With the doors to Affordable Art Fair Stockholm opening very soon (10 – 13 October, Nacka Strandsmässan), here’s your go-to guide to the top activities at the fair. Don’t miss out on any of the exciting action – take 5 minutes to read Fair Director, Bernice Glimberg’s top tips and join in with all the fun!

TOP TIPS FOR AFFORDABLE ART FAIR STOCKHOLM 2019

Hello! I can hardly believe that another year has passed, and we’ll soon be opening the eighth edition of Affordable Art Fair Stockholm. We’ve been working hard throughout the year to create a fair packed with more affordable art than ever, plus a programme brimming with creative activities and exciting installations. Read on for my checklist of ‘not to be missed’ features at the fair.

1. Art After Work hosted by Campo Viejo: including live painting with Marcelina Amelia

My favourite night at the fair is our After Work event – which as you know has become a cultural staple in Sweden! This year we’re thrilled to welcome UK based contemporary artist Marcelina Amelia who will be creating her mixed-media works live during the evening (10 October, 17:00 – 21:30). Marcelina, who is an Affordable Art Fair firm favourite, draws inspiration from her Polish heritage, religious iconography, folk tales, as well as childhood memories, the power of dreams, spirituality, sexuality, and the human condition.

Together with our partner Campo Viejo we’ll make sure that you can watch Marcelina work live and browse 1000s of other contemporary works with a delicious drink in hand – it’s going to be an evening far from the ordinary After Work! Bring a date, your friends or family for an arty evening of entertainment.

2. Charitable organisation: Art Therapy with Agneta, Carolina Gynning and Mind

Each year we carefully choose a charitable initiative to feature at the fair, this year we’re focussing on a cause which is very close to our hearts – Art Therapy. To highlight this worthwhile therapeutic practice, we’re super excited to have partnered not only with charitable organisation Mind, but with artists Carolina and Agneta Gynning to help raise awareness.

Carolina and Agneta are hugely passionate about Art Therapy and the two very special artists have not only committed to contribute 10% of the Studio Gynning gallery sales at the fair to Mind, they will also be holding an Art Talk on the relationship between creating art and wellbeing which takes place on Friday 11 October, 3 – 4pm, AND they have each donated an artwork with 100% of the proceeds of the sale going directly to Mind, to helping raise awareness about mental health. Phew!

3. Special Exhibition: Recent Graduates

One of my favourite areas of the fair is the Recent Graduates exhibition. We pride ourselves on bringing fresh new art to the fair, and it is so exciting seeing works by these burgeoning artists, who have some serious talent! This year we’ve partnered with two new curators, Sofia Jonsson and Lauren Johnson who have travelled the length and breadth of Sweden to select the eight carefully selected artists. Not only can you snap up a bargain, you’ll also be investing in the future careers of these young creatives.

4. Join in with a workshop: Create a mural with Kristofferskolan

Personally, whenever I am at an exhibition or art fair – I am so inspired that I can’t wait to create something myself. The good news is – you can do just this at Affordable Art Fair Stockholm! During the weekend of the fair, the Waldorf school Kristofferskolan will be creating an enormous mural based on work by Italian Renaissance painter Botticelli. Snap up a ticket to the fair and you’ll be able to join one of their one-hour workshops, during which you can join in with a group of 16 participants, each creating a piece of the artwork puzzle to be joined together to form the mural. The final work will build as the fair progresses, being completed by the end of the fair on Sunday.

The workshops are ideal for both adults, and children over ten years – no experience or Botticelli knowledge required! The workshop is free of charge and no booking is necessary (timings can be found on our what’s on page), aside from your entry ticket of course!

5. Dive in: Art, art, and more art!

It may be a given. But we just can’t get over the fact that we’re gathering 60 galleries from all over the globe, who in turn will be bringing hundreds of artists with 1000s of artworks at the fair for our you to browse through (and maybe take home)! It’s no understatement when we say that we have art for every taste, space and budget! Get a sneak peek at just a few of the line up in our art preview.

6. Bring the little ones: Stroller Hour with Babyshop.se

A new program launching at the Stockholm fair this year is Stroller Hour! A fun and accessible way for parents to enjoy the fair, discover art and shop with their little ones, hassle-free. On Saturday 12 October we’ll be opening the doors to the fair one hour earlier than normal (10 – 11am), and we’re calling all art-loving parents and mini-collectors to join us for an engaging and creative Saturday morning. PLUS, the first 100 families will receive a Babyshop.se goodie bag! You’ll need a special ticket for Stroller House, which you can purchase online in advance.

7. Tantalise your taste buds at La-Plaza

This year we have a new concept for our restaurant, we’ll be bringing the outdoors, indoors! Together with Campo Viejo we’ll be serving Spanish inspired dishes, from light plates to warming soups within a nature-inspired atmosphere. So, don’t risk getting fair-fatigue, break up your visit by stopping at La-Plaza and taking some time to reflect on all the works you’ve seen while indulging yourself with something yummy.

8. Platform project: Hidden Talents Exhibition

We all have them, those dream jobs, the ones that we know we’d be just perfect for. Our Hidden Talents exhibition is a Platform Project to help support artists that feel just this way about turning their passion for artmaking into a full-time career. The talented troop are yet to be represented by a gallery and are just longing to get that lucky break to enable them to step away from their day jobs. Our Hidden Talents programme helps to create a bridge between these artists, our art-collecting visitors and our galleries. Keep your fingers crossed for them, and don’t forget to stop by the exhibition while you’re at the fair.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my top tips for the fair, I can’t wait to welcome you, your friends and family when we open the doors. Don’t forget to snap up a ticket in advance and join us for another fantastic Affordable Art Fair Stockholm!

Main Image:
Sculptures by Ericka Stöckel and Ida-Johanna Lundqvist as a part of the Hidden Talent exhibition at Affordable Art Fair Stockholm.

Featured art from first to last:
Bernice Glimberg, Fair Director, Affordable Art Fair Stockholm.
Marcelina Amelia painting in her studio.
Artists Carolina Gynning and Agneta Gynning who are working with Mind Sweden to promote the benefits of art therapy.
Tina Umer, Gone Shopping, Inkjet print, 50 x 60 cm, 6,750 SEK, Recent Graduates Exhibition.
Gustaf Helsing, Overdosing on Nostalgia, fabric, 135 x 300 cm, 30,000 SEK, Recent Graduates Exhibition.
Join us for the very first Stroller Hour at Affordable Art Fair Stockholm.
Painting by Marta Leyva Oritz who is taking part in the Hidden Talent exhibition.

The creative desk and work of M O N J O I who is taking part in the Hidden Talent exhibition.