NZ Affordable Art Show a huge success

MEDIA RELEASE
August 4, 2007

NZ Affordable Art Show a huge success

Executive Director Carla Russell of the New Zealand Affordable Art Trust is gob-smacked at the level of interest in locally produced quality art at this year’s affordable art show in Wellington, “if sales of this year’s show are any indication of the market”.

Into its fourth year the show has already exceeded last year’s gross revenue with a day to run.

Russell says, as at 4pm Saturday afternoon the show topped the $700,000 mark of sales compared to a total of $646,000 for total sales over the four days of the show last year.

“There is a real strong demand for Kiwis to have a piece of locally produced art in their homes – affordability does not mean quality is compromised. We have had more than 3500 artworks on sale by 833 artists from North Cape to Bluff and their work is simply outstanding”

The show has one day to run and Russell expects the $800,000 mark to be threatened, up 25 percent overall on last year. Artists pay only a 15 percent commission on sales to cover the show’s expenses.

The show was started in Wellington in 2004 based on similar shows in London, New York and Sydney. Sales for the first year were $395,000, 2005 $493,000 and 2006 $646,000. So far this year 1149 pieces have been sold compared to 1250 pieces for the whole show last year.
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