Rotary Charity Art & Craft Fair 2024

We thank all the exhibitors and members of the public for their valued support during the 2024 Reading Charity Art Fair. The majority of the funds raised will help provide healthy meals for families struggling from food poverty or food insecurity within our local community. Visit Feeding Communities

To date, over £70,000 has been raised in support of local charities.

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Preview evening

Friday 25th October
17.00 –19.30hrs
Ticket entry £10
To obtain tickets please send an e-mail to: readingcharityartfair@gmail.com stating the number required. You will receive an e-mail with details of our bank account to which you can make a transfer. You will get a confirmation email after the payment has been received, and your ticket(s) will be available at the entrance desk for the Preview event.

Public

Saturday 26th October
10.00 –17.00hrs 

Sunday 27th October
10.00 –16.00hrs

Free entry

Please feel free to make a donation, either on entry to the Fair or by the donation link here.

The Reading Charity Art & Craft Fair begins in:

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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
  • Entry Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th October 2024
  • 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. Click on the icon at the bottom left of the map to show an aerial view of the grounds and Oakview.

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 24 October
10.30 -17:00hrs

Collection of unsold artworks between 17:00 and 18:00hrs on Sunday 27th October.

Ceramics and Craft Tables

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

Friday 25 October
11:00 -15:30hrs

Disassemble table 16:00 –17:00hrs on Sunday 27 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 craft 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:

Mark Davies, Head of Art at Leighton Park School

Emma Bothwell, Director of the Franks Foundation

Scott Trathen, President of the Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh

 

2024 Art & Craft Fair exhibits

Below is a selection of entries from our most recent exhibition (click or tap to enlarge). An innovation this year is the Tim Thorpe Award for the best painting, as selected by the judges. The award is named after Rotarian Tim Thorpe who has been the leading organiser for three Art and Craft Fairs, including the current one until his untimely death in August 2024.

Preview Evening

Friday 25th October 2024
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

During the evening, local artist Emily Gillmor will be running a live screen-printing demonstration.

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 £600,000 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 the Reading Charity Art & Craft Fairs

    The 2024 main beneficiary of the Reading Charity Art & Craft Fair is again 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:

    • Food Banks and Food Share Organisations 
    • 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

    2024 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. We welcome any company or organisation which would like to support the Art and Craft Fair and in return they will be given recognition here on the website and also at the event. The logos and supporter names below contain live links to their websites.

    Primary Sponsors:

    Supporting Sponsors:

    The Reading Charity Art & Craft Fair begins in:

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