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11/10/2010

Free Art Fair

Barbican Centre, London

50 acclaimed artists give away their works for free in the last ever Free Art Fair

Returning for the third and final time during Frieze week, The Free Art Fair promises to be bigger, better and more fun than ever. Staged at the Barbican Centre, The Free Art Fair will use the format of a curated museum scale exhibition, with a difference: on the last day of the show, the visiting public will be able to take away one piece of art of their choice.

An established fixture of the busiest week in the UK contemporary art scene, The Free Art Fair is a serious alternative to the commercial art fair frenzy, and a chance to remember that art is about more than just money. Organised entirely without any budget, the fair has been described as “the most radical departure from art fair commercialism”.

Even the artworks displayed are responding to the idea of free; the artists have been invited to create unique substantial pieces incorporating the concept of free, making the work they’ve always wanted to, without commercial constraint.

Marlene Dumas, Bob & Roberta Smith, Robin Mason, Harry Pye, Artists Anonymous, and Geraldine Swayne are just some of the contributing artists. After having been acclaimed in commercial exhibitions and major public shows they are now showcasing their work in the unique concrete interiors of the Barbican Centre, alongside a programme of performance art curated by artists and curators Lee Campbell and Frog Morris.

Visitors are invited to select the artwork they like the most. On the closing day, Sunday 18th, the public will queue to claim their choice; the first to choose a particular piece of art will be the lucky Free Art Fair Collector to take it home, until all the works have been allocated.

In 2008 the Free Art Fair’s artists gave away over £ 100,000 worth of art works; 2000 catalogues were given away, and thousands of people visited the exhibition. The giveaway was discussed as a counterpoint to the commercialisation of the art world in global media.
We are delighted to be home to the Free Art Fair for its grand finale. We hope as many people as possible will come to the Barbican to explore our spaces, discover wonderful works of art, and hopefully get to take something home with them on the last day of the exhibition. Kate Bush, Head of Galleries, Barbican Art Gallery

Participating artists include:
Artists Anonymous
Phil Ashcroft
Centre of Attention
Lee Campbell
Maria Chevska
Matthew Collings
Sacha Craddock
Stuart Cumberland
Adam Dant
Marlene Dumas
Stephen Farthing
Rose Finn-Kelcey
Jaime Gili
Rose Gibbs
Alex Hamilton
Peter Harris
Pablo Helguera
Russell Herron
James Howard
Catrin Huber
Saron Hughes
Lee Johnson
Sayshun Jay
James Jessop
Jasper Joffe
Sonia Khurana
Peter Lamb
Cathy Lomax
Amanda Loomes
Robin Mason
Bruce McLean
Hugh Mendes
Frog Morris
Alex Gene Morrison
Chloe Mortimer
Stephen Nelson

I thought we should do something different from what everyone else is doing at this time of year and non – commercial, and something that excites people and values art not selling. This gives anyone the chance to own a serious piece of art. Jasper Joffe, founder of the Free Art Fair

Image: Artists Anonymous, War, 2009

Issued by Idea Generation
T. +44 (0)20 77496850
IG Contact Details
Marta Bogna: marta@ideageneration.co.uk
Emily Airton: emily@ideageneration.co.uk

Barbican Art Gallery
Silk Street London EC2Y 8DS
Open
Monday 12 October to Thursday 15 October 9 am to 10 pm.
Friday 16 October 6.30 pm to 10 pm.
Saturday 17 October 9 am to 10 pm.
Sunday 18 October 11 am to 2 pm, and giveaway 2pm onwards
Entrance free

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