sentimental piece of correspondence, a magazine clipping, or a beloved snapshot. Finding a historical precedent in the 17th-century commonplace book, in which bits of scripture might be jotted down alongside literary quotations and recipes, the scrapbook evolved into a highly crafted visual record, a diary not just of thoughts, but also of things. Artists began to engage with the scrapbook in earnest in the postwar period, using the page as variously as the canvas, albeit on a smaller scale. As the title 'Paperwork' suggests, this display explores how contemporary artists have used the scrapbook to forge an intimate artistic identity, in opposition to the bureaucratic, administrative papers that provide official identification.
If the conventional scrapbook originally was a place to store memories, the artist's scrapbook often trades in nascent ideas, both visual and textual, which may or may not grow into a more finished work. Such books allow an informal view into the process of thinking that goes before making; the collecting that comes before facture. William S. Burroughs and Brion Gysin used oversize books to intertwine visual ideas and threads of stories: news clippings and shards of advertisements woven among watercolor paintings and excerpts from manuscripts — arrangements which fed into Burroughs's dreams and back out into his cut-up narratives. Other artists, such as Al Hansen, carried small notebooks for organisational jottings, quick sketches, and humorous musings, making collages on the fly and tucking away daily detritus for safekeeping.
But the scrapbook can also be a finished work itself, in which the tightly conceived and carefully constructed sheets form a complete whole. Isa Genzken's I Love New York, Crazy City is one such example: made during a year she spent in New York in the mid-1990s, the book is a madcap conglomeration of colour snapshots, faxes, and letters affixed to the pages with electrical tape. The French artist Jean-Michel Wicker makes byzantine scrapbooks, often excising pages from store-bought notebooks at the gutter and taping in replacement patchworks of found images, Internet printouts, and hand-lettered phrases. A classic scrapbook purportedly made by Ray Johnson when he was a teenager features kitsch images of babies, puppies, and western landscapes; it was later repurposed in an edition by Brian Buczak, who Xeroxed particular spreads, creating degenerated Pop facsimiles.
Featuring Brigid Berlin, William S. Burroughs & Brion Gysin, Jimmy De Sana, John Evans, Hans-Peter Feldmann, Isa Genzken, Al Hansen, Richard Hawkins, Geoffrey Hendricks, Ray Johnson & Brian Buczak, Leigh Ledare, Gerhard Richter, Jean-Michel Wicker, and Karin Schneider.
Curated by Andrew Roth and Alex Kitnick.
Listings information:
Paperwork: A Brief History of Artists' Scrapbooks, Fox Reading Room
1 April - 11 May 2014
Gallery opening hours: Tues - Sun 11am - 6pm, except Thurs, 11am - 9pm. Closed Mon.
Day Membership priced at £1 now applies during gallery opening hours Wed-Sun, 11am-6pm, until 9pm on Thursdays. No Day Membership will be charged on Tuesdays.
Ticket prices for day time films, talks, music events and other performances will include Day Membership.
www.ica.org.uk | Twitter @icalondon | www.facebook.com/icalondon
Book online www.ica.org.uk Call Box Office +44 (0)20 7930 3647
Textphone +44 (0)20 7839 0737
Institute of Contemporary Arts, The Mall, London, SW1Y 5AH
1 April - 11 May 2014
Fox Reading Room
Image credit: William S. Burroughs & Brion Gysin, Untitled (scrapbook 3)
If the conventional scrapbook originally was a place to store memories, the artist's scrapbook often trades in nascent ideas, both visual and textual, which may or may not grow into a more finished work. Such books allow an informal view into the process of thinking that goes before making; the collecting that comes before facture. William S. Burroughs and Brion Gysin used oversize books to intertwine visual ideas and threads of stories: news clippings and shards of advertisements woven among watercolor paintings and excerpts from manuscripts — arrangements which fed into Burroughs's dreams and back out into his cut-up narratives. Other artists, such as Al Hansen, carried small notebooks for organisational jottings, quick sketches, and humorous musings, making collages on the fly and tucking away daily detritus for safekeeping.
But the scrapbook can also be a finished work itself, in which the tightly conceived and carefully constructed sheets form a complete whole. Isa Genzken's I Love New York, Crazy City is one such example: made during a year she spent in New York in the mid-1990s, the book is a madcap conglomeration of colour snapshots, faxes, and letters affixed to the pages with electrical tape. The French artist Jean-Michel Wicker makes byzantine scrapbooks, often excising pages from store-bought notebooks at the gutter and taping in replacement patchworks of found images, Internet printouts, and hand-lettered phrases. A classic scrapbook purportedly made by Ray Johnson when he was a teenager features kitsch images of babies, puppies, and western landscapes; it was later repurposed in an edition by Brian Buczak, who Xeroxed particular spreads, creating degenerated Pop facsimiles.
Featuring Brigid Berlin, William S. Burroughs & Brion Gysin, Jimmy De Sana, John Evans, Hans-Peter Feldmann, Isa Genzken, Al Hansen, Richard Hawkins, Geoffrey Hendricks, Ray Johnson & Brian Buczak, Leigh Ledare, Gerhard Richter, Jean-Michel Wicker, and Karin Schneider.
Curated by Andrew Roth and Alex Kitnick.
Listings information:
Paperwork: A Brief History of Artists' Scrapbooks, Fox Reading Room
1 April - 11 May 2014
Gallery opening hours: Tues - Sun 11am - 6pm, except Thurs, 11am - 9pm. Closed Mon.
Day Membership priced at £1 now applies during gallery opening hours Wed-Sun, 11am-6pm, until 9pm on Thursdays. No Day Membership will be charged on Tuesdays.
Ticket prices for day time films, talks, music events and other performances will include Day Membership.
www.ica.org.uk | Twitter @icalondon | www.facebook.com/icalondon
Book online www.ica.org.uk Call Box Office +44 (0)20 7930 3647
Textphone +44 (0)20 7839 0737
Institute of Contemporary Arts, The Mall, London, SW1Y 5AH
1 April - 11 May 2014
Fox Reading Room
Image credit: William S. Burroughs & Brion Gysin, Untitled (scrapbook 3)
Prescott Bike Festival rated by RIDE magazine as in the TOP 20 things to do in 2014.
Bikes and much more . . . a great day out for all the family
Free entry for children under 16 years old
All proceeds from the day will go to the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and Severn Freewheelers.
The annual Prescott Bike Festival will be taking place on Sunday 6th April 2014 and promises to be an action-packed day for all the family in support of the Nationwide Association of Bloodbikes charity.
The fourth annual event will be larger than ever before, with even more bike manufacturers and clubs confirmed, plus a large display of historic, modern and race bikes on display in the paddock, demo areas, passenger rides, stunt show, trade stalls, live music, good food and a host of entertainment both on and off the track to keep the whole family amused. Special guest appearances include: former three times British Superbike Champion and Bloodbike ambassador John Reynolds, MotoGP commentator Steve Parrish, motorcycle adventurer Nick Sanders and making his debut appearance – Michael Rutter.
Some of the many hundreds of historic, classic and race bikes at Prescott Bike Festival 2014:
* Carlos Checa’s MotoGP Ducati Desmosedici GP5 and Checa’s 2011 WSB winning Ducati 1198 F1 (courtesy of Dawn Treader Performance)
* David Jeffries' GSX-R1000 TT bike and James Toseland's first WSS machine
* The 1930 Rudge Ulster belonging to David Osborne
* Chris Sawyer's 1928 Cotton Blackburne
* A rare Sachs R800 Roadster from 2002 owned by Barry Fahey
* The 1959 Norton Dominator of Ian Cordes
* Rare Excelsior Manxmans from Dave Lee and Adrian Sellars
New features at Prescott Bike Festival 2014:
* The Angelic Bulldog 400mph streamliner land speed motorbike project
* Saturday night party and camping for Advance Ticket Holders only
* Bigger and better Happy Hour of activity by rare race machinery and factory bikes on the hill
* The first 100 Run the Hill bookings receive a free festival T-shirt
* Kuberg electric motorbikes – have a go!
* UK Garrison Star Wars costuming club
* Early Bird breakfasts from 8.00am to 9.30am at special low prices
Lots of live entertainment at Prescott Bike Festival 2014:
* The Dave Coates Stunt Show as featured on TV and at many major motor sports events
* George Formby Tribute
* 1950s inspired rockabilly, rock & roll and R&B band, Josie and the Outlaw.
Motorcycle and racing clubs already confirmed as attending:
* Honda OC
* Norton OC
* XJR OC
* Rolling Hills (Harley OC)
* Classic 50cc Racing Club
Festival organiser, Gordon Downie, says, “The annual Prescott Bike Festival continues to go from strength to strength. For 2014 we'll have more of everything alongside the usual attractions of the unique opportunity to ride the hill. As usual, all major motorcycle manufacturers will be in attendance so fans will get the chance to see all the major models up close and personal. There will be a host of trade stands as well as famous racers and great entertainment too. The Prescott Bike Festival 2014 really does offer something for everyone.”
Venue:
Prescott Hill Climb, Gotherington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 9RD,
Easily accessible from junction 9 of the M5 and from London via the A40 to Cheltenham.
Tickets:
Advance tickets are £12; under 16s (with a paying adult) get in free.
On-the-day tickets are £15; under 16s (with a paying adult) get in free.
Run the Hill tickets are £35 and must be purchased in advance.
There is no charge for bike parking (free side stand puck provided and free helmet park)
Gates open at 08:30 and track action begins at 10:00. The festival closes at 17:00.
All Advance Ticket holders (including Run the Hill) are invited to a pre-event party on the Saturday evening in the Clubhouse. Camping available to advance ticket holders only (limited availability)
To purchase tickets in advance visit: www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk
Exhibitor space is much sought after and limited to those who will add real value via their higher end product offer. The organisers welcome all enquiries; anyone interested in taking space should, in the first instance make their enquiry via the New Exhibitors section via the Exhibitors page on the website or email them directly at [email protected] for further information.
Free entry for children under 16 years old
All proceeds from the day will go to the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and Severn Freewheelers.
The annual Prescott Bike Festival will be taking place on Sunday 6th April 2014 and promises to be an action-packed day for all the family in support of the Nationwide Association of Bloodbikes charity.
The fourth annual event will be larger than ever before, with even more bike manufacturers and clubs confirmed, plus a large display of historic, modern and race bikes on display in the paddock, demo areas, passenger rides, stunt show, trade stalls, live music, good food and a host of entertainment both on and off the track to keep the whole family amused. Special guest appearances include: former three times British Superbike Champion and Bloodbike ambassador John Reynolds, MotoGP commentator Steve Parrish, motorcycle adventurer Nick Sanders and making his debut appearance – Michael Rutter.
Some of the many hundreds of historic, classic and race bikes at Prescott Bike Festival 2014:
* Carlos Checa’s MotoGP Ducati Desmosedici GP5 and Checa’s 2011 WSB winning Ducati 1198 F1 (courtesy of Dawn Treader Performance)
* David Jeffries' GSX-R1000 TT bike and James Toseland's first WSS machine
* The 1930 Rudge Ulster belonging to David Osborne
* Chris Sawyer's 1928 Cotton Blackburne
* A rare Sachs R800 Roadster from 2002 owned by Barry Fahey
* The 1959 Norton Dominator of Ian Cordes
* Rare Excelsior Manxmans from Dave Lee and Adrian Sellars
New features at Prescott Bike Festival 2014:
* The Angelic Bulldog 400mph streamliner land speed motorbike project
* Saturday night party and camping for Advance Ticket Holders only
* Bigger and better Happy Hour of activity by rare race machinery and factory bikes on the hill
* The first 100 Run the Hill bookings receive a free festival T-shirt
* Kuberg electric motorbikes – have a go!
* UK Garrison Star Wars costuming club
* Early Bird breakfasts from 8.00am to 9.30am at special low prices
Lots of live entertainment at Prescott Bike Festival 2014:
* The Dave Coates Stunt Show as featured on TV and at many major motor sports events
* George Formby Tribute
* 1950s inspired rockabilly, rock & roll and R&B band, Josie and the Outlaw.
Motorcycle and racing clubs already confirmed as attending:
* Honda OC
* Norton OC
* XJR OC
* Rolling Hills (Harley OC)
* Classic 50cc Racing Club
Festival organiser, Gordon Downie, says, “The annual Prescott Bike Festival continues to go from strength to strength. For 2014 we'll have more of everything alongside the usual attractions of the unique opportunity to ride the hill. As usual, all major motorcycle manufacturers will be in attendance so fans will get the chance to see all the major models up close and personal. There will be a host of trade stands as well as famous racers and great entertainment too. The Prescott Bike Festival 2014 really does offer something for everyone.”
Venue:
Prescott Hill Climb, Gotherington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 9RD,
Easily accessible from junction 9 of the M5 and from London via the A40 to Cheltenham.
Tickets:
Advance tickets are £12; under 16s (with a paying adult) get in free.
On-the-day tickets are £15; under 16s (with a paying adult) get in free.
Run the Hill tickets are £35 and must be purchased in advance.
There is no charge for bike parking (free side stand puck provided and free helmet park)
Gates open at 08:30 and track action begins at 10:00. The festival closes at 17:00.
All Advance Ticket holders (including Run the Hill) are invited to a pre-event party on the Saturday evening in the Clubhouse. Camping available to advance ticket holders only (limited availability)
To purchase tickets in advance visit: www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk
Exhibitor space is much sought after and limited to those who will add real value via their higher end product offer. The organisers welcome all enquiries; anyone interested in taking space should, in the first instance make their enquiry via the New Exhibitors section via the Exhibitors page on the website or email them directly at [email protected] for further information.
Everyone's Going Vegan For January!
An exciting new campaign is about to launch, encouraging people to adopt a plant-based diet for the month of January.
'Veganuary' have teamed up exclusively with the animal campaigning organisation Viva! to promote the challenge and hopefully raise tons of cash for animals.
Matthew Glover, a vegan businessman, put forward the idea following inspiration from the Movember concept - the hugely successful campaign which involves men growing moustaches in November while fundraising for prostate cancer research.
Matthew says, 'I wondered whether a concept like Movember could be used where healthy vegan eating could be promoted, whilst also raising money for animal charities.'
The website www.veganuary.com has just gone live and encourages people to sign up before January 1st.
"It's the perfect month for such a challenge with people more likely to consider diet changes after the excesses of the festive period!" Matthew added.
The campaign will highlight the health benefits of a vegan diet, while informing participants about the positive impact their food choices will have on the lives of animals and the environment.
To support people with the transition, the site will provide recipes, shopping lists and meal ideas for each day.
The whole site will be interactive, with those taking part able to create their own profiles, upload pictures and make comments about their experiences.
There'll be a leader-board to create a competitive edge amongst participants to raise the most money for VIVA! - making it a win-win situation for the animals.
The site will be user-friendly - incorporating familiar links with social media, like Facebook and Twitter.
Donating and fundraising will also be easy as the website is using the API feed from Just Giving, allowing sponsors to find people simply and quickly.
Professionalism will also be key, which is why the team has joined forces with a specialist multi-media design agency to create impressive visuals with mass market appeal.
Jane, Matthew's partner and fellow vegan said: 'The pre-launch feedback has been encouraging. We're finding a lot of our non-vegan friends want to give it a go'.
It is hoped that January 2014 is just the start for Veganuary, with the launch trialling in the UK initially.
In 2015 Matthew and Jane are hoping to develop the concept further and promote this vegan challenge worldwide.
Juliet Gellatley Founder of animal campaigning organisation Viva! says; "Veganuary is one of the best choices of your life! Going healthy-vegan for a month will improve your energy and mood; make your heart stronger and help blood flow freely to where it needs to be.
AND you'll save the lives of 10 animals. More good news is that funds raised will enable Viva! to protect life - people, the planet and literally millions more animals. Have fun!"
Here is the website: www.veganuary.com
And please like our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Veganuary
And follow on Twitter - https://twitter.com/WeAreVeganuary
'Veganuary' have teamed up exclusively with the animal campaigning organisation Viva! to promote the challenge and hopefully raise tons of cash for animals.
Matthew Glover, a vegan businessman, put forward the idea following inspiration from the Movember concept - the hugely successful campaign which involves men growing moustaches in November while fundraising for prostate cancer research.
Matthew says, 'I wondered whether a concept like Movember could be used where healthy vegan eating could be promoted, whilst also raising money for animal charities.'
The website www.veganuary.com has just gone live and encourages people to sign up before January 1st.
"It's the perfect month for such a challenge with people more likely to consider diet changes after the excesses of the festive period!" Matthew added.
The campaign will highlight the health benefits of a vegan diet, while informing participants about the positive impact their food choices will have on the lives of animals and the environment.
To support people with the transition, the site will provide recipes, shopping lists and meal ideas for each day.
The whole site will be interactive, with those taking part able to create their own profiles, upload pictures and make comments about their experiences.
There'll be a leader-board to create a competitive edge amongst participants to raise the most money for VIVA! - making it a win-win situation for the animals.
The site will be user-friendly - incorporating familiar links with social media, like Facebook and Twitter.
Donating and fundraising will also be easy as the website is using the API feed from Just Giving, allowing sponsors to find people simply and quickly.
Professionalism will also be key, which is why the team has joined forces with a specialist multi-media design agency to create impressive visuals with mass market appeal.
Jane, Matthew's partner and fellow vegan said: 'The pre-launch feedback has been encouraging. We're finding a lot of our non-vegan friends want to give it a go'.
It is hoped that January 2014 is just the start for Veganuary, with the launch trialling in the UK initially.
In 2015 Matthew and Jane are hoping to develop the concept further and promote this vegan challenge worldwide.
Juliet Gellatley Founder of animal campaigning organisation Viva! says; "Veganuary is one of the best choices of your life! Going healthy-vegan for a month will improve your energy and mood; make your heart stronger and help blood flow freely to where it needs to be.
AND you'll save the lives of 10 animals. More good news is that funds raised will enable Viva! to protect life - people, the planet and literally millions more animals. Have fun!"
Here is the website: www.veganuary.com
And please like our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Veganuary
And follow on Twitter - https://twitter.com/WeAreVeganuary
VegfestUK Brighton Set For Success As Vegetarianism Goes Mainstream
On November 12th The Daily Express ran a front page story entitled, “New diet to halt diabetes: Eating less meat and dairy can slash risk by half”[1] And another article in the Daily Mail this September suggested that veganism can lower cholesterol and ease painful joints[2] So it’s not just the fear of finding horsemeat in your Sunday lunch that’s persuading many more of us to go vegetarian and vegan, there are so many clinically proven health reasons too! This is why VegfestUK Brighton is set to be one of the most popular veggie lifestyle events this March...
VegfestUK - Europe's biggest and best veggie lifestyle shows - are back in the nation's veggie capital, Brighton next year, on March 29th 30th at the Hove Centre. With over 135 stalls full of mouth-watering food alongside fashion, cosmetics and bodycare, plus inspiring dietary tips from talks, cookery demos, workshops, films and kids' cookery classes, on top of a speed-dating session, a bodybuilders competition, as well as great live comedy and music, this show is certain to attract not only veggies but all food and festival lovers.
“Since our shows began back in 2003, we've always strived to maintain a balance between festival charm and food education, and that has proved to be very attractive for the veggie-curious and the meat reducers, who have been growing in leaps and bounds for the past decade,” say the organisers. “VegfestUK gives everyone a top day out while getting across the benefits of increasing their fruit, veg and grain intake and reducing their meat and dairy, in a very informal and friendly atmosphere. The best thing is: no one is under pressure to go veggie at all. People can just come down to our festivals, sample a myriad of quality, healthier plant-based substitutes for their customary sausages, doner kebabs, chicken nuggets, milkshakes and pizzas, enjoy the festival capers, then make their own dietary decisions afterwards.”
In the wake of the horsemeat scandal, the 2013 show attracted a record-breaking 7,200 visitors over 2 days and included presenters Janey Lee Grace (BBC Radio 2) and Sarah Jane Honeywell (CBeebies). With the sharp rise in health consciousness in recent years, the strong attendance figures look set to continue at the nation's veggie capital next March. Admission is £2 for adults (pay on gate), and free for under 16's.
For further details, visit www.brighton.vegfest.co.uk
References
[1] http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/442519/New-diet-to-halt-diabetes-Eating-less-meat-and-dairy-can-slash-risk-by-half
[2] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2416221/Could-going-vegan-days-week-ease-creaky-knees.html
VegfestUK - Europe's biggest and best veggie lifestyle shows - are back in the nation's veggie capital, Brighton next year, on March 29th 30th at the Hove Centre. With over 135 stalls full of mouth-watering food alongside fashion, cosmetics and bodycare, plus inspiring dietary tips from talks, cookery demos, workshops, films and kids' cookery classes, on top of a speed-dating session, a bodybuilders competition, as well as great live comedy and music, this show is certain to attract not only veggies but all food and festival lovers.
“Since our shows began back in 2003, we've always strived to maintain a balance between festival charm and food education, and that has proved to be very attractive for the veggie-curious and the meat reducers, who have been growing in leaps and bounds for the past decade,” say the organisers. “VegfestUK gives everyone a top day out while getting across the benefits of increasing their fruit, veg and grain intake and reducing their meat and dairy, in a very informal and friendly atmosphere. The best thing is: no one is under pressure to go veggie at all. People can just come down to our festivals, sample a myriad of quality, healthier plant-based substitutes for their customary sausages, doner kebabs, chicken nuggets, milkshakes and pizzas, enjoy the festival capers, then make their own dietary decisions afterwards.”
In the wake of the horsemeat scandal, the 2013 show attracted a record-breaking 7,200 visitors over 2 days and included presenters Janey Lee Grace (BBC Radio 2) and Sarah Jane Honeywell (CBeebies). With the sharp rise in health consciousness in recent years, the strong attendance figures look set to continue at the nation's veggie capital next March. Admission is £2 for adults (pay on gate), and free for under 16's.
For further details, visit www.brighton.vegfest.co.uk
References
[1] http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/442519/New-diet-to-halt-diabetes-Eating-less-meat-and-dairy-can-slash-risk-by-half
[2] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2416221/Could-going-vegan-days-week-ease-creaky-knees.html
Shakespeare in Love to make its West End Debut
Seven times Academy Award® winning film Shakespeare in Love is to be adapted for the stage and will start its run at London’s Noel Coward Theatre in the summer of 2014.
Preview performances of this theatre premiere – adapted for the stage by Lee Hall from the acclaimed film’s screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, directed by Declan Donellan and designed by Nick Ormerod – begin in early July, with box office bookings starting in February.
The play will tell the tale of how, plagued by debt, tormented by writer’s block and in desperate need of a new hit, promising new playwright Will Shakespeare finds his muse in the form of passionate young noblewoman, Viola De Lesseps. Their forbidden love soon draws everyone, including Queen Elizabeth I herself, into the drama and inspires Will to write one of the greatest love story of all time, Romeo and Juliet.
This romantic comedy looks to transport audiences back to Shakespeare’s London, teeming with characters and all its colourful music and life. The release of the play is perfect timing, as Shakespeare would have been 450 in 2014.
www.shakespeareinlove.com
For more ways Britain is celebrating the Bard’s birthday, see http://media.visitbritain.com/Story-Ideas/Birthday-Bard-Celebrate-the-450th-anniversary-of-Shakespeare-s-birth-fcb1.aspx
Preview performances of this theatre premiere – adapted for the stage by Lee Hall from the acclaimed film’s screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, directed by Declan Donellan and designed by Nick Ormerod – begin in early July, with box office bookings starting in February.
The play will tell the tale of how, plagued by debt, tormented by writer’s block and in desperate need of a new hit, promising new playwright Will Shakespeare finds his muse in the form of passionate young noblewoman, Viola De Lesseps. Their forbidden love soon draws everyone, including Queen Elizabeth I herself, into the drama and inspires Will to write one of the greatest love story of all time, Romeo and Juliet.
This romantic comedy looks to transport audiences back to Shakespeare’s London, teeming with characters and all its colourful music and life. The release of the play is perfect timing, as Shakespeare would have been 450 in 2014.
www.shakespeareinlove.com
For more ways Britain is celebrating the Bard’s birthday, see http://media.visitbritain.com/Story-Ideas/Birthday-Bard-Celebrate-the-450th-anniversary-of-Shakespeare-s-birth-fcb1.aspx
A Mid-Century Dinner Party
A Mid Century Dinner Party
Wednesday 16th October, 7-10pm
Step back in time to the 1950s and 60s for a unique dining experience. Explore the museum then enjoy a four-course meal inspired by recipes from the period devised by Funthyme, accompanied by live piano music and fascinating insights into mid-century cuisine from celebrated food historian and author Kate Colquhoun.
Kate says "Rationing wouldn't end until 1945 but there was a Coronation to look forward to, Skiffle, Rock & Roll and Brylcreem were in the ascendent, electrical sockets peppered the walls of modern kitchens, new ovens were thermostatically controlled and - with the birth of the tv chef, cooking became, for the first time, a spectator sport.
The 50s and 60s are packed with mad chefs, food fads, technological advances and colourful dishes - all reflecting the social and cultural transformation of the post war, pre-depression years."
Tickets £55 (includes a welcome cocktail). BOYB. 50s and 60s dress optional. Advance booking essential – please contact the museum’s Bookings Officer on 020 7739 9893 or [email protected] to reserve a place.
Wednesday 16th October, 7-10pm
Step back in time to the 1950s and 60s for a unique dining experience. Explore the museum then enjoy a four-course meal inspired by recipes from the period devised by Funthyme, accompanied by live piano music and fascinating insights into mid-century cuisine from celebrated food historian and author Kate Colquhoun.
Kate says "Rationing wouldn't end until 1945 but there was a Coronation to look forward to, Skiffle, Rock & Roll and Brylcreem were in the ascendent, electrical sockets peppered the walls of modern kitchens, new ovens were thermostatically controlled and - with the birth of the tv chef, cooking became, for the first time, a spectator sport.
The 50s and 60s are packed with mad chefs, food fads, technological advances and colourful dishes - all reflecting the social and cultural transformation of the post war, pre-depression years."
Tickets £55 (includes a welcome cocktail). BOYB. 50s and 60s dress optional. Advance booking essential – please contact the museum’s Bookings Officer on 020 7739 9893 or [email protected] to reserve a place.
Bath. Officially The Best Christmas Market In The Country
After being the first and only Christmas Market in the country to receive the ‘Quality Assured Visitor Attraction’ Rose Marque from national tourist board VisitEngland, organisers of this year’s Bath Christmas Market, Bath Tourism Plus, are now keen to expand on its reputation by announcing some new additions for 2013.
Set against the magical backdrop of Bath’s majestic Abbey and amongst the city’s quaint Georgian streets, the market is a very British take on the usual German Christmas market and showcases the best produce of Bath and the South West from 28 November – 15 December.
Hailed as ‘the biggest and most beautiful Christmas shopping event in the region,’ the 18-day event will be the most substantial yet, with over 150 traditional wooden stalls lining Bath’s central streets and squares. Offering an abundance of choice, 2013 will see over a third of the chalets being managed by new traders, each providing a variety of high-quality gifts and Christmas essentials such as decorations and locally produced festive food, with a strong emphasis on handmade, local and unique items.
Opportunities for local artists and craftspeople who currently have small ‘kitchen worktop’ style businesses will also be catered for at this year’s event. Magically located on ‘Snowy Street’, a beautifully decorated, winter themed street, ‘micro-businesses’ will have the option to trade for short periods during this year’s market without the commitment of the full event. For visitors to the market this simply means they will get a surprise each time they visit, with stalls changing throughout the duration of the event – definitely an area not to be missed.
Another highlight this year is the opening night Holburne Lantern Procession, when a throng of local children will form a parade from the Holburne Museum, along Bath’s widest and stunning Great Pulteney Street, over the iconic Pulteney Bridge and through the Christmas Market. Armed with their own handmade lanterns, the children will light up the streets as they march along celebrating the ‘feast’ of Christmas.
Always romantic and traditionally festive, with tempting fare and gentle entertainment befitting the time of year, the area around Bath Abbey will play host to choirs singing carols and talented solo musicians singing festive songs.
And as an extra treat for shoppers this year, visitors to Bath Christmas Market have the chance to win a trip to visit Santa in Lapland by simply uploading a picture to a Facebook app. More details are available online at bathchristmasmarket.co.uk.
The market’s location, in the heart of the city, is perfect for visitors to enjoy all that the city has to offer – just steps away from the city’s train station, a wonderful mix of high street and designer shops, fascinating attractions and warm, inviting cafes and bars.
The event always proves popular, last year attracting more than 350,000 visitors to the city over its 18 days duration. Rooms are already beginning to fill up, with bookings being taken for the popular festive period. To book accommodation during the dates of Bath Christmas Market (28th November – 15th December), and to order your event guide, visit bathchristmasmarket.co.uk.
Set against the magical backdrop of Bath’s majestic Abbey and amongst the city’s quaint Georgian streets, the market is a very British take on the usual German Christmas market and showcases the best produce of Bath and the South West from 28 November – 15 December.
Hailed as ‘the biggest and most beautiful Christmas shopping event in the region,’ the 18-day event will be the most substantial yet, with over 150 traditional wooden stalls lining Bath’s central streets and squares. Offering an abundance of choice, 2013 will see over a third of the chalets being managed by new traders, each providing a variety of high-quality gifts and Christmas essentials such as decorations and locally produced festive food, with a strong emphasis on handmade, local and unique items.
Opportunities for local artists and craftspeople who currently have small ‘kitchen worktop’ style businesses will also be catered for at this year’s event. Magically located on ‘Snowy Street’, a beautifully decorated, winter themed street, ‘micro-businesses’ will have the option to trade for short periods during this year’s market without the commitment of the full event. For visitors to the market this simply means they will get a surprise each time they visit, with stalls changing throughout the duration of the event – definitely an area not to be missed.
Another highlight this year is the opening night Holburne Lantern Procession, when a throng of local children will form a parade from the Holburne Museum, along Bath’s widest and stunning Great Pulteney Street, over the iconic Pulteney Bridge and through the Christmas Market. Armed with their own handmade lanterns, the children will light up the streets as they march along celebrating the ‘feast’ of Christmas.
Always romantic and traditionally festive, with tempting fare and gentle entertainment befitting the time of year, the area around Bath Abbey will play host to choirs singing carols and talented solo musicians singing festive songs.
And as an extra treat for shoppers this year, visitors to Bath Christmas Market have the chance to win a trip to visit Santa in Lapland by simply uploading a picture to a Facebook app. More details are available online at bathchristmasmarket.co.uk.
The market’s location, in the heart of the city, is perfect for visitors to enjoy all that the city has to offer – just steps away from the city’s train station, a wonderful mix of high street and designer shops, fascinating attractions and warm, inviting cafes and bars.
The event always proves popular, last year attracting more than 350,000 visitors to the city over its 18 days duration. Rooms are already beginning to fill up, with bookings being taken for the popular festive period. To book accommodation during the dates of Bath Christmas Market (28th November – 15th December), and to order your event guide, visit bathchristmasmarket.co.uk.
The Vintage Collections - London Fashion Week
The New Season begins and with it a myriad of fashion possibilities, with the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair returning to the Old Finsbury Town Hall on the 15th September from 11am - 5pm. Playing host to the leading vintage vendors of fashion, accessories and collectible textiles, this is an event not to be missed for members of the style cognoscenti and is also a fun day out for the amateur fashion enthusiast.
To celebrate London Fashion Week, Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair is delighted to present The Vintage Collections. Our highly regarded traders have sourced some of the key iconic looks from different eras to illustrate the enduring allure of vintage fashion. Come and shop for pieces that don't merely reference an era but are actually part of it. From Princess Coats to Worsted Wool Suits, there is a special something to add the necessary dose of originality to any wardrobe.
Over the last four years, the fair has become an essential diary date for leading fashion industry figures to attend, with the hall filling up as quickly as any catwalk show. International fashion editors, major fashion house design teams, celebrity stylists and models continue to return to source rare pieces to wear and keep them ahead of the pack or to reference in their own collections they are designing. The fair has also had an increased relevance to costume designers who are seeking original pieces, prints or weaves to add authenticity to their creations for film and stage, and maybe help them bag that Oscar or Tony.
Recent exhibitions at the Victoria and Albert Museum focusing on Bowie and 80s Club Culture have also enlarged the appetite for Vintage Fashion. This September we expect an influx of fashion students, bloggers and assorted style mavens desperately seeking Alaia, Bodymap, Westwood and Lacroix to channel the vibe they missed first time round and make it their own.
Founded by Savitri, the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair is as much a celebratory event as it is a serious fashion one. This September expect our Tea Salon to once more play host to jazz chanteuses and of course serve delicious tea and award winning cakes to revive weary shoppers. We also continue to champion vintage lifestyle brands as well as offer a space for anyone with an interest in Vintage Fashion and Style to discover more, get inspired and soak up the atmosphere as they peruse the plethora of amazing stock. Returning once more is the ever popular Kirstie Robinson, the Queen of bespoke Alterations, the Vintage Salon for retro styles & English Rose Cosmetics.
Join in the fun and pick up something fabulous during London's most celebrated event. Entry remains £4 with NUS Concessions £2.
To celebrate London Fashion Week, Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair is delighted to present The Vintage Collections. Our highly regarded traders have sourced some of the key iconic looks from different eras to illustrate the enduring allure of vintage fashion. Come and shop for pieces that don't merely reference an era but are actually part of it. From Princess Coats to Worsted Wool Suits, there is a special something to add the necessary dose of originality to any wardrobe.
Over the last four years, the fair has become an essential diary date for leading fashion industry figures to attend, with the hall filling up as quickly as any catwalk show. International fashion editors, major fashion house design teams, celebrity stylists and models continue to return to source rare pieces to wear and keep them ahead of the pack or to reference in their own collections they are designing. The fair has also had an increased relevance to costume designers who are seeking original pieces, prints or weaves to add authenticity to their creations for film and stage, and maybe help them bag that Oscar or Tony.
Recent exhibitions at the Victoria and Albert Museum focusing on Bowie and 80s Club Culture have also enlarged the appetite for Vintage Fashion. This September we expect an influx of fashion students, bloggers and assorted style mavens desperately seeking Alaia, Bodymap, Westwood and Lacroix to channel the vibe they missed first time round and make it their own.
Founded by Savitri, the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair is as much a celebratory event as it is a serious fashion one. This September expect our Tea Salon to once more play host to jazz chanteuses and of course serve delicious tea and award winning cakes to revive weary shoppers. We also continue to champion vintage lifestyle brands as well as offer a space for anyone with an interest in Vintage Fashion and Style to discover more, get inspired and soak up the atmosphere as they peruse the plethora of amazing stock. Returning once more is the ever popular Kirstie Robinson, the Queen of bespoke Alterations, the Vintage Salon for retro styles & English Rose Cosmetics.
Join in the fun and pick up something fabulous during London's most celebrated event. Entry remains £4 with NUS Concessions £2.
Fashion Rules-exhibition fit for a princess opens next week
Historic Royal Palaces will present a glamorous exhibition at Kensington Palace from 4 July with a new take on the story of the monarchy in the late 20th century.
Featuring rare and exquisite dresses from HM Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret and Diana, Princess of Wales, the exhibition will be a nostalgic glance back at Royal fashion in recent decades. Elegant dress displays will explore how these royal figures were representative of the spirit of each decade, reflecting and inspiring everyday fashions.
Starting with the young Queen Elizabeth in the 1950s, the display will look at her evolving style and the way she adopted the fashions of the time and made reference to the countries she visited in the clothes she wore. Her exquisite strapless peach silk Norman Hartnell gown from the early 1950s will be on display for the first time, as will a Dior gown worn by her younger sister Princess Margaret for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. Diana, Princess of Wales’ signature looks from the 1980s and 1990s will be part of the collection, which made a significant impact on British style and fashion throughout those decades and still endures today.
www.hrp.org.uk
Featuring rare and exquisite dresses from HM Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret and Diana, Princess of Wales, the exhibition will be a nostalgic glance back at Royal fashion in recent decades. Elegant dress displays will explore how these royal figures were representative of the spirit of each decade, reflecting and inspiring everyday fashions.
Starting with the young Queen Elizabeth in the 1950s, the display will look at her evolving style and the way she adopted the fashions of the time and made reference to the countries she visited in the clothes she wore. Her exquisite strapless peach silk Norman Hartnell gown from the early 1950s will be on display for the first time, as will a Dior gown worn by her younger sister Princess Margaret for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. Diana, Princess of Wales’ signature looks from the 1980s and 1990s will be part of the collection, which made a significant impact on British style and fashion throughout those decades and still endures today.
www.hrp.org.uk
Gatsby's World Comes To Bonhams
Almeria Is Star Of The Sale Estimated At £200,000-£300,000
Gatsby's dazzling world will be recreated in a London saleroom when art works and furniture from the sparkling art deco era are sold in the 20th Century Decorative Arts sale on Wednesday 19th June at Bonhams.
With Gatsby fever upon us, the roaring twenties jazz age is back in vogue. A host of dancing flapper girl studies lead the way in the auction with period furnishings and art deco lighting to complete the scene. This season, the fashion world has revived the shimmering beadwork, scarlet lips and modern clean cut lines of the art deco period. Bonhams now brings you the opulent interiors of Gatsby's world to match.
Alméria, a rare and iconic bronze and ivory sculpture by Chiparus is the star of the sale, created circa 1925 and estimated at £200,000-300,000. Almeria is thought to be modelled on the ballerina and choreographer, Bronislava Nijinska, who was a pioneer in modernizing ballet. She is one of Chiparus' most rare and visually dramatic studies. Only around five studies would have been produced due to the expense in creating the work.
Mark Oliver, Director of Decorative Arts department said, "Almeria is probably in the top three most desirable Chiparus figures ever produced and one that is rarely available at auction."
Chiparus (1886-1947) was a Romanian sculptor and artist who lived and worked in Paris. French theatre, Russian ballet dancers and stars of early motion pictures were often the subject of his works.
Deco emerged in the interwar period when new technology was transforming culture. It is defined by modern geometric shapes and lavish decoration and influenced by futurism and cubism. The war had broken down rigid cultural barriers and propelled society into an exciting new age. A dizzy celebration of peacetime ensued.
For further information and images call Sarah Gubbins on 0207 468 8363, or email [email protected] / [email protected].
Gatsby's dazzling world will be recreated in a London saleroom when art works and furniture from the sparkling art deco era are sold in the 20th Century Decorative Arts sale on Wednesday 19th June at Bonhams.
With Gatsby fever upon us, the roaring twenties jazz age is back in vogue. A host of dancing flapper girl studies lead the way in the auction with period furnishings and art deco lighting to complete the scene. This season, the fashion world has revived the shimmering beadwork, scarlet lips and modern clean cut lines of the art deco period. Bonhams now brings you the opulent interiors of Gatsby's world to match.
Alméria, a rare and iconic bronze and ivory sculpture by Chiparus is the star of the sale, created circa 1925 and estimated at £200,000-300,000. Almeria is thought to be modelled on the ballerina and choreographer, Bronislava Nijinska, who was a pioneer in modernizing ballet. She is one of Chiparus' most rare and visually dramatic studies. Only around five studies would have been produced due to the expense in creating the work.
Mark Oliver, Director of Decorative Arts department said, "Almeria is probably in the top three most desirable Chiparus figures ever produced and one that is rarely available at auction."
Chiparus (1886-1947) was a Romanian sculptor and artist who lived and worked in Paris. French theatre, Russian ballet dancers and stars of early motion pictures were often the subject of his works.
Deco emerged in the interwar period when new technology was transforming culture. It is defined by modern geometric shapes and lavish decoration and influenced by futurism and cubism. The war had broken down rigid cultural barriers and propelled society into an exciting new age. A dizzy celebration of peacetime ensued.
For further information and images call Sarah Gubbins on 0207 468 8363, or email [email protected] / [email protected].
Hello, My Name Is Paul Smith
The Design Museum invites you into the world of fashion designer
Paul Smith, a world of creation, inspiration, collaboration, wit and beauty. Looking to the future as well as celebrating his career to date, the exhibition will reference Paul Smith's influences and fashion designs, charting the rise of one of the world's leading fashion brands.
Looking at the impressive scale of its global operation today, the exhibition will draw on Paul Smith's personal archive, from the company's beginnings in Nottingham to its international prominence today. The exhibition will explore how Paul Smith's intuitive take on design, together with an understanding of the roles of designer and retailer, have laid the foundations for the company's lasting success and offer a unique insight into the magnificent mind of Paul Smith.
'Hello My Name is Paul Smith' will take visitors on a journey through Paul Smith's world. The exhibition will showcase and celebrate the brand through collections selected by Paul. The different stages of design and production will be explored, offering a rich insight into his design process and highlighting how the principles of traditional craftsmanship of tailoring and techniques are retained but given a contemporary edge.
Paul Smith's first shop in Byard Lane, Nottingham, which measured 3m x 3m, will be recreated in the exhibition alongside an immersive digital room rich in still and moving image. Thoughts narrated by Paul himself and sounds will place you in the mind of the designer.
The exhibition will include a recreation of Paul's personal office, containing a myriad of books and objects that are a continual source of inspiration. Projections, audio and film clips from fashion shows and behind-the-scenes will reveal the inner workings and influences of the Paul Smith brand. Showcasing a selection of jewellery, books, art and antiques that compliment the clothing collections, every Paul Smith shop is unique and will also be explored in the exhibition.
From humble beginnings in a Paris hotel suite in 1976, the company now shows seasonally in London and Paris fashion weeks and includes fourteen different collections. As a result, and in spite of its scale, Paul Smith has retained something unique, a personal touch.
Welcome to the world of Paul Smith.
DESIGN MUSEUM, SHAD THAMES, LONDON SE1 2YD
OPENING: 10.00 -17.45 daily. Last admission: 17.15
Admissions: £11.75 Adults, £10.70 Concessions, £7.50 Students,
Under 12s Free. PUBLIC INFORMATION T: 020 7940 8790
W: designmuseum.org
Paul Smith, a world of creation, inspiration, collaboration, wit and beauty. Looking to the future as well as celebrating his career to date, the exhibition will reference Paul Smith's influences and fashion designs, charting the rise of one of the world's leading fashion brands.
Looking at the impressive scale of its global operation today, the exhibition will draw on Paul Smith's personal archive, from the company's beginnings in Nottingham to its international prominence today. The exhibition will explore how Paul Smith's intuitive take on design, together with an understanding of the roles of designer and retailer, have laid the foundations for the company's lasting success and offer a unique insight into the magnificent mind of Paul Smith.
'Hello My Name is Paul Smith' will take visitors on a journey through Paul Smith's world. The exhibition will showcase and celebrate the brand through collections selected by Paul. The different stages of design and production will be explored, offering a rich insight into his design process and highlighting how the principles of traditional craftsmanship of tailoring and techniques are retained but given a contemporary edge.
Paul Smith's first shop in Byard Lane, Nottingham, which measured 3m x 3m, will be recreated in the exhibition alongside an immersive digital room rich in still and moving image. Thoughts narrated by Paul himself and sounds will place you in the mind of the designer.
The exhibition will include a recreation of Paul's personal office, containing a myriad of books and objects that are a continual source of inspiration. Projections, audio and film clips from fashion shows and behind-the-scenes will reveal the inner workings and influences of the Paul Smith brand. Showcasing a selection of jewellery, books, art and antiques that compliment the clothing collections, every Paul Smith shop is unique and will also be explored in the exhibition.
From humble beginnings in a Paris hotel suite in 1976, the company now shows seasonally in London and Paris fashion weeks and includes fourteen different collections. As a result, and in spite of its scale, Paul Smith has retained something unique, a personal touch.
Welcome to the world of Paul Smith.
DESIGN MUSEUM, SHAD THAMES, LONDON SE1 2YD
OPENING: 10.00 -17.45 daily. Last admission: 17.15
Admissions: £11.75 Adults, £10.70 Concessions, £7.50 Students,
Under 12s Free. PUBLIC INFORMATION T: 020 7940 8790
W: designmuseum.org
Lesser Known Architecture - A Celebration Of Underappreciated London Buildings
Lesser Known Architecture
A Celebration of Underappreciated London Buildings
4 JUNE - 22 JULY 2013
FREE EXHIBITION
Lesser Known Architecture is a free exhibition celebrating extraordinary London architecture. Nominated by leading architecture critics, these ten buildings, structures and subways contribute to the mix and diversity of the city but are all too often overlooked and forgotten. Curated by Elias Redstone, Lesser Known Architecture presents an alternative architectural map of the city. Each site has been photographed by Theo Simpson and will be displayed as a series of single colour offset prints in the Design Museum Café and Tank. The installation is designed by Ben Mclaughlin.
The Ten London Buildings Featured and their Nominators:
Bevin Court nominated by Tom Dyckhoff (BBC Culture Show)
Brownfield Estate nominated by Owen Hatherley (The Guardian)
Cabmen's Shelters nominated by Oliver Wainwright (The Guardian)
Crystal Palace Subway nominated by Rory Olcayto (The Architects' Journal)
London Underground Arcades nominated by Edwin Heathcote (Financial Times)
Mail Rail nominated by Ellie Stathaki (Wallpaper*)
Nunhead Cemetery nominated by Hugo MacDonald (Monocle)
Occidental Oil Refinery Jetty nominated by Owen Hatherley (The Guardian)
Stockwell Bus Garage nominated by Tom Dyckhoff (BBC Culture Show)
Welbeck Street Car Park nominated by Sam Jacob (Dezeen / Art Review)
Each nominator has written an overview of their buildings historical and design credentials that will be published in the accompanying journal, Lesser Known Architecture, Vol. 1: London.
The Lesser Known Architecture photographs will also be produced as limited edition prints available to purchase from the Design Museum Shop.
Lesser Known Architecture is part of the London Festival of Architecture 2013.
A Celebration of Underappreciated London Buildings
4 JUNE - 22 JULY 2013
FREE EXHIBITION
Lesser Known Architecture is a free exhibition celebrating extraordinary London architecture. Nominated by leading architecture critics, these ten buildings, structures and subways contribute to the mix and diversity of the city but are all too often overlooked and forgotten. Curated by Elias Redstone, Lesser Known Architecture presents an alternative architectural map of the city. Each site has been photographed by Theo Simpson and will be displayed as a series of single colour offset prints in the Design Museum Café and Tank. The installation is designed by Ben Mclaughlin.
The Ten London Buildings Featured and their Nominators:
Bevin Court nominated by Tom Dyckhoff (BBC Culture Show)
Brownfield Estate nominated by Owen Hatherley (The Guardian)
Cabmen's Shelters nominated by Oliver Wainwright (The Guardian)
Crystal Palace Subway nominated by Rory Olcayto (The Architects' Journal)
London Underground Arcades nominated by Edwin Heathcote (Financial Times)
Mail Rail nominated by Ellie Stathaki (Wallpaper*)
Nunhead Cemetery nominated by Hugo MacDonald (Monocle)
Occidental Oil Refinery Jetty nominated by Owen Hatherley (The Guardian)
Stockwell Bus Garage nominated by Tom Dyckhoff (BBC Culture Show)
Welbeck Street Car Park nominated by Sam Jacob (Dezeen / Art Review)
Each nominator has written an overview of their buildings historical and design credentials that will be published in the accompanying journal, Lesser Known Architecture, Vol. 1: London.
The Lesser Known Architecture photographs will also be produced as limited edition prints available to purchase from the Design Museum Shop.
Lesser Known Architecture is part of the London Festival of Architecture 2013.
The LASSCO Collection
Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions and LASSCO are pleased to announce that an inaugural one day Grand Sale of Architectural Antiques will be held in Central London on Saturday 15 June 2013.
Marble Chimneypieces, Old Ironwork, Sculpture, Grand Entranceways, Lighting, Garden Ornament, Church Ornament, Old Signage, Museum Cabinets, Rugs, Pub fittings, Taxidermy and Curiosities, Carved Stonework and much more.
LASSCO is famous for Architectural Reclaim from prestigious provenances - the auction catalogue will feature items saved from: The National Maritime Museum, Kensington Palace, The Natural History Museum, Claridges, 45 Park Lane (former Playboy Club), The Savoy, Somerset House & Oxford University.
Noteworthy Makers include: Sir Christopher Wren, James Wyatt, Grinling Gibbons, Mrs Elanor Coade, John Thomas.
Dreweatts will sell it all from Brunswick House, LASSCO's landmark Georgain headquarters in Nine Elms, Central London (Vauxhall Tube Zone 1).
Marble Chimneypieces, Old Ironwork, Sculpture, Grand Entranceways, Lighting, Garden Ornament, Church Ornament, Old Signage, Museum Cabinets, Rugs, Pub fittings, Taxidermy and Curiosities, Carved Stonework and much more.
LASSCO is famous for Architectural Reclaim from prestigious provenances - the auction catalogue will feature items saved from: The National Maritime Museum, Kensington Palace, The Natural History Museum, Claridges, 45 Park Lane (former Playboy Club), The Savoy, Somerset House & Oxford University.
Noteworthy Makers include: Sir Christopher Wren, James Wyatt, Grinling Gibbons, Mrs Elanor Coade, John Thomas.
Dreweatts will sell it all from Brunswick House, LASSCO's landmark Georgain headquarters in Nine Elms, Central London (Vauxhall Tube Zone 1).
London's Leading Vintage Fashion, Antique Textile & Accessory Event
Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair returns to its home in Old Finsbury Town Hall on the 12th May 2013 from 11am – 5pm. The pioneering Vintage Fair brings the very best vintage fashion traders and experts all under one elegant art-noveau roof.
Carefully curated by its founder, Savitri, whose vision was developed over the course of two decades working in the fashion, music and film industries, the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair offers attendees an immersive vintage experience. From vendors selling collectables from famous fashion houses such as Dior, Westwood, Yves Saint Laurent and Ossie Clark through to tailors, including Kirstie Robinson, celebrity alterations expert, providing advice and on the spot alterations this is the destination fair for the vintage fashionista; with tastemakers travelling from Europe and beyond to participate.
Founded in 2009 in response to the growing interest in vintage fashion that was sparked by iconic shows such as Sex and The City and celebrity wearers such as Kate Moss and Dita Von Teese, the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair aims to educate and entertain. In addition to the clothing, accessories and jewellery on sale dating from the early nineteenth century to the 1980’s, the fair also features the unique Vintage Salon, where attendees can learn how to perfect the make-up and hair looks from particular periods . Also not to be missed is Mini Moon the only vintage manicurist in town, who will be re-creating nail looks that will take you back to the drawing rooms of Downton Abbey with the 1920’s half-moon look amongst the many on offer.
And what better way to unwind than at The Tea Room Des Artistes, the fair’s onsite quintessential tea-room serving delicious afternoon treats and featuring renowned jazz chanteuse, Noelle Vaughn serenading guests as they consider and celebrate their stylish purchases.
The Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair is also delighted to announce the official launch of a capsule collection from Retrobates, at the upcoming fair. Retrobates is a London based clothing and lifestyle brand making pieces inspired by vintage silhouettes and using reclaimed fabrics from Indian textile markets. Founder Deborah Efemini could think of no better event to launch her nostalgic collection, than at the Fair’s 4th Birthday.
The award winning Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair continues to be committed to championing the very best in vintage fashion, whilst making it accessible for all. Entrance remains £4 with NUS Concessions £2.
Carefully curated by its founder, Savitri, whose vision was developed over the course of two decades working in the fashion, music and film industries, the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair offers attendees an immersive vintage experience. From vendors selling collectables from famous fashion houses such as Dior, Westwood, Yves Saint Laurent and Ossie Clark through to tailors, including Kirstie Robinson, celebrity alterations expert, providing advice and on the spot alterations this is the destination fair for the vintage fashionista; with tastemakers travelling from Europe and beyond to participate.
Founded in 2009 in response to the growing interest in vintage fashion that was sparked by iconic shows such as Sex and The City and celebrity wearers such as Kate Moss and Dita Von Teese, the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair aims to educate and entertain. In addition to the clothing, accessories and jewellery on sale dating from the early nineteenth century to the 1980’s, the fair also features the unique Vintage Salon, where attendees can learn how to perfect the make-up and hair looks from particular periods . Also not to be missed is Mini Moon the only vintage manicurist in town, who will be re-creating nail looks that will take you back to the drawing rooms of Downton Abbey with the 1920’s half-moon look amongst the many on offer.
And what better way to unwind than at The Tea Room Des Artistes, the fair’s onsite quintessential tea-room serving delicious afternoon treats and featuring renowned jazz chanteuse, Noelle Vaughn serenading guests as they consider and celebrate their stylish purchases.
The Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair is also delighted to announce the official launch of a capsule collection from Retrobates, at the upcoming fair. Retrobates is a London based clothing and lifestyle brand making pieces inspired by vintage silhouettes and using reclaimed fabrics from Indian textile markets. Founder Deborah Efemini could think of no better event to launch her nostalgic collection, than at the Fair’s 4th Birthday.
The award winning Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair continues to be committed to championing the very best in vintage fashion, whilst making it accessible for all. Entrance remains £4 with NUS Concessions £2.
The Wonders Of Woodstock
Steeped in history, packed with charm and just a stone’s throw from one of England’s greatest palaces, the historic market town of Woodstock is the ideal base from which to explore the rolling hills and picturesque villages that make up the Cotswolds.
Known as the ‘gateway to the Cotswolds’, Woodstock represents a typical Cotswolds market town: distinctive honey-coloured stone cottages and streets (many buildings dating back to the 17th-century) displaying quirky boutiques, art and antique galleries, charming tearooms and historic hotspots at every turn. The town not only has tons to offer in and of itself, including one of Britain’s great palaces, Blenheim, but it’s also a stunning spot from which to explore the surrounding Cotswolds, including the academic city of Oxford, just eight miles away, and other equally picturesque market towns, such as Bourton-on-the-water and Burford.
Mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a place where English kings would lodge, Woodstock is drenched in history: legend has it King Alfred stayed here in 890; Henry II seduced the infamous Rosamund here (find Rosamund’s Well at Blenheim Palace); and Elizabeth I was kept prisoner here for a year in 1554. And it’s at Woodstock’s most famous landmark – Blenheim Palace – where you can immerse yourself in such regal history.
One of the wonderful things about staying in Woodstock is that there’s a pedestrian entrance to Blenheim in the centre of the town, hidden at the end of Park Street, just past The Bear Hotel. The birthplace of Winston Churchill and currently the seat of the 11th Duke of Marlborough, this stunning historic house, which is often referred to as Britain’s greatest palace, not only delivers a fascinating exhibition on Churchill’s life, but also offers tours of the palace, as well as walks, sites and activities in the magnificent parkland.
A Unesco World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace, which dates back to the early 1700s, features various State Rooms, with hand-painted and priceless treasures, from paintings and porcelain, to silver and sofas. Every 20 minutes, there’s a 35-minute guided tour (included in this is a fun family quiz to keep kids entertained) accompanied by live music if you visit on weekend afternoons, or you can take The Untold Story tour and discover the history, rather uniquely, as seen through the eyes of household staff.
The 2,100 acres of parkland, landscaped by Capability Brown, is a walker’s paradise… and there’s something for everyone: a great lake, award-winning gardens and plenty of off-the-beaten-track rambles. In the Formal Gardens, couples will enjoy the Secret Garden (think winding paths, streams and bridges), while little ones will have a ball in the family-dedicated Pleasure Gardens. Reached by miniature train from the palace, you’ll find loads of space to let off steam, as well as a Butterfly House (exotic tropical butterflies in flight), a wooden adventure playground (think plank bridges, ladders, swings and slides) and the Marlborough Maze, in which you’ll find putting greens and a giant chess and draughts set.
It’s also the perfect place for a picnic and there are lots of options for picking one up. The chefs at Blenheim can create a deluxe picnic hamper for you (£51.50 for two people, including mini pork pies, dips, salads, cheeses, brownies and wine) as long as they have 48 hours notice. Alternatively, pick one up from Woodstock town: The Feathers Hotel has won the Oxfordshire Best Hamper two years running for its £39.50 hamper stuffed with filled crusty rolls, a rustic pork pie, olives and salted almonds, homemade cake and French yoghurt and fruit, while Hampers, a deli and café, offers both ready-made and bespoke hampers, including a luxury one stuffed with yummy treats like prossecco, brand & herb pate, French vignette cheese and Scottish smoked salmon.
A stroll post-picnic is probably in order and there’s plenty to be had. While the Rose Garden with its colourful displays and The Italian Garden with its fountain and hedges offer a simple saunter, more energetic types might fancy the various walks, from 45-90-minutes, on offer. Find Fair Rosamund’s Well on the 45-minute circular Queen Pool walk… or discover the spot of Temple of Diana, where Churchill proposed to Clemintine. Or, give the kids on an exploratory challenge… to find the huge old Cedar of Lebanon tree with its distinctive ‘O’ shaped hole in the trunk that featured in the film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Not challenging enough for them? Set them on one of the park’s educational trails (including Maths and geography) instead.
And if you feel all this doesn’t quite justify the £55 family entrance fee, it may well be worth visiting Blenheim when there’s something special - from Christmas craft fairs to summer plays - going on. And, this year there’s plenty happening – there’s a jousting tournament in May (4-6), which will also feature falconry displays and have-a-go at archery, and the brand-new, three-day Blenheim Flower Show in June (21-23), which will showcase more than 150 floral and gardens exhibitors, as well as hosting gardening and cooking celebrities. Not only will you be able to explore the house and gardens, but you’ll learn lots about how to make the most of your own gardens, from barbecuing in summer, to planting in spring (see box below).
But while Blenheim is undoubtedly Woodstock’s biggest draw, the bustling town has plenty of other attractions, historic and otherwise, to keep visitors interested and entertained.
Housed in a 16th-century building in the centre of Woodstock, the Oxfordshire County Museum offers something for everyone: for those into history, there’s interactive exhibits of art, archaeology, landscape and wildlife; for those who want to relax, there’s gorgeous gardens, where you can partake of cream tea, and during summer, hosts sculptural exhibitions by local artists; and for little ones, there’s a dinosaur garden, with its very own life-size megalosaur that’s as big as a bus and simply brilliant.
Other notable historic town sites include: the musical clock that plays a tune on the hour every hour at the 17th-century church of Mary Magdalene; the Town Hall, where on the first Saturday of every month you can peruse the farmer’s market; and the unique Textiles Trail, a tour of Woodstock’s main buildings and attractions through textiles.
But you don’t necessarily have to spend your time in the churches and museums to feel or see the history of the place: it’s everywhere… in the streets, the cafes, boutiques and art galleries (check out the Kyffin Gallery, opposite The Feathers Hotel, with its colourful array of paintings and antique furniture) that dominate the town. The Bear Hotel, with its ivy-clad façade and central position opposite The Oxfordshire Museum, for example, has been housing travellers since the 13th century. Now dubbed the most haunted hotel in England, you can stay in one of its 53 bedrooms (Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor have stayed here) with its beamed ceilings and open fireplaces, or if that’s not your cup of tea, simply dine at Lambtons, its 2AA Rosette Restaurant, which offers very intriguing combinations using locally sourced ingredients, such as pork tenderloin with rhubarb, shallot tart tatin and crackling.
But eating out in Woodstock isn’t just about the grub. Though there’s certainly lots of award-winning grub here, it’s also about the history and character of the centuries-old Cotswolds buildings it’s served in. Take the quintessentially English tradition of ‘afternoon tea’ in one of the town’s many stone cottage tearooms – try Harriet’s Cake Shop & Team Rooms on the high street, or go more upmarket by taking it at the 18th-century county townhouse The Feathers, where you get fizz and macaroons along with your afternoon tea for just £25. There are also plenty of pubs, cafes and restaurants offering hearty, homemade meals, as well as evening eateries. Popular with the locals, Indian restaurant Jaan is first-class when it comes to food, while the award-winning Gin Experience at The Feathers is a must. Boasting the largest selection of gins in the world (that’s 100 Gins) the Gin Tasting menu pairs unusual Gins (think dried rosebud Gin) with fine-dining dishes, such as seviche of yellow fin tun with scallop and lime jelly to start, followed by pigeon with pickled victoria plums and almond and red cabbage.
The Feathers is also a good place to stay… this historic townhouse boasts 16 bedrooms and five suites of all shapes and sizes. Even more historic, the luxury boutique Hope House is not just 100 yards from Blenheim Palace, it’s steeped in almost as much history as its palatial neighbour: it dates back to the same year (1708) and is built in the same Vanbrughan style, with the same stone. Inside, it’s all high ceilings, oak-panelled walls, opulent wallpapers and French-style furnishings. You can stay in one of three suites (the Churchill Suite boasts an oversized Moulin Noir sleigh bed and cast iron Victorian bath) and little luxuries include handmade Mulberry Tree silk duvets and heated marble floors. Breakfast in the Vanbrugh Restaurant, with its oversized stone fireplace, is an equally grand affair of locally sourced organic produce (think home-laid eggs, homemade breads and Cotswold cheeses) served on Royal Doulton fine bone china.
More affordable, yet still historic, the luxury B&B The Glove House (theglovehouse.co.uk) is a 400-year-old house that’s just been refurbished, while The Kings Arms Hotel is one of the best pubs offering rooms – think solid wooden beds, firm mattresses, amazing bathrooms and Molton Brown toiletries.
DETAILS
Blenheim Palace is open from February to December. Tickets for the palace, park and gardens are £21 for adults, £16.50 for senior citizens, £11.50 for children and £55 for a family.
BLENHEIM PALACE FLOWER SHOW
June 21-23
Set within the spectacular grounds of Blenheim, this three-day flower and garden show will feature more than 150 floral and gardens exhibitors, ten garden landscapes, a Grand Floral Marquee, and tons of family activities and foodie experienes. You’ll get to meet one of TV’s favourite gardening celebrities Christine Walkden in the plant advisory marquee (Saturday 22 and Sunday 23) and learn how to cook the brilliant barbecue food courtesy of celebrity chef Jean Christophe Novelli (Friday 21). After all that, enjoy the palace’s 2,100 acres of parkland or partake of a cream tea or glass of country wine.
Prices: Adults £12.00, senior citizen £9.00, child (5-16) £6.30, family £32.00. Get tickets in advance and save money. Visit www.blenheimpalace.com.
5 MORE THINGS TO DO NEARBY
1) FOR MUM - The Cotswold Perfumery Based in the beautiful town of Bourton-on-the-water, a 40-minute drive from Woodstock, this perfrumery has created unique scents for everyone from the Queen, to Elton John. They offer a 45-minute behind-the-scenes factory tour, which starts in the perfume garden and includes the perfume lab (think 1,000 ingredients), compounding room and packing area. Tickets from £3.50. www.cotswold-perfumery.co.uk.
2) FOR ALL THE FAMILY… The Cotswold Farm Park Just a 45-minute drive away, this farm offers families the chance to see, and even feed, lots of farm animals. There’s also tractor rides, a giant indoor sandpit and plenty of place to picnic. Open from March to October. www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk.
3) FOR NATURE LOVERS - Cotswold Wildlife Park Just outside Burford and 30 minutes away, this wildlife park 160 acres of gardens with lots of animals, many exotic, from red pandas to rhinos, giraffes to zebras. The Madagascar enclosure with free-roaming lemurs and meerkats is a muset-see, plus check out the penguins being fed and make new animal friends in the Children’s Farmyard. www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk.
4) FOR SHOPAHOLICS - Bicester Village Just 25 minutes away, on the outskirts of Bicester, is this shopper’s paradise, home to some 130 outlet boutiques, including designer brands such as Celine, Dior, Alexander McQueen, Prada and Mulberry, all of which sell past-season and end-of-line pieces with discounts of up to 60 per cent. www.bicestervillage.com.
5) FOR HISTORY BUFFS - Chedworth Roman Villa An hour away, this well-preserved Roman village, built in the 4th century AD, showcases roman remains, plus costumed actors re-enact Roman life. There’s also drop-in mosaic-making sessions. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
Known as the ‘gateway to the Cotswolds’, Woodstock represents a typical Cotswolds market town: distinctive honey-coloured stone cottages and streets (many buildings dating back to the 17th-century) displaying quirky boutiques, art and antique galleries, charming tearooms and historic hotspots at every turn. The town not only has tons to offer in and of itself, including one of Britain’s great palaces, Blenheim, but it’s also a stunning spot from which to explore the surrounding Cotswolds, including the academic city of Oxford, just eight miles away, and other equally picturesque market towns, such as Bourton-on-the-water and Burford.
Mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a place where English kings would lodge, Woodstock is drenched in history: legend has it King Alfred stayed here in 890; Henry II seduced the infamous Rosamund here (find Rosamund’s Well at Blenheim Palace); and Elizabeth I was kept prisoner here for a year in 1554. And it’s at Woodstock’s most famous landmark – Blenheim Palace – where you can immerse yourself in such regal history.
One of the wonderful things about staying in Woodstock is that there’s a pedestrian entrance to Blenheim in the centre of the town, hidden at the end of Park Street, just past The Bear Hotel. The birthplace of Winston Churchill and currently the seat of the 11th Duke of Marlborough, this stunning historic house, which is often referred to as Britain’s greatest palace, not only delivers a fascinating exhibition on Churchill’s life, but also offers tours of the palace, as well as walks, sites and activities in the magnificent parkland.
A Unesco World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace, which dates back to the early 1700s, features various State Rooms, with hand-painted and priceless treasures, from paintings and porcelain, to silver and sofas. Every 20 minutes, there’s a 35-minute guided tour (included in this is a fun family quiz to keep kids entertained) accompanied by live music if you visit on weekend afternoons, or you can take The Untold Story tour and discover the history, rather uniquely, as seen through the eyes of household staff.
The 2,100 acres of parkland, landscaped by Capability Brown, is a walker’s paradise… and there’s something for everyone: a great lake, award-winning gardens and plenty of off-the-beaten-track rambles. In the Formal Gardens, couples will enjoy the Secret Garden (think winding paths, streams and bridges), while little ones will have a ball in the family-dedicated Pleasure Gardens. Reached by miniature train from the palace, you’ll find loads of space to let off steam, as well as a Butterfly House (exotic tropical butterflies in flight), a wooden adventure playground (think plank bridges, ladders, swings and slides) and the Marlborough Maze, in which you’ll find putting greens and a giant chess and draughts set.
It’s also the perfect place for a picnic and there are lots of options for picking one up. The chefs at Blenheim can create a deluxe picnic hamper for you (£51.50 for two people, including mini pork pies, dips, salads, cheeses, brownies and wine) as long as they have 48 hours notice. Alternatively, pick one up from Woodstock town: The Feathers Hotel has won the Oxfordshire Best Hamper two years running for its £39.50 hamper stuffed with filled crusty rolls, a rustic pork pie, olives and salted almonds, homemade cake and French yoghurt and fruit, while Hampers, a deli and café, offers both ready-made and bespoke hampers, including a luxury one stuffed with yummy treats like prossecco, brand & herb pate, French vignette cheese and Scottish smoked salmon.
A stroll post-picnic is probably in order and there’s plenty to be had. While the Rose Garden with its colourful displays and The Italian Garden with its fountain and hedges offer a simple saunter, more energetic types might fancy the various walks, from 45-90-minutes, on offer. Find Fair Rosamund’s Well on the 45-minute circular Queen Pool walk… or discover the spot of Temple of Diana, where Churchill proposed to Clemintine. Or, give the kids on an exploratory challenge… to find the huge old Cedar of Lebanon tree with its distinctive ‘O’ shaped hole in the trunk that featured in the film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Not challenging enough for them? Set them on one of the park’s educational trails (including Maths and geography) instead.
And if you feel all this doesn’t quite justify the £55 family entrance fee, it may well be worth visiting Blenheim when there’s something special - from Christmas craft fairs to summer plays - going on. And, this year there’s plenty happening – there’s a jousting tournament in May (4-6), which will also feature falconry displays and have-a-go at archery, and the brand-new, three-day Blenheim Flower Show in June (21-23), which will showcase more than 150 floral and gardens exhibitors, as well as hosting gardening and cooking celebrities. Not only will you be able to explore the house and gardens, but you’ll learn lots about how to make the most of your own gardens, from barbecuing in summer, to planting in spring (see box below).
But while Blenheim is undoubtedly Woodstock’s biggest draw, the bustling town has plenty of other attractions, historic and otherwise, to keep visitors interested and entertained.
Housed in a 16th-century building in the centre of Woodstock, the Oxfordshire County Museum offers something for everyone: for those into history, there’s interactive exhibits of art, archaeology, landscape and wildlife; for those who want to relax, there’s gorgeous gardens, where you can partake of cream tea, and during summer, hosts sculptural exhibitions by local artists; and for little ones, there’s a dinosaur garden, with its very own life-size megalosaur that’s as big as a bus and simply brilliant.
Other notable historic town sites include: the musical clock that plays a tune on the hour every hour at the 17th-century church of Mary Magdalene; the Town Hall, where on the first Saturday of every month you can peruse the farmer’s market; and the unique Textiles Trail, a tour of Woodstock’s main buildings and attractions through textiles.
But you don’t necessarily have to spend your time in the churches and museums to feel or see the history of the place: it’s everywhere… in the streets, the cafes, boutiques and art galleries (check out the Kyffin Gallery, opposite The Feathers Hotel, with its colourful array of paintings and antique furniture) that dominate the town. The Bear Hotel, with its ivy-clad façade and central position opposite The Oxfordshire Museum, for example, has been housing travellers since the 13th century. Now dubbed the most haunted hotel in England, you can stay in one of its 53 bedrooms (Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor have stayed here) with its beamed ceilings and open fireplaces, or if that’s not your cup of tea, simply dine at Lambtons, its 2AA Rosette Restaurant, which offers very intriguing combinations using locally sourced ingredients, such as pork tenderloin with rhubarb, shallot tart tatin and crackling.
But eating out in Woodstock isn’t just about the grub. Though there’s certainly lots of award-winning grub here, it’s also about the history and character of the centuries-old Cotswolds buildings it’s served in. Take the quintessentially English tradition of ‘afternoon tea’ in one of the town’s many stone cottage tearooms – try Harriet’s Cake Shop & Team Rooms on the high street, or go more upmarket by taking it at the 18th-century county townhouse The Feathers, where you get fizz and macaroons along with your afternoon tea for just £25. There are also plenty of pubs, cafes and restaurants offering hearty, homemade meals, as well as evening eateries. Popular with the locals, Indian restaurant Jaan is first-class when it comes to food, while the award-winning Gin Experience at The Feathers is a must. Boasting the largest selection of gins in the world (that’s 100 Gins) the Gin Tasting menu pairs unusual Gins (think dried rosebud Gin) with fine-dining dishes, such as seviche of yellow fin tun with scallop and lime jelly to start, followed by pigeon with pickled victoria plums and almond and red cabbage.
The Feathers is also a good place to stay… this historic townhouse boasts 16 bedrooms and five suites of all shapes and sizes. Even more historic, the luxury boutique Hope House is not just 100 yards from Blenheim Palace, it’s steeped in almost as much history as its palatial neighbour: it dates back to the same year (1708) and is built in the same Vanbrughan style, with the same stone. Inside, it’s all high ceilings, oak-panelled walls, opulent wallpapers and French-style furnishings. You can stay in one of three suites (the Churchill Suite boasts an oversized Moulin Noir sleigh bed and cast iron Victorian bath) and little luxuries include handmade Mulberry Tree silk duvets and heated marble floors. Breakfast in the Vanbrugh Restaurant, with its oversized stone fireplace, is an equally grand affair of locally sourced organic produce (think home-laid eggs, homemade breads and Cotswold cheeses) served on Royal Doulton fine bone china.
More affordable, yet still historic, the luxury B&B The Glove House (theglovehouse.co.uk) is a 400-year-old house that’s just been refurbished, while The Kings Arms Hotel is one of the best pubs offering rooms – think solid wooden beds, firm mattresses, amazing bathrooms and Molton Brown toiletries.
DETAILS
Blenheim Palace is open from February to December. Tickets for the palace, park and gardens are £21 for adults, £16.50 for senior citizens, £11.50 for children and £55 for a family.
BLENHEIM PALACE FLOWER SHOW
June 21-23
Set within the spectacular grounds of Blenheim, this three-day flower and garden show will feature more than 150 floral and gardens exhibitors, ten garden landscapes, a Grand Floral Marquee, and tons of family activities and foodie experienes. You’ll get to meet one of TV’s favourite gardening celebrities Christine Walkden in the plant advisory marquee (Saturday 22 and Sunday 23) and learn how to cook the brilliant barbecue food courtesy of celebrity chef Jean Christophe Novelli (Friday 21). After all that, enjoy the palace’s 2,100 acres of parkland or partake of a cream tea or glass of country wine.
Prices: Adults £12.00, senior citizen £9.00, child (5-16) £6.30, family £32.00. Get tickets in advance and save money. Visit www.blenheimpalace.com.
5 MORE THINGS TO DO NEARBY
1) FOR MUM - The Cotswold Perfumery Based in the beautiful town of Bourton-on-the-water, a 40-minute drive from Woodstock, this perfrumery has created unique scents for everyone from the Queen, to Elton John. They offer a 45-minute behind-the-scenes factory tour, which starts in the perfume garden and includes the perfume lab (think 1,000 ingredients), compounding room and packing area. Tickets from £3.50. www.cotswold-perfumery.co.uk.
2) FOR ALL THE FAMILY… The Cotswold Farm Park Just a 45-minute drive away, this farm offers families the chance to see, and even feed, lots of farm animals. There’s also tractor rides, a giant indoor sandpit and plenty of place to picnic. Open from March to October. www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk.
3) FOR NATURE LOVERS - Cotswold Wildlife Park Just outside Burford and 30 minutes away, this wildlife park 160 acres of gardens with lots of animals, many exotic, from red pandas to rhinos, giraffes to zebras. The Madagascar enclosure with free-roaming lemurs and meerkats is a muset-see, plus check out the penguins being fed and make new animal friends in the Children’s Farmyard. www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk.
4) FOR SHOPAHOLICS - Bicester Village Just 25 minutes away, on the outskirts of Bicester, is this shopper’s paradise, home to some 130 outlet boutiques, including designer brands such as Celine, Dior, Alexander McQueen, Prada and Mulberry, all of which sell past-season and end-of-line pieces with discounts of up to 60 per cent. www.bicestervillage.com.
5) FOR HISTORY BUFFS - Chedworth Roman Villa An hour away, this well-preserved Roman village, built in the 4th century AD, showcases roman remains, plus costumed actors re-enact Roman life. There’s also drop-in mosaic-making sessions. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
Spring Events At The Florence Nightingale Museum
Thursday 7th March at 6.30pm
Ghost Stories at the Florence Nightingale Museum
A Victorian storyteller will relate the eerie tale 'The Old Nurse's Story,' written by bestselling author and close friend of the Nightingales, Elizabeth Gaskell. What is the mysterious music echoing around the deserted house? Who is the spectral child that leaves no footprints in the snow? Find out - if you dare....
Wednesday 14th March at 6.30pm
Dissecting the Workhouse Dead
Dr Ruth Richardson is an award-winning historian with a strong interest in the workhouse poor... born in an old workhouse infirmary herself. Her talk will explain the terrible fear of the pauper funeral, its historical roots, and its long shadow into our own times.
Thursday 25th April at 6.30
Contagion in the Workhouse
Infectious diseases raged through the streets of London in the nineteenth century. The role of the workhouses in caring for the metropolitan infected patients between 1834 and 1870 will be explored in this talk by Dr Andrea Tanner.
Thursday 9th May at 6.30pm
'Down and Out': The Lives of Tramps and Vagrants (1750 - 1950)
Simon Fowler will look at the experiences of vagrants and the attempts to help or hinder them in the bleak casual wards of the workhouses, as well as by the hypocritical charities and exploitative private landlords.
Admission price for all events:
£8.00 (Members of the Florence Nightingale Museum £5.00)
Ghost Stories at the Florence Nightingale Museum
A Victorian storyteller will relate the eerie tale 'The Old Nurse's Story,' written by bestselling author and close friend of the Nightingales, Elizabeth Gaskell. What is the mysterious music echoing around the deserted house? Who is the spectral child that leaves no footprints in the snow? Find out - if you dare....
Wednesday 14th March at 6.30pm
Dissecting the Workhouse Dead
Dr Ruth Richardson is an award-winning historian with a strong interest in the workhouse poor... born in an old workhouse infirmary herself. Her talk will explain the terrible fear of the pauper funeral, its historical roots, and its long shadow into our own times.
Thursday 25th April at 6.30
Contagion in the Workhouse
Infectious diseases raged through the streets of London in the nineteenth century. The role of the workhouses in caring for the metropolitan infected patients between 1834 and 1870 will be explored in this talk by Dr Andrea Tanner.
Thursday 9th May at 6.30pm
'Down and Out': The Lives of Tramps and Vagrants (1750 - 1950)
Simon Fowler will look at the experiences of vagrants and the attempts to help or hinder them in the bleak casual wards of the workhouses, as well as by the hypocritical charities and exploitative private landlords.
Admission price for all events:
£8.00 (Members of the Florence Nightingale Museum £5.00)
Parks And People A Match Made In Heaven (Love Parks Week 2013)
Diary date - Love Parks Week 27th July - 4th August 2013
Parks and people a match made in heaven
This year's national Love Parks Week will take place from Saturday 27th July to Sunday 4th August, coinciding with the first week of the school holidays.
Love Parks Week, now in its seventh year, has always aimed to raise awareness of the importance of parks and green spaces, through highlighting the countless benefits they bring and proving the need for continual investment and engagement. This year the campaign will ramp up its fight for parks and will inspire people to love their park all year round not just during summer.
Paul Bramhill, CEO of charity GreenSpace, highlights the current situation for parks: "In spite of abundant research proving the health, social and environmental value of green space, surveys citing parks as top commodities for residents and visitor numbers soaring; local authority budgets continue to reduce for parks and green spaces."
He requested "If you value your local park or green space now is the time to get involved, parks need people more than ever."
Recognising the threat to parks and the community behind Love Parks Week, Big Lottery Fund is awarding £416,450 to GreenSpace to develop 'Love Parks' which will work to empower communities to become confident local champions at the heart of protecting, conserving and improving local green space. Training resources and networking will equip volunteer groups across England with the knowledge that they need to work with their local managing authorities and on the challenges ahead such as declining standards and reduced commitment to maintaining activity programmes.
Nat Sloane, England Chair of the Big Lottery Fund says: "The grant awarded to GreenSpace today not only demonstrates BIG's commitment to support unique and innovative community projects in England but also our ongoing commitment in this area. We hope that this project will ensure that parks are still there for the next generation to benefit from and enjoy by bringing whole communities closer together and giving them the tools they need to protect their local green space."
By getting involved with the campaign, you will be helping to drive the message that our parks and green spaces are essential to healthy, happy and strong communities. Find out more and register for updates at: www.loveparksweek.org.uk
Parks and people a match made in heaven
This year's national Love Parks Week will take place from Saturday 27th July to Sunday 4th August, coinciding with the first week of the school holidays.
Love Parks Week, now in its seventh year, has always aimed to raise awareness of the importance of parks and green spaces, through highlighting the countless benefits they bring and proving the need for continual investment and engagement. This year the campaign will ramp up its fight for parks and will inspire people to love their park all year round not just during summer.
Paul Bramhill, CEO of charity GreenSpace, highlights the current situation for parks: "In spite of abundant research proving the health, social and environmental value of green space, surveys citing parks as top commodities for residents and visitor numbers soaring; local authority budgets continue to reduce for parks and green spaces."
He requested "If you value your local park or green space now is the time to get involved, parks need people more than ever."
Recognising the threat to parks and the community behind Love Parks Week, Big Lottery Fund is awarding £416,450 to GreenSpace to develop 'Love Parks' which will work to empower communities to become confident local champions at the heart of protecting, conserving and improving local green space. Training resources and networking will equip volunteer groups across England with the knowledge that they need to work with their local managing authorities and on the challenges ahead such as declining standards and reduced commitment to maintaining activity programmes.
Nat Sloane, England Chair of the Big Lottery Fund says: "The grant awarded to GreenSpace today not only demonstrates BIG's commitment to support unique and innovative community projects in England but also our ongoing commitment in this area. We hope that this project will ensure that parks are still there for the next generation to benefit from and enjoy by bringing whole communities closer together and giving them the tools they need to protect their local green space."
By getting involved with the campaign, you will be helping to drive the message that our parks and green spaces are essential to healthy, happy and strong communities. Find out more and register for updates at: www.loveparksweek.org.uk
The Blenheim Palace Flower Show Bursts Into Bloom - New Three-Day Blenheim Palace Flower Show 21st - 23rd June 2013
Blenheim Palace is delighted to announce a brand new event in 2013 - The Blenheim Palace Flower Show, taking place from Friday 21st – Sunday 23rd June. This wonderful three-day flower and garden show, will feature over 150 floral and gardens exhibitors, a Grand Floral Marquee with RHS judges, ten garden landscapes, and lots more including food and refreshments and family activities.
Set within the spectacular grounds of Blenheim Palace, The brand new Blenheim Palace Flower Show has it all. The event celebrates everything floral from award-winning nurseries to gardening celebrities and experts who can help you transform your garden into a tranquil haven. The show is packed with inspiration and colour and celebrates the very best of gardening in the UK.
Stunning floral displays will be featured in the Grand Floral Marquee including RHS Gold Medal winning nursery Primrose Bank Nursery who will be displaying their wonderful range of Hellebores. Also see Heucheraholics, Devine Nursery, Roualeyn Fuchsias, Rougham Hall Nursery, whilst Apuldram Roses will be featuring a selection of modern roses in their grand display.
Meet one of TV’s favourite gardening celebrities Christine Walkden in the plant advisory marquee. Christine will be at the show on Saturday and Sunday and will be holding two Q & A sessions a day. Liz Nicholson (from Nicholsons Nursery in Oxfordshire) will be designing a show garden and running “The Tree & Hedging advice” area.
The show will feature over 150 gardening exhibitors, including plants, gardening sundries, garden buildings, quality furniture, food & drink. Celebrity Chef Jean Christophe-Novelli will be at the show on Friday 21st June demonstrating how to cook the perfect Barbeque food.
The Blenheim Palace Flower Show will take place within the stunning setting of Blenheim Park. Visitors to the Flower Show can enter the Park and Formal Gardens of Blenheim Palace at no extra cost. If you are feeling peckish, Blenheim Palace has a whole range of catering options available at the show from Cream teas to country wines, salads to hot meals. On Sunday 23rd June, the Heritage Motor Club Rally will also be based within the Park. Advance tickets available. For all up-to-date information visit www.blenheimpalace.com
Blenheim Palace, Park and Gardens
Blenheim Palace is home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and his family, and is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The splendour and tranquillity of the ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parkland and the Formal Gardens are unrivalled in Britain. From the inspirational history of the Palace, to the beauty of the surrounding parkland and formal gardens, Blenheim Palace offers a memorable day out for all.
Blenheim Palace is situated in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, only eight miles from Oxford. For further information about Blenheim Palace please call the free 24 hour information line on 0800 849 6500 or visit www.blenheimpalace.com
Set within the spectacular grounds of Blenheim Palace, The brand new Blenheim Palace Flower Show has it all. The event celebrates everything floral from award-winning nurseries to gardening celebrities and experts who can help you transform your garden into a tranquil haven. The show is packed with inspiration and colour and celebrates the very best of gardening in the UK.
Stunning floral displays will be featured in the Grand Floral Marquee including RHS Gold Medal winning nursery Primrose Bank Nursery who will be displaying their wonderful range of Hellebores. Also see Heucheraholics, Devine Nursery, Roualeyn Fuchsias, Rougham Hall Nursery, whilst Apuldram Roses will be featuring a selection of modern roses in their grand display.
Meet one of TV’s favourite gardening celebrities Christine Walkden in the plant advisory marquee. Christine will be at the show on Saturday and Sunday and will be holding two Q & A sessions a day. Liz Nicholson (from Nicholsons Nursery in Oxfordshire) will be designing a show garden and running “The Tree & Hedging advice” area.
The show will feature over 150 gardening exhibitors, including plants, gardening sundries, garden buildings, quality furniture, food & drink. Celebrity Chef Jean Christophe-Novelli will be at the show on Friday 21st June demonstrating how to cook the perfect Barbeque food.
The Blenheim Palace Flower Show will take place within the stunning setting of Blenheim Park. Visitors to the Flower Show can enter the Park and Formal Gardens of Blenheim Palace at no extra cost. If you are feeling peckish, Blenheim Palace has a whole range of catering options available at the show from Cream teas to country wines, salads to hot meals. On Sunday 23rd June, the Heritage Motor Club Rally will also be based within the Park. Advance tickets available. For all up-to-date information visit www.blenheimpalace.com
Blenheim Palace, Park and Gardens
Blenheim Palace is home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and his family, and is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The splendour and tranquillity of the ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parkland and the Formal Gardens are unrivalled in Britain. From the inspirational history of the Palace, to the beauty of the surrounding parkland and formal gardens, Blenheim Palace offers a memorable day out for all.
Blenheim Palace is situated in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, only eight miles from Oxford. For further information about Blenheim Palace please call the free 24 hour information line on 0800 849 6500 or visit www.blenheimpalace.com
NEXT At Riflemaker: Adam De Boer Debut UK Solo Exhibition
Adam de Boer Debut UK solo exhibition
Monday1 April - Saturday 4 May
Dawn at Modi Bhawan, Adam de Boer © Riflemaker
American-Indonesian artist Adam de Boer addresses his hybrid cultural identity through hybrid paintings. By bringing Javanese folk art techniques together with contemporary lo-fi aesthetics and highly traditional subject matter with strikingly modern scenes, he expresses the disjuncture of coming from two quite disparate cultures. Thus we see a traditional religious procession, rendered in delicate gouache, and a couple, caught in the act of making love, in another. They are in contemporary dress, but de Boer has used an ancient batik technique to render their clothing.
"The ongoing series of work examines my Eurasian heritage as a way to help me better understand a part of my cultural identity that I have had trouble connecting to throughout my life", says de Boer. "Most importantly, it is helping me to know how that identity influences my participation in the world". De Boer (b. 1984) revisited his father's birthplace in Purwokerto, Central Java, to search for locations and landscapes that appear in old family photo albums and met with distant family friends, observing and participating in their lifestyles. This led him to spend time living and working with Javanese folk artists, with whom he studied the Javanese crafts of gouache, Eurasian-batik, textiles and woodcarving. He has applied the latter to the framing of his series of work on display at Riflemaker, with ornate animal figurines supporting the frames. De Boer's melding of techniques take art history head-on, questioning the use of iconography and the historical image in the present day and offering a return to the lo-fi aesthetic in an age of high-definition and subjects that are informed by a modern, transient Western culture.
De Boer, who won the prestigious Arts For India scholarship in 2011 to support his post-graduate studies at London's Chelsea College of Art and Design, participated in a studio residency at the International Institute of Fine Arts in Modinagar, India in 2012. His work will also be on show at ART 13 in London, Olympia 1-3 March.
Monday1 April - Saturday 4 May
Dawn at Modi Bhawan, Adam de Boer © Riflemaker
American-Indonesian artist Adam de Boer addresses his hybrid cultural identity through hybrid paintings. By bringing Javanese folk art techniques together with contemporary lo-fi aesthetics and highly traditional subject matter with strikingly modern scenes, he expresses the disjuncture of coming from two quite disparate cultures. Thus we see a traditional religious procession, rendered in delicate gouache, and a couple, caught in the act of making love, in another. They are in contemporary dress, but de Boer has used an ancient batik technique to render their clothing.
"The ongoing series of work examines my Eurasian heritage as a way to help me better understand a part of my cultural identity that I have had trouble connecting to throughout my life", says de Boer. "Most importantly, it is helping me to know how that identity influences my participation in the world". De Boer (b. 1984) revisited his father's birthplace in Purwokerto, Central Java, to search for locations and landscapes that appear in old family photo albums and met with distant family friends, observing and participating in their lifestyles. This led him to spend time living and working with Javanese folk artists, with whom he studied the Javanese crafts of gouache, Eurasian-batik, textiles and woodcarving. He has applied the latter to the framing of his series of work on display at Riflemaker, with ornate animal figurines supporting the frames. De Boer's melding of techniques take art history head-on, questioning the use of iconography and the historical image in the present day and offering a return to the lo-fi aesthetic in an age of high-definition and subjects that are informed by a modern, transient Western culture.
De Boer, who won the prestigious Arts For India scholarship in 2011 to support his post-graduate studies at London's Chelsea College of Art and Design, participated in a studio residency at the International Institute of Fine Arts in Modinagar, India in 2012. His work will also be on show at ART 13 in London, Olympia 1-3 March.
Opening Soon : Kaffe Fassett - A Life In Colour
Desire Fair Showcases Fresh Innovative Designs In Jewellery
- Fashion and Textile Museum announces first major exhibition on international textile artist Kaffe Fassett's work in London since 1988
- 'Kaffe Fassett - A Life in Colour' showcases over five decades of work, from designs for Bill Gibb, knitwear for Missoni, printed patchwork fabrics, glorious quilts, and inspired needlepoint
- Exhibition dates 22 March - 29 June 2013
'Kaffe Fassett - A Life in Colour' is a celebration of the work of one of the great practitioners of contemporary craft. This exhibition, the first in London since Kaffe Fassett's record-breaking show at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1988, features over 100 works within a dramatic installation designed by Sue Timney.
Exhibition highlights include extravagantly-coloured 9-foot-wide knitted shawls, coats and throws, patchwork fabrics shown in a glorious selection of quilts, as well as items especially created for this exhibit and not seen in public before. The design also features a 'feeling' wall that allows visitors to touch and better understand the textiles on display and their construction.
From his childhood in the creative community of Big Sur, California, to his career as a painter, and later as a knitwear and textile designer in London from the 1960s to the present day, Kaffe's ability to blend pattern, texture and colour has won him a dedicated following of enthusiasts.
Head of the Fashion and Textile Museum, Celia Joicey says
'Kaffe Fassett is one of the world's greatest living textile artists. This retrospective will celebrate Kaffe Fassett's work, and the incredible people and environments that have inspired him during the last fifty years.'
Curator of the Fashion and Textile Museum, Dennis Nothdruft says
'The exhibition will provide new insight into one of the most accomplished colourists of the late 20th and early 21st century. We hope to introduce Kaffe Fassett's work to a new audience and inspire future generations to explore colour, texture and form. '
Exhibition designer, Sue Timney says
'The exhibition will have a comprehensive drama to it. It will be displayed in a stylized, ordered framework that will hold the richly patterned and colour-filled objects that have been created in Kaffe's long life and work, through his collaboration with Brandon Mably.'
The exhibition will also celebrate Kaffe Fassett's long-association with internationally-renowned handknitting company Rowan. A shop at the FTM will make available a specially selected range of kits, fabric, yarn, other materials, books and magazines to enable visitors to return home to create their own projects. Previous events with Kaffe at the Museum have generated unprecedented audiences. A priority booking line will be launched by the Museum next month to enable visitors to book ahead.
- 'Kaffe Fassett - A Life in Colour' showcases over five decades of work, from designs for Bill Gibb, knitwear for Missoni, printed patchwork fabrics, glorious quilts, and inspired needlepoint
- Exhibition dates 22 March - 29 June 2013
'Kaffe Fassett - A Life in Colour' is a celebration of the work of one of the great practitioners of contemporary craft. This exhibition, the first in London since Kaffe Fassett's record-breaking show at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1988, features over 100 works within a dramatic installation designed by Sue Timney.
Exhibition highlights include extravagantly-coloured 9-foot-wide knitted shawls, coats and throws, patchwork fabrics shown in a glorious selection of quilts, as well as items especially created for this exhibit and not seen in public before. The design also features a 'feeling' wall that allows visitors to touch and better understand the textiles on display and their construction.
From his childhood in the creative community of Big Sur, California, to his career as a painter, and later as a knitwear and textile designer in London from the 1960s to the present day, Kaffe's ability to blend pattern, texture and colour has won him a dedicated following of enthusiasts.
Head of the Fashion and Textile Museum, Celia Joicey says
'Kaffe Fassett is one of the world's greatest living textile artists. This retrospective will celebrate Kaffe Fassett's work, and the incredible people and environments that have inspired him during the last fifty years.'
Curator of the Fashion and Textile Museum, Dennis Nothdruft says
'The exhibition will provide new insight into one of the most accomplished colourists of the late 20th and early 21st century. We hope to introduce Kaffe Fassett's work to a new audience and inspire future generations to explore colour, texture and form. '
Exhibition designer, Sue Timney says
'The exhibition will have a comprehensive drama to it. It will be displayed in a stylized, ordered framework that will hold the richly patterned and colour-filled objects that have been created in Kaffe's long life and work, through his collaboration with Brandon Mably.'
The exhibition will also celebrate Kaffe Fassett's long-association with internationally-renowned handknitting company Rowan. A shop at the FTM will make available a specially selected range of kits, fabric, yarn, other materials, books and magazines to enable visitors to return home to create their own projects. Previous events with Kaffe at the Museum have generated unprecedented audiences. A priority booking line will be launched by the Museum next month to enable visitors to book ahead.
The London Desire Jewellery and Silversmithing Fair will be opening its doors to the public from 15-17 March at the Conference and Events Centre in Kensington situated next to the Town Hall and just a two minute walk from High Street Kensington Station. Visitors will be able to see and purchase work from over 120 exhibitors working in leather, acrylic, ceramics, paper, glass, copper and wood as well as more traditional silver, gold and platinum jewellery featuring gemstones, pearls, beads and enamelwork. Choose from a range of contemporary designers who are not afraid to push the boundaries of what is expected, to those who create classic pieces that will not date.
The event this year also features talks by selected makers so visitors can discover the inspiration and creative processes involved in some of the work and, on Saturday and Sunday, The London Jewellery School are running workshops to help engage and inspire visitors to have a go at making their own jewellery.
A further feature at the event this year is the "Ones To Watch" gallery, featuring new designers and recent graduates. Included within this section is work by Petra Stelzenmueller with her sculptural, kinetic pieces in silver with smatterings of gold leaf and mixed media described as "daring you to touch, demanding you to wear". Karen Fox is another new designer maker in this area. Her work combines stainless steel mesh, precious metals and paper with textile techniques such as pleating and smocking. Also included is Nicola Crawford's jewellery consisting of random letters with hidden messages. Her debut collection 'Lost Words' was inspired by the lost art of letter writing, after finding a letter written during World War II in an antiques shop. Visitors may like to speak to her about her bespoke service where she is able to create a special piece with a message hidden in one of her spheres or perhaps someone's name.
The show also includes innovative work by a number of silversmiths under the banner of 'Festival of Silver' aiming to raise the awareness of modern contemporary British silversmithing to the public. Of note to view within this area is the work of Rebecca Joselyn whose work is inspired by everyday packaging and has been collected by the Duke of Devonshire, and Rachel Wood whose equine collection captures the essence of her close relationship with horses both domestically and within their natural environment.
With so many exhibitors and with such a stunning and distinctive mix of work this really is an event not to be missed.
Further information on the Desire Fairs can be found on the website: www.desirefair.com or call 01622 747325.
Show opening times: 10 am - 5 pm daily
Admission: £5
Venue: The Conference and Events Centre (next to Town Hall), Hornton Street, Kensington, London, W8 7NX
The event this year also features talks by selected makers so visitors can discover the inspiration and creative processes involved in some of the work and, on Saturday and Sunday, The London Jewellery School are running workshops to help engage and inspire visitors to have a go at making their own jewellery.
A further feature at the event this year is the "Ones To Watch" gallery, featuring new designers and recent graduates. Included within this section is work by Petra Stelzenmueller with her sculptural, kinetic pieces in silver with smatterings of gold leaf and mixed media described as "daring you to touch, demanding you to wear". Karen Fox is another new designer maker in this area. Her work combines stainless steel mesh, precious metals and paper with textile techniques such as pleating and smocking. Also included is Nicola Crawford's jewellery consisting of random letters with hidden messages. Her debut collection 'Lost Words' was inspired by the lost art of letter writing, after finding a letter written during World War II in an antiques shop. Visitors may like to speak to her about her bespoke service where she is able to create a special piece with a message hidden in one of her spheres or perhaps someone's name.
The show also includes innovative work by a number of silversmiths under the banner of 'Festival of Silver' aiming to raise the awareness of modern contemporary British silversmithing to the public. Of note to view within this area is the work of Rebecca Joselyn whose work is inspired by everyday packaging and has been collected by the Duke of Devonshire, and Rachel Wood whose equine collection captures the essence of her close relationship with horses both domestically and within their natural environment.
With so many exhibitors and with such a stunning and distinctive mix of work this really is an event not to be missed.
Further information on the Desire Fairs can be found on the website: www.desirefair.com or call 01622 747325.
Show opening times: 10 am - 5 pm daily
Admission: £5
Venue: The Conference and Events Centre (next to Town Hall), Hornton Street, Kensington, London, W8 7NX
Claridge's celebrates The Great Gatsby
Learn to shimmy with style in the elegant surroundings of Claridge’s Ballroom. The legendary hotel is partnering with London’s finest flappers, ‘The Bee’s Knees’ to offer monthly lessons in the dances of the Roaring Twenties including the Charleston and the Black Bottom to help celebrate the jazz age and the launch of new Great Gatsby film later in 2013.
Under the expert tuition of The Bee’s Knees, guests will learn to dance authentic Charleston steps, including the scare crow, bees knees, bunny hop, fish tail and Josephine Baker. Those who envisage themselves as true Gatsby girls, will be able to adorn themselves with accessories such as sequinned headbands, strings of pearls and satin elbow-length gloves. Useful styling tips will also be offered to all aspiring 'bright young things'. The lessons will last for 90 minutes, after which guests will be able enjoy the restorative ‘Flapper’ cocktail which was originally created in honour of the opening of Claridge’s Ballroom in 1929.
The lesson will begin with performances from the Bee Knee’s girls, after which guests will be invited to join them on the dance floor. By the end of the class, the group will be able to execute a full dance routine.
The Claridge’s Charleston masterclasses in partnership with The Bee’s Knees are available once a month on the following dates: 25 February, 18 March, 15 April and 13 May 2013. Each class is priced at £125 per person and lasts 120 minutes. The classes will take place between 6.30-8:30pm and attendees will receive a cocktail at the end of the session.
To book call +44 (0)20 7201 1618 or email [email protected]
Under the expert tuition of The Bee’s Knees, guests will learn to dance authentic Charleston steps, including the scare crow, bees knees, bunny hop, fish tail and Josephine Baker. Those who envisage themselves as true Gatsby girls, will be able to adorn themselves with accessories such as sequinned headbands, strings of pearls and satin elbow-length gloves. Useful styling tips will also be offered to all aspiring 'bright young things'. The lessons will last for 90 minutes, after which guests will be able enjoy the restorative ‘Flapper’ cocktail which was originally created in honour of the opening of Claridge’s Ballroom in 1929.
The lesson will begin with performances from the Bee Knee’s girls, after which guests will be invited to join them on the dance floor. By the end of the class, the group will be able to execute a full dance routine.
The Claridge’s Charleston masterclasses in partnership with The Bee’s Knees are available once a month on the following dates: 25 February, 18 March, 15 April and 13 May 2013. Each class is priced at £125 per person and lasts 120 minutes. The classes will take place between 6.30-8:30pm and attendees will receive a cocktail at the end of the session.
To book call +44 (0)20 7201 1618 or email [email protected]
DESIGN MUSEUM COLLECTION:
EXTRAORDINARY STORIES ABOUT
ORDINARY THINGS
FROM 30 JANUARY 2013
The Design Museum has the UK’s only collection devoted exclusively
to contemporary design and architecture. This new permanent collection
display reveals intriguing insights in the most exceptional of everyday
objects.
The opening of the museum’s permanent collection marks an essential
milestone in the journey towards the future of the Design Museum at its new
home in Kensington, where the entire top floor will display the museum’s
collection of twentieth-century design.
The exhibition presents six key stories through hundreds of items, offering a
diverse investigation into the impact of design on our everyday lives. The
exhibition will show the surprising origins of famous and lesser known
designs, alongside contextual images and documents.
National identity is explored through objects that define a nation such as the
phone box, road signage, the post box, the London 2012 logo and the Euro.
The story of the development of the London 2012 logo tells how for the first
time in history of the Games, the Olympics and Paralympics embraced the
same logo. The logo was created to be a ‘design for everybody’ – the
exhibition will reveal the design process and thinking behind this symbol of
Britain as a world stage and allow audiences to interact with it.
The dominance of plastic in our lives is examined with examples of luxury
through to everyday plastics from the last 75 years, from small household
items to the first examples of plastic furniture in the 1960s. Recent uses of
plastic include high profile designers such as Issey Miyake using recycled
PET from plastic bottles to create fabrics used in his designs.
A section on Modernism provides a snapshot of a remarkable and
dynamic period of design in Britain, shown through iconic pieces of
furniture, products, textiles and architecture. The section will feature works
by Marcel Breuer, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy and Erno Goldfinger, whose name
Ian Fleming spitefully immortalised as a Bond villain because of personal
antagonism.
Jasper Morrison’s Handlebar Table, which was recently added to
the collection with the support of the Art Fund, will go on display for the first
time in a section looking at collecting.
Another section will profile a single iconic design – the Anglepoise lamp -
telling how an experiment by a car engineer with an obsession with springs
resulted in an invention that was to become one of the most copied,
parodied and collected in the history of design.
to contemporary design and architecture. This new permanent collection
display reveals intriguing insights in the most exceptional of everyday
objects.
The opening of the museum’s permanent collection marks an essential
milestone in the journey towards the future of the Design Museum at its new
home in Kensington, where the entire top floor will display the museum’s
collection of twentieth-century design.
The exhibition presents six key stories through hundreds of items, offering a
diverse investigation into the impact of design on our everyday lives. The
exhibition will show the surprising origins of famous and lesser known
designs, alongside contextual images and documents.
National identity is explored through objects that define a nation such as the
phone box, road signage, the post box, the London 2012 logo and the Euro.
The story of the development of the London 2012 logo tells how for the first
time in history of the Games, the Olympics and Paralympics embraced the
same logo. The logo was created to be a ‘design for everybody’ – the
exhibition will reveal the design process and thinking behind this symbol of
Britain as a world stage and allow audiences to interact with it.
The dominance of plastic in our lives is examined with examples of luxury
through to everyday plastics from the last 75 years, from small household
items to the first examples of plastic furniture in the 1960s. Recent uses of
plastic include high profile designers such as Issey Miyake using recycled
PET from plastic bottles to create fabrics used in his designs.
A section on Modernism provides a snapshot of a remarkable and
dynamic period of design in Britain, shown through iconic pieces of
furniture, products, textiles and architecture. The section will feature works
by Marcel Breuer, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy and Erno Goldfinger, whose name
Ian Fleming spitefully immortalised as a Bond villain because of personal
antagonism.
Jasper Morrison’s Handlebar Table, which was recently added to
the collection with the support of the Art Fund, will go on display for the first
time in a section looking at collecting.
Another section will profile a single iconic design – the Anglepoise lamp -
telling how an experiment by a car engineer with an obsession with springs
resulted in an invention that was to become one of the most copied,
parodied and collected in the history of design.
A display of fashion from the 1970s to the 1990s will throw a spotlight on six
occasion outfits from a personal wardrobe of over 400 items belonging to
fashion collector Jill Ritblat. The outfits chart the shift of style through a life
in society, and champion the exquisite balance of form and function in the
pieces themselves.
Deyan Sudjic, Director of the Design Museum says:
‘Design matters at every level. It is what makes daily life a little better; it is
about the big economic changes that the world is going through. It is about
the designers and the manufacturers, but it is also about the users. It is a
unique way of making sense of the world around us.’
occasion outfits from a personal wardrobe of over 400 items belonging to
fashion collector Jill Ritblat. The outfits chart the shift of style through a life
in society, and champion the exquisite balance of form and function in the
pieces themselves.
Deyan Sudjic, Director of the Design Museum says:
‘Design matters at every level. It is what makes daily life a little better; it is
about the big economic changes that the world is going through. It is about
the designers and the manufacturers, but it is also about the users. It is a
unique way of making sense of the world around us.’
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid: Fashion And Design With A Spanish Flavour
- In total, some 42 designers will present their collections on the catwalk, to whom we must also add the 20 up-and-coming designers taking part in the EGO Showroom at CIBELESPACIO, featuring direct sale to the general public
- The young designers, Rabaneda, Moisés Nieto and Etxeberría, will join the General Programme at this edition
- The up-and-coming designers at EGO will feature a new award as of this edition, known as the Mercedes Benz-Fashion Talent Prize, which seeks to promote the best young designer at the EGO Forum on an international basis. Specifically, this event, which serves as the leading promotional forum in Spain for new design talents, will be staging its fifteenth edition on this occasion, having brought together more than one hundred participants throughout its history
- The 13 sponsoring brands at this edition are actively involved in Fashion Week and strongly committed to the event. Mercedes-Benz, L'Oréal and INDITEX are the main sponsors, whilst Mahou Cinco Estrellas and Movistar are event sponsors. Furthermore, this edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid will enjoy the support of Solán de Cabras, Schweppes, G'Vine, eBay, Truvia, Rowenta, Audemars Piguet and Gioseppo
Madrid, 22nd January 2013.-From 18th to 22nd February, Hall 14.1 at Feria de Madrid will host the staging of the most comprehensive showcase for Spanish creation and design with the fifty-seventh edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid (MBFWM), an event organised by IFEMA.
Over a period of five days, the main purpose of this showcase is to promote the world of Spanish fashion in all its creative diversity, by presenting the latest ideas for Autumn/Winter 2013-14 in Hall 14.1 from 42 established designers and various up-and-coming designers of the moment.
These fashion creators will be complemented by some twenty young design talents who, as at each edition of the Week, will be presenting their collections in the EGO Showroom located at CIBELESPACIO (a stands area located alongside the two catwalks), featuring direct sale to members of the public.
On this occasion, the fashion shows will take place between Monday and Friday, without including the weekend, as has been customary in recent years. Irrespective of this fact, the schedule will present a similar structure to that of previous years. Thus, the fashion shows of Spain's established designers will take place between Monday and Thursday, with Friday being set aside entirely for the young designers from EGO.
The two fashion show rooms at this edition of the Week will be known as Mercedes-Benz and, as a new feature, Bertha Benz, the name of the wife of Carl Benz, who invented the gasoline-powered automobile in 1886. She was an enterprising woman who was ahead of her time. Bertha Benz's groundbreaking personality presents many parallels with the world of fashion and its constantly innovative spirit. It is not surprising to learn, in this respect, that Bertha Benz is considered to be the first woman in the history of the automobile to undertake a long-distance journey, as well as being the first car mechanic in the world.
A New Award for Younger Designers at EGO
Furthermore, this edition of MBFWM will mark the commencement of a collaboration promoted by the different fashion shows that Mercedes-Benz sponsors throughout the world, one aimed at presenting a prize at each edition to the best young designer at the EGO Forum, complete with international promotional measures. The name of this new prize is the Mercedes Benz-Fashion Talent.
Thus, according to the rules of the prize, on Friday 22nd February a Jury will select the best designer from amongst the participants on the EGO Catwalk. The prize will consist of the opportunity to take part the following season at one of the fashion shows that Mercedes-Benz sponsors throughout the world.
In the same way as a designer is selected in Spain, the same prize will be awarded at other international fashion shows, so that the next edition of MBFWM will feature the participation of a designer who has been recognised at another up-and-coming design talent event in a different country, thus joining the other young designers from Spain.
Rabaneda, Etxeberría and Moisés Nieto: New Participants on the General Programme
Another of the new features at this edition of MBFWM consists of the incorporation of the young designers, Rabaneda, Etxeberría and Moisés Nieto, into the General Programme. In all three cases, these are designers whose meteoric professional careers have provided sufficient evidence of their fashion talent. Their unique conception of design and creation constitutes their best declaration of intentions.
The designer from Seville, Daniel Rabaneda, is a member of ACME and presented his first collection on the catwalk in 2010. Since then he has enjoyed success in various different areas of the fashion world. For his part, the designer from Guipúzcoa, Etxeberría, comes from the EGO Forum, where he received the L'Oréal Prize at two consecutive editions in 2011. Since he presented his first collection on the catwalk in 2008, he has taken part at various important fairs and exhibitions, both inside Spain and abroad, surprising the public with his designs and impeccable cuts.
The designer, Moisés Nieto, also comes from EGO and also won the L'Oréal Prize, in this case in February 2012. In 2010 he presented his first collection on the catwalk, after having worked at the atelier belonging to the designer, Antonio Alvarado, and the fashion firm, Bimba y Lola. He has also received various prizes in prestigious national and international design competitions.
Fashion Show Schedule
The fist few days of this fifty-seventh edition of MBFWM, which is due to take place from Monday 18th to Wednesday 20th February, will be devoted to the designers belonging to the Fashion Designers Association of Spain (ACME). Thursday 21st will be set aside for both the designers that do not form part of this Association, as well as those taking part in the double Fur Fashion Show, whilst Friday 22nd will be devoted to the five double fashions shows of the young designers at EGO.
The first day of the schedule, Monday 18th February, will feature presentations of the collections from Andrés Sardá, Francis Montesinos, Hannibal Laguna, Miguel Palacio, Teresa Helbig, Ana Locking, Juana Martín and Maya Hansen.
The double fashion show presented by Rabaneda and María Barros will open the fashion show programme on Tuesday 19th February. This event will be followed by the shows presented by Ailanto, Roberto Torretta, Roberto Verino, Victorio & Lucchino, Angel Schlesser, and the firm, Aristocrazy, which specialises in fashion jewellery. In effect, this jewellery firm will stage its second show at MBFWM a year after it made its spectacular debut on the catwalk.
Wednesday 20th will kick off with a double fashion show presented by Ion Fiz and Sara Coleman, followed by the presentation of collections from Davidelfín, Juanjo Oliva, AA de Amaya Arzuaga, Duyos, Devota y Lomba and Agatha Ruiz de la Prada.
Furthermore, on the same Wednesday at 9.00 p.m., Mahou will present a new fashion show concept under the heading of the Mahou Urban Collection by Bimba, which will take place outside IFEMA in Hall 16 at Matadero Madrid.
Through the auspices of Bimba Bosé, Mahou Cinco Estrellas, the organiser of the fashion event, will seek to capture the essence of the styles that can be seen on the streets. The singer and model, who is one of the best-known faces within the world of Spanish fashion, will seek to reflect on the catwalk all of the styles that are worn throughout the city, making up the freshest and most authentic fashion look. In addition, Bimba Bosé and Mahou will offer design enthusiasts the opportunity to become models for a day, effectively choosing the individuals who are going to take part in the show at a public casting event organised through the social media.
On Thursday 21st February, Hall 14.1 will host the staging of the fashion shows organised by designers who do not form part of ACME. The day will kick off with the presentation of a collection from Sita Murt, who will be followed by TCN, the double fashion show featuring Etxeberria and Moisés Nieto, and the collections from Maria Escoté and Martin Lamothe. The double fur fashion show organised by Miguel Marinero and Jesús Lorenzo will conclude the programme of established designers at this edition.
EGO
As far as EGO is concerned, the presentation of the collections from up-and-coming designers in Spain will take place entirely throughout the course of the day on Friday 22nd February. As is customary, the programme will be structured around five double fashion shows featuring the collections of 10 young talents from the world of Spanish fashion.
Out of the total number of participants, two have presented their collections at previous editions of EGO, whilst the remaining eight will be taking part for the first time. The designers who will be appearing again include Leyre Valiente and Valdnad, whilst the first-time participants are Pepa Salazar, POL, Manemane, Heridadegato, HOWL by Maria Glück, Eugenio Loarce, Pablo Erroz and Ssic and Paul.
With 15n editions behind it, including this edition, EGO has brought together more than one hundred young designers since the initiative was set up by IFEMA back in February 2006. Their participation at this forum has provided these designers with the boost they need to continue developing their professional careers within the different areas of the fashion field.
Specifically, six of these designers have gone on to be included on the General Fashion Show Schedule at Madrid Fashion Week. Thus, the names of the young designers, Maria Escoté, Martín Lamothe, Sara Coleman and Maya Hansen will be complemented at this edition by those of Etxeberria and Moisés Nieto.
As far as the EGO Showroom is concerned, this part of the event will maintain the new philosophy that was introduced at last September's edition, which represents a key development regarding the event that has been organised in past years. Thus, in addition to a new approach in terms of the decoration and design of this space, the EGO Showroom will focus exclusively on the exhibition and on the sale of these clothing collections by twenty new designers to the public. These participants have been chosen due to their original and unique contributions to the current fashion scene.
In addition, MBFWM February 2013 will feature an Off Programme, including three fashion shows by designers at different venues throughout Madrid.
Live Fashion Shows on the Web
Once again on this occasion, MBFWM will present its fashion shows live to all those interested in fashion, both inside Spain and abroad, through the web site, www.mbfwmadrid.ifema.es. Furthermore, between each fashion show, followers of the page will enjoy a live programme featuring interviews with the main participants of the Fashion Programme each day, in addition to a series of reports. What is more, as at previous editions, both these fashion shows and the extra programme contents can be seen in recorded format on demand through the web page after Fashion Week has concluded and at the moment chosen by users. During the last edition of the event, the web site recorded nearly 60,000 visits. These users connected via their computers and mobile devices in order to follow the catwalk shows and the specific complementary programme.
The Sponsoring Brands Confirm Their Strong Commitment
The sponsoring brands at the fifty-seventh edition of the Madrid catwalk, organised by IFEMA, will present high levels of involvement, visibility and commitment to the event.
In total, some 13 companies will support Madrid's fashion event on this occasion with their presence, belonging to various different sectors, although they all have one thing in common: an interest in associating themselves through different initiatives with one of the leading brands within the world for fashion and new trends, namely Madrid's leading fashion showcase.
As in September 2012, Mercedes-Benz, L'Oréal and INDITEX are the main sponsors at this fifty-seventh edition.
Mercedes-Benz owns the naming rights for the event from the February 2012 edition, following the agreement signed between IFEMA and the German vehicle make. The agreement seeks to promote the international development of the fair, as well as strengthening the German vehicle make's links with the world of fashion and new trends, a strategy it has also pursued throughout the rest of the world. In addition to the name for the event as a whole, namely MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK MADRID, the rooms where the fashion shows take place will be known at this edition as the Mercedes Benz Room and the Bertha Benz Room.
For its part, L'Oréal Paris will also serve as a main sponsor at Madrid Fashion Week, in its capacity as the most renowned beauty care company on the international scene, based on its creativity, glamour and innovation. This firm will once again serve as Official Hairdresser and Make-Up Artist for Fashion Week in Madrid, starring on the Madrid catwalk with its hair and make-up creations for the models taking part in each of the shows, thus providing the final touch for each and every collection.
Furthermore, the Madrid catwalk will once again provide the setting for the Awards sponsored by the company, L'Oréal Paris. These Awards will be presented to the Best Established Designer's Collection presented, as well as to the Best Model on the fashion shows of each edition. A jury made up of leading fashion industry experts will choose the winning companies and model. At the last edition, these awards went to the collection by Davidelfin and to the model, Alba Galocha.
For its part, INDITEX will once again take part as a main sponsor of MBFWM at this edition.
Mahou Cinco Estrellas will also once again appear at this edition of MBFWM as a sponsor, thus sharing its enthusiasm for design, fashion and the latest trends with this grand Spanish fashion showcase.
Alongside these brands, other companies will also show their interest in fashion, design and new trends, including the following: Movistar, which will sponsor the Press Room at MBFWM; Solán de Cabras, which will provide the official water used by all professionals at Fashion Week, both front-stage and backstage; Audemars Piguet, which will contribute its elegant clocks in order to chime the hours in the fashion show rooms; Truvia will contribute its low-calorie natural sweetener; and Rowenta will ensure that the designs that are presented on the catwalk are quite impeccable.
Furthermore, this edition of MBFWM will feature the first-time participation of eBay, which will promote its interest in fashion by offering visitors to CIBELESPACIO a glimpse of its wide-ranging selection of new clothing and accessories, many of which are difficult to find. At the same time, eBay will promote itself as a worldwide showcase that offers visibility to the collections presented by designers and brands, as well as the clothing items belonging to individuals, among its more than 100 million users.
In most cases, these sponsors will organise different activities aimed at the public within the attractive area known as CIBELESPACIO. This area features a series of permanent activities, including tasting sessions, make-up and styling demonstrations, the sale of exclusive creations by young designers, etc.
Furthermore, the area known as the Kissing Room, which serves as the habitual meeting-point for designers, their guests and members of the press, will maintain the new concept presented at the last edition. This area offers a permanent sense of ambience throughout each day of Fashion Week and not just at the end of each fashion show, as has usually been the case in the past. The Kissing Room will set aside separate spaces for various participants, including the following: L'Oréal one of the main sponsors at Fashion Week; Mahou Cinco Estrellas, another of the leading sponsors; G'Vine, the only Ultra Premium Gin distilled using green grapes; Schweppes, with its range of tonic waters; and Solán de Cabras, which will provide the official water for the event. In each case these participants will create a series of attractive ambiences for the reception of their own guests, the guests invited by the designers and members of the press.
Furthermore, the footwear company, Gioseppo, has provided the shoes for the team of stewards and stewardesses at this edition of MBFWM.
For their part, the leading fashion publications will also be present at this edition of MBFWM, based on their active participation in the Cibelespacio Area with a series of different initiatives.
Additionally, Mahou Cinco Estrellas will once again be the sponsor of the specific area set aside for fashion bloggers, once again confirming the recognition that Spain's leading fashion forum has granted to this generation of fashion enthusiasts who have invented a new way of talking about the latest trends, both in Spain and abroad. In addition, from a specific area at Cibelespacio, a selection of the most important bloggers on the Spanish fashion scene will once again offer their community of virtual followers all of their fascinating insights, featuring the special sense of immediacy and particular appeal that characterises them.
A Fresh and Modern Web Page
As is customary, at this edition of MBFWM the web site presented by Madrid Fashion Week, www.mbfwmadrid.ifema.es, will boast a fresh and modern appeal, providing a faithful reflection of the event itself.
As far as the site's content is concerned, a simple structure provides a rapid and direct insight into all of the information available regarding everything that is due to take place at Spain's leading fashion event. In addition to the aesthetic design and segmentation of the information, the creators of the MBFWM website have ensured that it is compatible with the majority of the most popular portable devices and that it can be viewed from any Smartphone and Tablet device.
A Strong Focus on the Social Media and New Technologies
This staging of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid confirms the strong emphasis it has placed on social media sites and new technologies at previous editions.
In the same way as at the last edition, Fashion Week will maintain the online coverage it enjoys through Facebook (facebook.com/mbfwmadrid and facebook.com/soycibelino) and Twitter (twitter.com/mbfwmadrid), relating everything that happens over the five days minute by minute, both on the catwalk and off.
More Than 30,000 Visitors at the 56th Edition
In September 2012, the 56th staging of Madrid Fashion Week welcomed more than 30,000 visitors, including buyers, members of the press and guests. Furthermore, the event was followed by more than one thousand media professionals, of whom around one hundred came from abroad. Of this number, some 20 journalists formed part of the International Press Programme that Madrid Fashion Week carries out at each edition, based on the support of the Spanish Foreign Trade Institute (ICEX).
IFEMA has also implemented a Hosted Foreign Press Programme for this edition that will attract to the Spanish fashion event an important selection of journalists from the most outstanding international publications. Furthermore, IFEMA has implemented a Buyers Programme in various countries, which means that, on this occasion, Fashion Week will feature representatives from different establishments and department stores from Russia, the Czech Republic, Portugal and Indonesia.
- The young designers, Rabaneda, Moisés Nieto and Etxeberría, will join the General Programme at this edition
- The up-and-coming designers at EGO will feature a new award as of this edition, known as the Mercedes Benz-Fashion Talent Prize, which seeks to promote the best young designer at the EGO Forum on an international basis. Specifically, this event, which serves as the leading promotional forum in Spain for new design talents, will be staging its fifteenth edition on this occasion, having brought together more than one hundred participants throughout its history
- The 13 sponsoring brands at this edition are actively involved in Fashion Week and strongly committed to the event. Mercedes-Benz, L'Oréal and INDITEX are the main sponsors, whilst Mahou Cinco Estrellas and Movistar are event sponsors. Furthermore, this edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid will enjoy the support of Solán de Cabras, Schweppes, G'Vine, eBay, Truvia, Rowenta, Audemars Piguet and Gioseppo
Madrid, 22nd January 2013.-From 18th to 22nd February, Hall 14.1 at Feria de Madrid will host the staging of the most comprehensive showcase for Spanish creation and design with the fifty-seventh edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid (MBFWM), an event organised by IFEMA.
Over a period of five days, the main purpose of this showcase is to promote the world of Spanish fashion in all its creative diversity, by presenting the latest ideas for Autumn/Winter 2013-14 in Hall 14.1 from 42 established designers and various up-and-coming designers of the moment.
These fashion creators will be complemented by some twenty young design talents who, as at each edition of the Week, will be presenting their collections in the EGO Showroom located at CIBELESPACIO (a stands area located alongside the two catwalks), featuring direct sale to members of the public.
On this occasion, the fashion shows will take place between Monday and Friday, without including the weekend, as has been customary in recent years. Irrespective of this fact, the schedule will present a similar structure to that of previous years. Thus, the fashion shows of Spain's established designers will take place between Monday and Thursday, with Friday being set aside entirely for the young designers from EGO.
The two fashion show rooms at this edition of the Week will be known as Mercedes-Benz and, as a new feature, Bertha Benz, the name of the wife of Carl Benz, who invented the gasoline-powered automobile in 1886. She was an enterprising woman who was ahead of her time. Bertha Benz's groundbreaking personality presents many parallels with the world of fashion and its constantly innovative spirit. It is not surprising to learn, in this respect, that Bertha Benz is considered to be the first woman in the history of the automobile to undertake a long-distance journey, as well as being the first car mechanic in the world.
A New Award for Younger Designers at EGO
Furthermore, this edition of MBFWM will mark the commencement of a collaboration promoted by the different fashion shows that Mercedes-Benz sponsors throughout the world, one aimed at presenting a prize at each edition to the best young designer at the EGO Forum, complete with international promotional measures. The name of this new prize is the Mercedes Benz-Fashion Talent.
Thus, according to the rules of the prize, on Friday 22nd February a Jury will select the best designer from amongst the participants on the EGO Catwalk. The prize will consist of the opportunity to take part the following season at one of the fashion shows that Mercedes-Benz sponsors throughout the world.
In the same way as a designer is selected in Spain, the same prize will be awarded at other international fashion shows, so that the next edition of MBFWM will feature the participation of a designer who has been recognised at another up-and-coming design talent event in a different country, thus joining the other young designers from Spain.
Rabaneda, Etxeberría and Moisés Nieto: New Participants on the General Programme
Another of the new features at this edition of MBFWM consists of the incorporation of the young designers, Rabaneda, Etxeberría and Moisés Nieto, into the General Programme. In all three cases, these are designers whose meteoric professional careers have provided sufficient evidence of their fashion talent. Their unique conception of design and creation constitutes their best declaration of intentions.
The designer from Seville, Daniel Rabaneda, is a member of ACME and presented his first collection on the catwalk in 2010. Since then he has enjoyed success in various different areas of the fashion world. For his part, the designer from Guipúzcoa, Etxeberría, comes from the EGO Forum, where he received the L'Oréal Prize at two consecutive editions in 2011. Since he presented his first collection on the catwalk in 2008, he has taken part at various important fairs and exhibitions, both inside Spain and abroad, surprising the public with his designs and impeccable cuts.
The designer, Moisés Nieto, also comes from EGO and also won the L'Oréal Prize, in this case in February 2012. In 2010 he presented his first collection on the catwalk, after having worked at the atelier belonging to the designer, Antonio Alvarado, and the fashion firm, Bimba y Lola. He has also received various prizes in prestigious national and international design competitions.
Fashion Show Schedule
The fist few days of this fifty-seventh edition of MBFWM, which is due to take place from Monday 18th to Wednesday 20th February, will be devoted to the designers belonging to the Fashion Designers Association of Spain (ACME). Thursday 21st will be set aside for both the designers that do not form part of this Association, as well as those taking part in the double Fur Fashion Show, whilst Friday 22nd will be devoted to the five double fashions shows of the young designers at EGO.
The first day of the schedule, Monday 18th February, will feature presentations of the collections from Andrés Sardá, Francis Montesinos, Hannibal Laguna, Miguel Palacio, Teresa Helbig, Ana Locking, Juana Martín and Maya Hansen.
The double fashion show presented by Rabaneda and María Barros will open the fashion show programme on Tuesday 19th February. This event will be followed by the shows presented by Ailanto, Roberto Torretta, Roberto Verino, Victorio & Lucchino, Angel Schlesser, and the firm, Aristocrazy, which specialises in fashion jewellery. In effect, this jewellery firm will stage its second show at MBFWM a year after it made its spectacular debut on the catwalk.
Wednesday 20th will kick off with a double fashion show presented by Ion Fiz and Sara Coleman, followed by the presentation of collections from Davidelfín, Juanjo Oliva, AA de Amaya Arzuaga, Duyos, Devota y Lomba and Agatha Ruiz de la Prada.
Furthermore, on the same Wednesday at 9.00 p.m., Mahou will present a new fashion show concept under the heading of the Mahou Urban Collection by Bimba, which will take place outside IFEMA in Hall 16 at Matadero Madrid.
Through the auspices of Bimba Bosé, Mahou Cinco Estrellas, the organiser of the fashion event, will seek to capture the essence of the styles that can be seen on the streets. The singer and model, who is one of the best-known faces within the world of Spanish fashion, will seek to reflect on the catwalk all of the styles that are worn throughout the city, making up the freshest and most authentic fashion look. In addition, Bimba Bosé and Mahou will offer design enthusiasts the opportunity to become models for a day, effectively choosing the individuals who are going to take part in the show at a public casting event organised through the social media.
On Thursday 21st February, Hall 14.1 will host the staging of the fashion shows organised by designers who do not form part of ACME. The day will kick off with the presentation of a collection from Sita Murt, who will be followed by TCN, the double fashion show featuring Etxeberria and Moisés Nieto, and the collections from Maria Escoté and Martin Lamothe. The double fur fashion show organised by Miguel Marinero and Jesús Lorenzo will conclude the programme of established designers at this edition.
EGO
As far as EGO is concerned, the presentation of the collections from up-and-coming designers in Spain will take place entirely throughout the course of the day on Friday 22nd February. As is customary, the programme will be structured around five double fashion shows featuring the collections of 10 young talents from the world of Spanish fashion.
Out of the total number of participants, two have presented their collections at previous editions of EGO, whilst the remaining eight will be taking part for the first time. The designers who will be appearing again include Leyre Valiente and Valdnad, whilst the first-time participants are Pepa Salazar, POL, Manemane, Heridadegato, HOWL by Maria Glück, Eugenio Loarce, Pablo Erroz and Ssic and Paul.
With 15n editions behind it, including this edition, EGO has brought together more than one hundred young designers since the initiative was set up by IFEMA back in February 2006. Their participation at this forum has provided these designers with the boost they need to continue developing their professional careers within the different areas of the fashion field.
Specifically, six of these designers have gone on to be included on the General Fashion Show Schedule at Madrid Fashion Week. Thus, the names of the young designers, Maria Escoté, Martín Lamothe, Sara Coleman and Maya Hansen will be complemented at this edition by those of Etxeberria and Moisés Nieto.
As far as the EGO Showroom is concerned, this part of the event will maintain the new philosophy that was introduced at last September's edition, which represents a key development regarding the event that has been organised in past years. Thus, in addition to a new approach in terms of the decoration and design of this space, the EGO Showroom will focus exclusively on the exhibition and on the sale of these clothing collections by twenty new designers to the public. These participants have been chosen due to their original and unique contributions to the current fashion scene.
In addition, MBFWM February 2013 will feature an Off Programme, including three fashion shows by designers at different venues throughout Madrid.
Live Fashion Shows on the Web
Once again on this occasion, MBFWM will present its fashion shows live to all those interested in fashion, both inside Spain and abroad, through the web site, www.mbfwmadrid.ifema.es. Furthermore, between each fashion show, followers of the page will enjoy a live programme featuring interviews with the main participants of the Fashion Programme each day, in addition to a series of reports. What is more, as at previous editions, both these fashion shows and the extra programme contents can be seen in recorded format on demand through the web page after Fashion Week has concluded and at the moment chosen by users. During the last edition of the event, the web site recorded nearly 60,000 visits. These users connected via their computers and mobile devices in order to follow the catwalk shows and the specific complementary programme.
The Sponsoring Brands Confirm Their Strong Commitment
The sponsoring brands at the fifty-seventh edition of the Madrid catwalk, organised by IFEMA, will present high levels of involvement, visibility and commitment to the event.
In total, some 13 companies will support Madrid's fashion event on this occasion with their presence, belonging to various different sectors, although they all have one thing in common: an interest in associating themselves through different initiatives with one of the leading brands within the world for fashion and new trends, namely Madrid's leading fashion showcase.
As in September 2012, Mercedes-Benz, L'Oréal and INDITEX are the main sponsors at this fifty-seventh edition.
Mercedes-Benz owns the naming rights for the event from the February 2012 edition, following the agreement signed between IFEMA and the German vehicle make. The agreement seeks to promote the international development of the fair, as well as strengthening the German vehicle make's links with the world of fashion and new trends, a strategy it has also pursued throughout the rest of the world. In addition to the name for the event as a whole, namely MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK MADRID, the rooms where the fashion shows take place will be known at this edition as the Mercedes Benz Room and the Bertha Benz Room.
For its part, L'Oréal Paris will also serve as a main sponsor at Madrid Fashion Week, in its capacity as the most renowned beauty care company on the international scene, based on its creativity, glamour and innovation. This firm will once again serve as Official Hairdresser and Make-Up Artist for Fashion Week in Madrid, starring on the Madrid catwalk with its hair and make-up creations for the models taking part in each of the shows, thus providing the final touch for each and every collection.
Furthermore, the Madrid catwalk will once again provide the setting for the Awards sponsored by the company, L'Oréal Paris. These Awards will be presented to the Best Established Designer's Collection presented, as well as to the Best Model on the fashion shows of each edition. A jury made up of leading fashion industry experts will choose the winning companies and model. At the last edition, these awards went to the collection by Davidelfin and to the model, Alba Galocha.
For its part, INDITEX will once again take part as a main sponsor of MBFWM at this edition.
Mahou Cinco Estrellas will also once again appear at this edition of MBFWM as a sponsor, thus sharing its enthusiasm for design, fashion and the latest trends with this grand Spanish fashion showcase.
Alongside these brands, other companies will also show their interest in fashion, design and new trends, including the following: Movistar, which will sponsor the Press Room at MBFWM; Solán de Cabras, which will provide the official water used by all professionals at Fashion Week, both front-stage and backstage; Audemars Piguet, which will contribute its elegant clocks in order to chime the hours in the fashion show rooms; Truvia will contribute its low-calorie natural sweetener; and Rowenta will ensure that the designs that are presented on the catwalk are quite impeccable.
Furthermore, this edition of MBFWM will feature the first-time participation of eBay, which will promote its interest in fashion by offering visitors to CIBELESPACIO a glimpse of its wide-ranging selection of new clothing and accessories, many of which are difficult to find. At the same time, eBay will promote itself as a worldwide showcase that offers visibility to the collections presented by designers and brands, as well as the clothing items belonging to individuals, among its more than 100 million users.
In most cases, these sponsors will organise different activities aimed at the public within the attractive area known as CIBELESPACIO. This area features a series of permanent activities, including tasting sessions, make-up and styling demonstrations, the sale of exclusive creations by young designers, etc.
Furthermore, the area known as the Kissing Room, which serves as the habitual meeting-point for designers, their guests and members of the press, will maintain the new concept presented at the last edition. This area offers a permanent sense of ambience throughout each day of Fashion Week and not just at the end of each fashion show, as has usually been the case in the past. The Kissing Room will set aside separate spaces for various participants, including the following: L'Oréal one of the main sponsors at Fashion Week; Mahou Cinco Estrellas, another of the leading sponsors; G'Vine, the only Ultra Premium Gin distilled using green grapes; Schweppes, with its range of tonic waters; and Solán de Cabras, which will provide the official water for the event. In each case these participants will create a series of attractive ambiences for the reception of their own guests, the guests invited by the designers and members of the press.
Furthermore, the footwear company, Gioseppo, has provided the shoes for the team of stewards and stewardesses at this edition of MBFWM.
For their part, the leading fashion publications will also be present at this edition of MBFWM, based on their active participation in the Cibelespacio Area with a series of different initiatives.
Additionally, Mahou Cinco Estrellas will once again be the sponsor of the specific area set aside for fashion bloggers, once again confirming the recognition that Spain's leading fashion forum has granted to this generation of fashion enthusiasts who have invented a new way of talking about the latest trends, both in Spain and abroad. In addition, from a specific area at Cibelespacio, a selection of the most important bloggers on the Spanish fashion scene will once again offer their community of virtual followers all of their fascinating insights, featuring the special sense of immediacy and particular appeal that characterises them.
A Fresh and Modern Web Page
As is customary, at this edition of MBFWM the web site presented by Madrid Fashion Week, www.mbfwmadrid.ifema.es, will boast a fresh and modern appeal, providing a faithful reflection of the event itself.
As far as the site's content is concerned, a simple structure provides a rapid and direct insight into all of the information available regarding everything that is due to take place at Spain's leading fashion event. In addition to the aesthetic design and segmentation of the information, the creators of the MBFWM website have ensured that it is compatible with the majority of the most popular portable devices and that it can be viewed from any Smartphone and Tablet device.
A Strong Focus on the Social Media and New Technologies
This staging of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid confirms the strong emphasis it has placed on social media sites and new technologies at previous editions.
In the same way as at the last edition, Fashion Week will maintain the online coverage it enjoys through Facebook (facebook.com/mbfwmadrid and facebook.com/soycibelino) and Twitter (twitter.com/mbfwmadrid), relating everything that happens over the five days minute by minute, both on the catwalk and off.
More Than 30,000 Visitors at the 56th Edition
In September 2012, the 56th staging of Madrid Fashion Week welcomed more than 30,000 visitors, including buyers, members of the press and guests. Furthermore, the event was followed by more than one thousand media professionals, of whom around one hundred came from abroad. Of this number, some 20 journalists formed part of the International Press Programme that Madrid Fashion Week carries out at each edition, based on the support of the Spanish Foreign Trade Institute (ICEX).
IFEMA has also implemented a Hosted Foreign Press Programme for this edition that will attract to the Spanish fashion event an important selection of journalists from the most outstanding international publications. Furthermore, IFEMA has implemented a Buyers Programme in various countries, which means that, on this occasion, Fashion Week will feature representatives from different establishments and department stores from Russia, the Czech Republic, Portugal and Indonesia.
Tate and BMW today announced a dynamic performance programme for BMW Tate Live 2013. Now in its second year, BMW Tate Live is a major four-year partnership between BMW and Tate, which focuses on performance and interdisciplinary art in the gallery and online. Joan Jonas, Liu Ding and Charles Atlas are among the artists commissioned to contribute this year with the first event of 2013, Suzanne Lacy "Silver Action", taking place on 3 February. BMW Tate Live 2013 includes performance commissions across two strands of live programming:
A short film introducing BMW Tate Live 2013 is available here
www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/blogs/bmw-tate-live-2013-programme-announced
Chris Dercon, Director of Tate Modern said: "Following an incredibly successful start to our partnership in 2012, I am delighted that BMW Tate Live is growing for 2013. BMW Tate Live: Performance Room has shown the appetite people have to mix live art and technology and this is something that we will continue. Adding to this activity will be BMW Tate Live: Performance Events in and around Tate Modern and BMW Tate Live: Thought Workshops, a series of workshops to debate, discuss and dissect the way art supports emotional, intellectual and societal transformation. Art encourages us to make bold decisions - by and for ourselves as well as with others."
Frank-Peter Arndt, Member of the Board of Management, BMW AG said: "BMW Tate Live embodies the great innovative energy of our partnership with one of the most renowned cultural institutions worldwide. The platform for performance and interdisciplinary art, both online as well as in the galleries, represents an entirely new concept in the museum world. We are delighted to be able to engage with Tate Modern as an active partner in its claim to reach a new audience and to rethink the museum's mission for the 21st century in an unconventional way. Together with our engagement for Frieze Art Fair and the open-air concerts by the London Symphony Orchestra performed free of charge on Trafalgar Square, BMW Tate Live is yet another great initiative in the British capital with international appeal."
BMW Tate Live 2013 Programme
BMW Tate Live Performance Events: Suzanne Lacy "Silver Action"
3 February 2013, 12.00 - 17.00 GMT
Hundreds of women over the age of sixty will converge in The Tanks at Tate Modern to participate in "Silver Action", a live and unscripted performance conceived by artist Suzanne Lacy. UK-based women who took part in significant activist movements and protests from the 1950s to 80s will share their personal stories in a series of workshops, culminating in a day-long public performance on 3 February. The work aims to highlight women's role in shaping society, with a focus on older women who have enabled this historically.
BMW Tate Live Performance Room: Joan Jonas
28 February 2013, 20.00 GMT
Online at www.youtube.com/user/tate/tatelive
Joan Jonas, pioneer of the use of film and video in performance, will, for the first time, make work especially for an online audience. Referencing previous works such as "Vertical Roll" 1972, in which she performed directly to the camera in her studio, and drawing on mythology, Jonas will create a live tableau using sculptural props, costumes, masks, music, her voice and her students.
20 - 26 March 2013
Charles Atlas is known for his innovative film and video work made with choreographers, dancers and performers from Michael Clark and Merce Cunningham to Marina Abramovic and Leigh Bowery. Atlas will collaborate with Argentinean dancer and choreographer Cecilia Bengolea and New York-based performance artist Johanna Constantine on a week-long series of live performances within a multi-projection installation.
BMW Tate Live Performance Room: (Little Movements)
16 May 2013, 20.00 BST
Online at www.youtube.com/user/tate/tatelive
Liu Ding launched "Liu Ding's Store" in 2008, a continuing project using the economic model of a shop as a platform for discussion on the creation of value in the art world. For Performance Room, the artist will examine the relationship between the Chinese avant garde and the Western history of modernism with music and life-size cardboard reproductions of artworks.
BMW Tate Live Performance Room: artist to be announced
13 June 2013, 20.00 BST and 19 September 2013, 20.00 BST
Online at www.youtube.com/user/tate/tatelive
Details will be made available at
BMW Tate Live Performance Room: Ragnar Kjartansson
24 October 2013, 20.00 BST
Online at www.youtube.com/user/tate/tatelive
Ragnar Kjartansson experiments with visual arts, music, theatre and opera. He explores with humour the potential of repetition in performance, acting in most of his works.
BMW Tate Live Performance Events: Isidoro Valcárcel Medina "18 Pictures and 18 Stories"
September 2013 (Dates to be announced)
For "18 Pictures and 18 Stories", Isidoro Valcárcel Medina invites three guests to tell a story about a photograph that he has taken. The artist answers questions from the guests and audience remotely. Tate Modern is the eighth and last occurrence in this series and coincides with the publication of a book. The project was initiated by "Corpus", a collaborative network for commissioning performance led by CAC Bretigny, If I Can't Dance, Playground and Tate Modern.
BMW Tate Live Performance Events: Laboratoire Agit-Art
November 2013 (Dates to be announced)
The Laboratoire Agit-Art is a collective of artists, dramatists, performers, poets and filmmakers from Senegal. Since the 1970s, they have challenged dogmatic perceptions of African identity and rejected the production of art for the market through spontaneous actions, debate and exhibitions. Tate will explore the legacy of their conversational mode of live art for BMW Tate Live.
BMW Tate Live Performance Room: Daniel Linehan
12 December 2013, 20.00 GMT
Online at www.youtube.com/user/tate/tatelive
Dancer and choreographer Daniel Linehan considers the boundaries and commonalities between dance and non-dance forms using recorded and projected video images. He plays with texts, movements, images, songs and videos to create text- and dance-based performances.
Linehan is currently New Wave Associate 2012-14 at Sadler's Wells, London.
BMW Tate Live Thought Workshops
22 June, 28 September, 8 November (Keynote), 9 November
BMW Tate Live is curated by Catherine Wood, Curator, Contemporary Art and Performance, Tate and Capucine Perrot, Assistant Curator, Tate Modern.
- BMW Tate Live: Performance Events, free and ticketed live performances within The Tanks and other spaces at Tate Modern; and
- BMW Tate Live: Performance Room, a pioneering programme of live performances commissioned and conceived exclusively for online viewing and simultaneously seen by international audiences across world time zones.
A short film introducing BMW Tate Live 2013 is available here
www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/blogs/bmw-tate-live-2013-programme-announced
Chris Dercon, Director of Tate Modern said: "Following an incredibly successful start to our partnership in 2012, I am delighted that BMW Tate Live is growing for 2013. BMW Tate Live: Performance Room has shown the appetite people have to mix live art and technology and this is something that we will continue. Adding to this activity will be BMW Tate Live: Performance Events in and around Tate Modern and BMW Tate Live: Thought Workshops, a series of workshops to debate, discuss and dissect the way art supports emotional, intellectual and societal transformation. Art encourages us to make bold decisions - by and for ourselves as well as with others."
Frank-Peter Arndt, Member of the Board of Management, BMW AG said: "BMW Tate Live embodies the great innovative energy of our partnership with one of the most renowned cultural institutions worldwide. The platform for performance and interdisciplinary art, both online as well as in the galleries, represents an entirely new concept in the museum world. We are delighted to be able to engage with Tate Modern as an active partner in its claim to reach a new audience and to rethink the museum's mission for the 21st century in an unconventional way. Together with our engagement for Frieze Art Fair and the open-air concerts by the London Symphony Orchestra performed free of charge on Trafalgar Square, BMW Tate Live is yet another great initiative in the British capital with international appeal."
BMW Tate Live 2013 Programme
BMW Tate Live Performance Events: Suzanne Lacy "Silver Action"
3 February 2013, 12.00 - 17.00 GMT
Hundreds of women over the age of sixty will converge in The Tanks at Tate Modern to participate in "Silver Action", a live and unscripted performance conceived by artist Suzanne Lacy. UK-based women who took part in significant activist movements and protests from the 1950s to 80s will share their personal stories in a series of workshops, culminating in a day-long public performance on 3 February. The work aims to highlight women's role in shaping society, with a focus on older women who have enabled this historically.
BMW Tate Live Performance Room: Joan Jonas
28 February 2013, 20.00 GMT
Online at www.youtube.com/user/tate/tatelive
Joan Jonas, pioneer of the use of film and video in performance, will, for the first time, make work especially for an online audience. Referencing previous works such as "Vertical Roll" 1972, in which she performed directly to the camera in her studio, and drawing on mythology, Jonas will create a live tableau using sculptural props, costumes, masks, music, her voice and her students.
20 - 26 March 2013
Charles Atlas is known for his innovative film and video work made with choreographers, dancers and performers from Michael Clark and Merce Cunningham to Marina Abramovic and Leigh Bowery. Atlas will collaborate with Argentinean dancer and choreographer Cecilia Bengolea and New York-based performance artist Johanna Constantine on a week-long series of live performances within a multi-projection installation.
BMW Tate Live Performance Room: (Little Movements)
16 May 2013, 20.00 BST
Online at www.youtube.com/user/tate/tatelive
Liu Ding launched "Liu Ding's Store" in 2008, a continuing project using the economic model of a shop as a platform for discussion on the creation of value in the art world. For Performance Room, the artist will examine the relationship between the Chinese avant garde and the Western history of modernism with music and life-size cardboard reproductions of artworks.
BMW Tate Live Performance Room: artist to be announced
13 June 2013, 20.00 BST and 19 September 2013, 20.00 BST
Online at www.youtube.com/user/tate/tatelive
Details will be made available at
BMW Tate Live Performance Room: Ragnar Kjartansson
24 October 2013, 20.00 BST
Online at www.youtube.com/user/tate/tatelive
Ragnar Kjartansson experiments with visual arts, music, theatre and opera. He explores with humour the potential of repetition in performance, acting in most of his works.
BMW Tate Live Performance Events: Isidoro Valcárcel Medina "18 Pictures and 18 Stories"
September 2013 (Dates to be announced)
For "18 Pictures and 18 Stories", Isidoro Valcárcel Medina invites three guests to tell a story about a photograph that he has taken. The artist answers questions from the guests and audience remotely. Tate Modern is the eighth and last occurrence in this series and coincides with the publication of a book. The project was initiated by "Corpus", a collaborative network for commissioning performance led by CAC Bretigny, If I Can't Dance, Playground and Tate Modern.
BMW Tate Live Performance Events: Laboratoire Agit-Art
November 2013 (Dates to be announced)
The Laboratoire Agit-Art is a collective of artists, dramatists, performers, poets and filmmakers from Senegal. Since the 1970s, they have challenged dogmatic perceptions of African identity and rejected the production of art for the market through spontaneous actions, debate and exhibitions. Tate will explore the legacy of their conversational mode of live art for BMW Tate Live.
BMW Tate Live Performance Room: Daniel Linehan
12 December 2013, 20.00 GMT
Online at www.youtube.com/user/tate/tatelive
Dancer and choreographer Daniel Linehan considers the boundaries and commonalities between dance and non-dance forms using recorded and projected video images. He plays with texts, movements, images, songs and videos to create text- and dance-based performances.
Linehan is currently New Wave Associate 2012-14 at Sadler's Wells, London.
BMW Tate Live Thought Workshops
22 June, 28 September, 8 November (Keynote), 9 November
BMW Tate Live is curated by Catherine Wood, Curator, Contemporary Art and Performance, Tate and Capucine Perrot, Assistant Curator, Tate Modern.
Festivals and fun events are no longer the domain of the grown-up. Across Britain and throughout the year there is a wide selection of festivals and events that have been created with kids in mind. Cue smiling faces all round…
Imagine Festival
11-24 February 2013, Southbank Centre, London
www.southbankcentre.co.uk/imagine
For two weeks in February, more than 100 free and ticketed events will run for children at one of London’s leading arts venue, the Southbank Centre. Kids can enjoy games and trails to follow throughout the whole centre and activities are tailored towards all ages; think opera for babies to vampire-themed Valentine’s Day celebrations for teens. Further highlights include children’s theatre, animated films, readings from top children’s authors and a chance to get close to life-size dinosaur puppets.
Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival
20-24 March 2013, Cardiff, Wales
www.cardiffchildrenslitfest.com
Some of the UK’s best contemporary children’s authors and illustrators will gather for the inaugural Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival. One of the first popular authors to confirm attendance is Jacqueline Wilson, who penned The Story of Tracy Beaker, Lola Rose and Jacky Daydream, among many others.
The festival encourages children to ‘come and meet singing mermaids, daring dragons, Groovy Greeks, cuddly bears and many more wonderful characters.’ Budding authors and illustrators will also get the chance to show their hand at writing and drawing.
Kew Easter Egg Hunt
29 March-14 April 2013, Kew Gardens, London
www.kew.org/events
Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate – what better way to celebrate Easter than to let the children loose on the Easter Egg Hunt at Kew Gardens, where collecting tokens around the site will lead to a delicious chocolate treat from the Easter Bunny himself. Kids will discover where chocolate comes from on the Gardens’ chocolate-themed trail, chocolate workshops and arts and crafts activities during the Easter holidays.
Camp Bestival
1-4 August 2013, Lulworth Castle, Dorset, south England
www.campbestival.net
A perennial family favourite, Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle in Dorset – just over an hour from the coastal town of Southampton and its international airport – is big on kids entertainment. As well as plenty of space for little ones to run around there are a multitude of activities, shows, theatre workshops, bouncy castles as well as separate Toddlers’ Area. Elsewhere, the Lower Kids Garden offers entertainment for older siblings; previous festivals have welcomed the English National Ballet and the Insect Circus and Museum.
Just So Festival
16-18 August 2013, Rode Hall Parkland, Cheshire, north-west England
www.justsofestival.org.uk
Less than an hour south of Manchester the Just So Festival in Cheshire has been designed for families with small children. Set in the Grade II-listed park and gardens of the beautiful stately home Rode Hall, previous festivals have featured activities ranging from jive dancing lessons to bedtime stories in the 40 Winks tent. Baby facilities include a dedicated baby changing tent, with changing mats, nappies and wipes, plus there is baby feeding boudoir, electricity points for bottle warmers and sterilisers and baby bathtime is held in a special tent of baby baths, warm water and bubbles.
Lollibop
August 2013 (TBC), Regent’s Park, London
www.lollibopfestival.co.uk
Created for the amusement of under 10s, this 3-day event is the UK’s only festival where all the entertainment is for children. While 2013’s dates are yet to be confirmed, past festivals have included shows, activities, music and dancing. The festival aims to make the day out simple for all the family, so buggy parks are provided and staffed, baby food is available, there are play areas, mini disco and arts areas specifically designed for the under 4s, as well as baby yoga, salsa and baby sensory activities.
Roald Dahl Day
13 September 2013, UK-wide
www.roalddahlday.com
Whizzpopping, scrumdiddlyumptious celebrations can take place on 13 September each year in honour of legendary children’s author Roald Dahl’s birthday. Celebrate with a trip to see either Matilda The Musical or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical (previews from 18 May) – based on his famous novels – in London’s West End. Or visit Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire – an hour north-west of London – home to The Roald Dahl Museum, or the Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery in nearby Aylesbury.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
October (TBC), Edinburgh, Scotland
www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk/festival/scottish_storytelling_festival.asp
A love for fairy tales often starts at a young age and the Scottish International Storytelling Festival presents live storytelling events, regularly involving craft and storymaking activities, that are designed for children and their families; each event listing carries information on age suitability, so everyone in the family can enjoy the event.
Imagine Festival
11-24 February 2013, Southbank Centre, London
www.southbankcentre.co.uk/imagine
For two weeks in February, more than 100 free and ticketed events will run for children at one of London’s leading arts venue, the Southbank Centre. Kids can enjoy games and trails to follow throughout the whole centre and activities are tailored towards all ages; think opera for babies to vampire-themed Valentine’s Day celebrations for teens. Further highlights include children’s theatre, animated films, readings from top children’s authors and a chance to get close to life-size dinosaur puppets.
Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival
20-24 March 2013, Cardiff, Wales
www.cardiffchildrenslitfest.com
Some of the UK’s best contemporary children’s authors and illustrators will gather for the inaugural Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival. One of the first popular authors to confirm attendance is Jacqueline Wilson, who penned The Story of Tracy Beaker, Lola Rose and Jacky Daydream, among many others.
The festival encourages children to ‘come and meet singing mermaids, daring dragons, Groovy Greeks, cuddly bears and many more wonderful characters.’ Budding authors and illustrators will also get the chance to show their hand at writing and drawing.
Kew Easter Egg Hunt
29 March-14 April 2013, Kew Gardens, London
www.kew.org/events
Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate – what better way to celebrate Easter than to let the children loose on the Easter Egg Hunt at Kew Gardens, where collecting tokens around the site will lead to a delicious chocolate treat from the Easter Bunny himself. Kids will discover where chocolate comes from on the Gardens’ chocolate-themed trail, chocolate workshops and arts and crafts activities during the Easter holidays.
Camp Bestival
1-4 August 2013, Lulworth Castle, Dorset, south England
www.campbestival.net
A perennial family favourite, Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle in Dorset – just over an hour from the coastal town of Southampton and its international airport – is big on kids entertainment. As well as plenty of space for little ones to run around there are a multitude of activities, shows, theatre workshops, bouncy castles as well as separate Toddlers’ Area. Elsewhere, the Lower Kids Garden offers entertainment for older siblings; previous festivals have welcomed the English National Ballet and the Insect Circus and Museum.
Just So Festival
16-18 August 2013, Rode Hall Parkland, Cheshire, north-west England
www.justsofestival.org.uk
Less than an hour south of Manchester the Just So Festival in Cheshire has been designed for families with small children. Set in the Grade II-listed park and gardens of the beautiful stately home Rode Hall, previous festivals have featured activities ranging from jive dancing lessons to bedtime stories in the 40 Winks tent. Baby facilities include a dedicated baby changing tent, with changing mats, nappies and wipes, plus there is baby feeding boudoir, electricity points for bottle warmers and sterilisers and baby bathtime is held in a special tent of baby baths, warm water and bubbles.
Lollibop
August 2013 (TBC), Regent’s Park, London
www.lollibopfestival.co.uk
Created for the amusement of under 10s, this 3-day event is the UK’s only festival where all the entertainment is for children. While 2013’s dates are yet to be confirmed, past festivals have included shows, activities, music and dancing. The festival aims to make the day out simple for all the family, so buggy parks are provided and staffed, baby food is available, there are play areas, mini disco and arts areas specifically designed for the under 4s, as well as baby yoga, salsa and baby sensory activities.
Roald Dahl Day
13 September 2013, UK-wide
www.roalddahlday.com
Whizzpopping, scrumdiddlyumptious celebrations can take place on 13 September each year in honour of legendary children’s author Roald Dahl’s birthday. Celebrate with a trip to see either Matilda The Musical or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical (previews from 18 May) – based on his famous novels – in London’s West End. Or visit Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire – an hour north-west of London – home to The Roald Dahl Museum, or the Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery in nearby Aylesbury.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
October (TBC), Edinburgh, Scotland
www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk/festival/scottish_storytelling_festival.asp
A love for fairy tales often starts at a young age and the Scottish International Storytelling Festival presents live storytelling events, regularly involving craft and storymaking activities, that are designed for children and their families; each event listing carries information on age suitability, so everyone in the family can enjoy the event.