Dates for your Diary – Merton Arts Trail

With the summer of 2014 about to be consigned to memory it is time, once again, for the popular Merton Arts Trail, an event held every September around the South London Borough of Merton.

It will be held this year at various locations over two weekends – 20/21st and 27/28th September.

Anyone in the market for a brilliant piece of art at a bargain, direct from the artist price, cannot go wrong with this event.

The artists literally throw open their doors to the browsing public and it works really well for everyone.

Artists get to showcase their work and sell a few pieces commission free while the customers have the opportunity to take a look at a wide variety of artwork without crossing the portals of a formal gallery, and usually without breaking the bank to get anything that takes their fancy.

Your first port of call should be the website for the event (http://mertonartstrail.org.uk) where you can find all the information that you need.  You will quickly see a link there to a well laid out catalogue which includes a comprehensive map of the all participating artists.

A quick browse through that should enable you to work out your own trail around the various exhibitions, taking in the ones that you most want to see.  It is pretty much guaranteed that there will be something there for everyone.

Just to whet the appetite there is a special preview of the event at Wimbledon Library.  There is a “hub” stationed there between 13^th and 18^th September featuring a few examples of the work on display during the coming event and some of the artists will be on hand for a chat.

This wonderful event is literally open to ANY artist who wishes to exhibit their own work, whether it is from your own home or studio or from alternative premises if this is not practical.  The aim is to get local artists’ work shown in any suitable place that is accessible to the viewing public.

Unlike many commercial art exhibitions this entire event is free to view and is an entirely non-profit making enterprise.  It is run by volunteers and any money raised (for example through advertising, sponsorship and artists’ entry fees) is all ploughed back into the event itself, ensuring its success year after year.

Everyone participating will enjoy the social nature of it.  Artists usually love talking about their work, whether or not you actually want to buy anything!  Browsers love the informality of it all and can get a great deal of enjoyment from meeting the artists.

If you are worried about missing some of the smaller venues then don’t!  Just look out for the balloons, banners and sponsored signs outside every location.  The artists will be delighted to see you so don’t pass them by.  You never know what you might find inside!

If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Southside Accountants Wimbledon & London.