The organisers of the Art Car Boot Fair (ACBF) have risen to the challenge posed by the Covid-19 pandemic by developing an online version of their famously exuberant one-day event. The first ever Viral Art Car Boot Fair will take place exclusively online on Sunday 20th September between 12 – 6pm, with Gavin Turk, Polly Morgan, Marcus Harvey, Sara Pope, Helen Beard, Pam Hogg and Pure Evil joining the line-up of over 100 artists. Says Karen Ashton, founder of the Art Car Boot Fair: ‘We’d been thinking of developing a digital counterpart to our Live Art Car Boot Fair events for some time, both to extend our reach and to access new audiences. The challenges presented by the global pandemic have pushed us in a new and exciting direction.’
The ACBF team are also taking this opportunity to launch a new membership programme alongside its online debut. For a special half-price introductory offer of only £12 for the year, new members will be able to access the inaugural digital Art Car Boot Fair, as well as all other upcoming digital events over the coming year, 25% off tickets for future live events, exclusive offers with ACBF partner organisations and discount vouchers redeemable on selected artworks. Indeed, those who purchase membership before the 1st September will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 voucher to spend at this year’s fair. The fair will be delivered through a specially created event website.
Each artist will have their own virtual car boot ‘pitch’ featuring not only all of their artworks, but also specially created films and live links direct to the artists’ studios. Just as with ACBF Live events, the Viral edition will offer direct access to a fantastic line-up of artists, all of whom will be making work especially for the day and selling for astonishing ‘boot fair’ prices. There will be countdowns, virtual queues, waiting rooms, art drops, exclusive editions, lots of originals and a myriad of ways for visitors to get involved, including artist-led experiences, quirky interactions from artists like Mr Bingo and the Misfortune Teller, and a few surprises to boot. And there’ll be another chance to scoop up even more fantastic art bargains at the free access 'Everything Must Go' follow-up event on Monday 21st September, 6 – 8pm. Ashton adds: ‘We hope that this year’s digital event will deliver all the anticipation, frivolity and anarchic delight that has made the Art Car Boot Fair such a roaring success for the past 15 years.’ The full line-up of participating artists will be announced in the first week of September. The artists confirmed thus far include: Gavin Turk Pam Hogg Jealous Gallery L-13 Amelia Troubridge Kate Knight Nina Fowler Sara Pope Keira Rathbone Flying Leaps Christian Furr Tracey Neuls Sophy Rickett Hi-Noon Camille Phoenix Wildcat Will Holly Allan Margi McDaid Jess Albarn David Edmond Holly Allan Quiet British Accent Heath Kane Julia Maddison Adam Dant Ian Dawson Abigail Fallis Rankin Helen Beard Polly Morgan Kristjana Williams Pure Evil Art on a Postcard Smithson Gallery Mr Bingo Jake Clark Misfortune Teller Geraldine Swayne Turps Banana Marcus Harvey Carrie Reichardt Lady Muck Wilma Johnson Artists Pledge/Matthew Burrows Paul Davis Worton Hall Studios Susie Hamilton Kelly-Anne Davitt Wilfred Wood Alice Herrick Rob & Nick Carter Rachel Megawhat Wilfrid Wood David Saunders Robert Rubbish Trolley Books