Festival set to highlight work of leading artists living in city

In September I will be participating in Vault. This is what the Evening Times has to say about the event.


The Briggait is to host a new event set to encourage people to buy work by Glasgow’s world-renowned artists.

In September, the former fish market will host Vault, a festival involving 12 galleries from around Glasgow.

Artists living in the city have won international acclaim in recent years, with a number of Turner Prize winners and nominees living and working in the city.

Organisers of Vault want the public to support artists by buying their work.

Neil Butler is artistic director of UZ Arts, the cultural group organising the event.

He said: “We want this to be a major celebration of the exciting work being produced by Glasgow’s artists.

“At these times when it is difficult for everyone working in the cultural industries to make a living, it is important to encourage people to consider buying art.

“This festival will bring money into the city and, more importantly, create an economy which supports artists.

“When people make a decision about how their house should look, what better thing can they possibly do than buy a piece of work that makes their home a more interesting place to live and supports the person working to make that art?”

The show will be curated by Patricia Fleming, who was recently involved in Channel 4’s Big Art Project, which created public art projects around Britain.

She said: “Visitors can meet artists while engaging with innovative galleries, studios and artist-led initiatives not necessarily on the familiar gallery circuit.”

Councillor George Redmond is chairman of Glasgow Life, which is helping to fund the £40,000 event.

He said: “There has never been a more exciting time for the contemporary arts scene in Glasgow.

“Vault will see the newly refurbished Briggait building brought to life, and it promises to be one of the most popular contemporary arts events of the year.”

Glasgow artists Richard Wright and Susan Philipz won the Turner Prize in 2009 and last year, while Martin Boyce and Karla Black were placed on this year’s shortlist.

Vault is supported by Creative Scotland’s Own Art scheme, which offers the public interest-free loans of between £100 and £2000 to buy art and craft.

Jasper Hamill

The article was published in the Evening Times on Wednesday 3rd August 2011

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/festival-set-to-highlight-work-of-leading-artists-living-in-city-1.1115503?50571