The Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair
First launched in 2015, The Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair takes place every year in May, in the stunning National Trust Property. The Marquee is installed nearby the 17th century castle inspired by the Baroque palaces of Europe. The thousands of visitors can admire and purchase a broad range of high-quality pieces, among which fine sculptures, antique furniture, jewellery, vintage watches, lightings, 19th century paintings, colorful carpets, clocks, delicate ceramics, etc. The wide price range allows all kinds of collectors – first-time buyers as seasoned art lovers – to purchase a unique artwork at the fair. Most of the exhibitors are members of The British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA) and LAPADA, the Association of Art & Antiques Dealers. The fair is organised by The Antiques Dealers Fair Limited which also stages The Mayfair Antiques & Fine Art Fair and manages The Northern Antiques Fair Fair.
Ingrid Nilson shares her views!
Director, The Antiques Dealers Fair Limited
The Petworth Park Fair 2024
Location
The Marquee
Petworth House and Park
Petworth, West Sussex GU28 0QY
United Kingdom
Dates
17 – 19 May 2024
Entrance Fee
General Admission: £5
Mediums
Painting
Sculpture
Furniture…
Art Periods
Antique
Contact
01797 252030
+44 1797 252030 outside the UK
Website
Insights The Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair
Ingrid Nilson
Director, The Antiques Dealers Fair Limited
What would you say is the DNA of The Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair?
The Petworth Park show is a happy collaboration between the fair itself, launched in 2015, the market town of Petworth in West Sussex and Petworth House, one of the National Trust’s most visited properties in the UK with the additional pull of housing a large amount of the nation’s art. By offering so much to see and enjoy in a day, the fair has become a magnet for a diverse audience and is a much anticipated annual event, benefiting many businesses in the local area.
What type of galleries are chosen to exhibit, and why?
Exhibitors are in the main drawn from The British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA) and LAPADA The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers, the UK’s main dealer associations, and also PAADA, the local association and one of the main supporters of our event. Dealers are chosen so the fair can continue to offer an exciting mix of high end period furniture and fine art alongside antique and decorative objects, jewellery and contemporary works of art.
What is the price range of pieces? Who is the average buyer?
The breadth of exhibits is mirrored by a wide range of prices, from the very affordable to six figure sums. The average buyer is often a member of the public acquiring something for their home or collection, and the fair has also become an important one-stop shop for interior designers and fellow art and antiques dealers.
“The fair has become a magnet for a diverse audience and is a much anticipated annual event, benefiting many businesses in the local area.”
© The Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair
Who is the typical attendee of The Petworth Park Fair?
The fair draws a discerning audience from the local area, surrounding counties and London, which is less than two hours away by road or rail. Because of the additional draw of the stately home and the town, which is known as ‘the antiques centre of the south’, visitors also come from all corners of the UK and sometimes the Continent, even the USA, to seek out the unique and delectable from their favourite exhibitors.
What strategy – physical as digital – will you adopt in medium to long term?
A virtual event took place in May 2020 as the physical fair had to be postponed. We were then extremely fortunate to be able to hold the fair over new autumn dates in September when the fair proceeded safely in glorious sunshine with Covid-19 protocols in place. Having a successful, socially distanced fair behind us, we are hopeful that the event can go ahead, as scheduled, between 7 and 9 May 2021.
What are two other art fairs you would suggest?
The Connect art fair is a relatively new initiative, staged in Mayfair, London and organised by a collective of art dealers – it brings a fresh approach and a nice atmosphere. The Olympia Art & Antiques fairs, also in London, are long running events of great stature and highlights of the summer and autumn seasons.
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