A successful Rotary Charity Art & Craft Fair 2023

The Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh was proud to present its 13th annual Reading Charity Art & Craft Fair at the end of October 2023. We thank all the exhibitors and members of the public for their valued support.

Our 2023 beneficiary will be: FEEDING COMMUNITIES

Feeding Communities provides healthy meals to support families struggling from food poverty or food insecurity within our local community. Visit Feeding Communities

To date, over £60,000 has been raised in support of local charities.

Preview evening

Friday 27th October
17.00–19.30hrs

Ticket entry

Public

Saturday 28th October
10.00–17.00hrs

Sunday 29th October
10.00–16.00hrs

Free entry

The Reading Charity Art & Craft Fair begins in: (Now closed)

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If you love art you will find something to fall in love with at our annual exhibition.

 

The Reading Charity Art and Craft Fair offers:

  • Paintings, ceramics and crafts by local people
  • Refreshments, sandwiches and cakes at the Art Cafe
  • Charity preview drinks and canapes evening
  • Free entry Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th October 2023
  • First rate venue
  • Ample free parking
  • Card payments accepted

If you are unable to attend and would like to make a donation, you can do so with our Just Giving link.

The Reading Charity Art & Craft Fair will offer artists, ceramicists and craft makers:

 

  • 100s of visitors to the exhibition as potential buyers
  • First class display facilities
  • High percentage of sales
  • Competitive registration fee for exhibitors/stall holders
  • Profile package for artists
  • The exhibition hall is on one level with excellent natural light
  • Refreshments, sandwiches and cakes for sale in the Inner Wheel Art Café
  • Profit from the art & craft fair will support FEEDING COMMUNITIES

Event Information

Venue

Leighton Park School
Oakview Centre
Pepper Lane Entrance
Reading
Berkshire, RG2 7DJ

The school is south of Reading town centre, close to Reading University and the Royal Berkshire Hospital. It is conveniently located near several major motorways and ‘A’ Roads, including the M4, A329 (M) and A4. The No 21 bus, which travels to and from the town centre, has a stop directly outside the venue at the Pepper Lane Entrance.

Parking and access

There is lots of free parking space and good access for delivery and collection of exhibits.  The exhibition hall is on one level with good access for those with disability or impairment. Please note, the school entrance nearest to the Art & Craft Fair venue is located in Pepper Lane.

Entry Fees and Commission Charges

Artists

Artists may exhibit up to six framed paintings or browsers.

A commission of 25% will be deducted from the sale price of all items sold and this will go to our charities.

Ceramicists and Craft Makers

A commission of 25% will be deducted from the sale price of all items sold and this will go to our charities.

Download the Art, Ceramics and Craft Entry Form:

Download the Ceramics and Craft Stock Sales Form:

Download the Terms and Conditions of Entry:

Delivery, Collection and Disassembly

Artwork

Delivery to Leighton Park School, Oakview Centre, Pepper Lane Entrance, Reading, Berkshire RG2 7DJ.

Thursday 26 October
10.30-17:00hrs

Friday 27 October
09:00-13:00hrs (by request)

Collection of unsold artworks between 17:00 and 18:00hrs on Sunday 29th October.

Ceramics and Craft Tables

Set up of table at Leighton Park School, Oakview Centre, Pepper Lane Entrance, Reading, Berkshire RG2 7DJ.

Friday 27 October
11:00-15:30hrs

Disassemble table 16:00–17:00hrs on Sunday 29 October.

Promotion of the Art & Craft Fair

Social media and the internet
Go to Facebook >

Go to Instagram >

Extensive network of voluntary networks across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire

Art, ceramic and craft maker networks

Site specific placement flyers, posters and banners

Local radio and press

Graphic display promotions

Judging of Art and Ceramics

A panel of judges will review art and ceramic entries prior to the preview evening.  The top entries and commendations in each category will be announced  during the preview evening. Read more about the judges below:

Rintje Barnes

Executive Creative Director,
Revere Agency Ltd.

Inspiring and creating is what Rintje loves to do every day, and leading a large talented team of creatives at Revere makes the experience complete. Having worked in the creative industry for over 25 years, her insight and experience ensures that the understanding of creative embraces new creative mediums to continuously produce work people love.

Past roles at Penguin books and Dorling Kindersley have also contributed to a keen understanding of art in its many forms, working with artists and illustrators to produce pieces for commercial use which ultimately makes for an appreciation for artists and their creations.

Emma Bothwell

Emma Bothwell is a Chair of the Thomas Franks Foundation, founded in 2019 by her husband Frank Bothwell. Emma has had a career in hospitality, human resources and training for over 30 years, and is determined to continue the work of the Foundation to give back to the community, supporting those in need and ultimately striving to end food poverty. A number of Emma’s family are highly skilled artists or craftsmen and art of all types is a joy which she holds dear and a form of expression which she highly reveres.

Richard Nicholson

Richard Nicholson is President of the Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh for the second time.

Richard was born in Saltburn on the North Yorkshire coast and has lived in Earley since 1986. Richard’s career was in Human Resources for large employers in the pharmaceutical and automotive sectors. His artistic interests are quite eclectic from classical landscapes and water colours to Bauhaus and on to contemporary works. He treasures the variety of paintings collected from years of attending Reading Charity Art and Craft Fair.

2023 Art & Craft Fair exhibits

A selection of entries from our most recent exhibition may be found below (click or tap to enlarge):

Preview Evening

Friday 27th October 2023
17:00 – 19:30hrs

In partnership with the Inner Wheel Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh, we are delighted to invite artists, ceramicists, craft makers, sponsors, friends and guests to a preview evening.  Visitors can meet artists, ceramicists, craft makers and judges in a friendly atmosphere whilst enjoying a glass of wine and canapés.

Exhibitors will qualify for one free ticket when they check-in with art work. Additional tickets may be purchased via the entry form at £10 per person or by emailing readingcharityartfair@gmail.com

About Us

The Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh has a membership of enthusiastic, fun loving men and women of action who care about local, national and international communities requiring a range of support.

Members enjoy a good social life and form friendships within the club and with many of those receiving their help.

The club has raised over £530,000 for charities, local and international projects since it was formed in 1989.

    Further information for those seeking to expand their horizons

    Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh

    www.readingmaidenerlegh.org

    Inner Wheel Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh

    www.innerwheelrme.org

    Beneficiaries of Previous Reading Charity Art & Craft Fairs

    The 2023 main beneficiary of the Reading Charity Art & Craft Fair is Feeding Communities.  In collaboration with the Thomas Franks Foundation we will provide healthy meals to support families within our communities.

     

    Previous fairs have benefitted many charities including:

    • Berkshire Hospital Staff Wellness Centre
    • Thames Valley Air Ambulance
    • Royal Berkshire Charity Faxitron scanner to improve the detection and treatment of breast cancer
    • Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice

    2023 Sponsors and Supporters

    Thank you for the sponsorship and support of the following organisations who are helping us to maximise our support for FEEDING COMMUNITIES.

    Primary Sponsors:

    Supporting Sponsors:

    Cotswolds Distillery

    Hook Norton Brewery

    IFIX Woodley

    MPT Electrical

    The Jolly Farmer, Hurst

    Paul Newman PHG

    TMT Business Services

    Rivers Cars

    Waitrose

    Watsons Groundscare & Landscape Specialists

    2M Builders Ltd.

    The Reading Charity Art & Craft Fair begins in:

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