Trade Partners UK, the grant providing directorate of the DTI, is making available grants of up to £2300 to each of the 13 who are travelling to the 5th annual Chicago International Antiques and Fine Art Fair which will run from April 26 to 28. The money will be used for shipping costs and stand rents. BAMF bid annually for grants for the trade but this is their biggest success for some years.
The award has been welcomed by John Brennen III, Executive vice president of Merchandise Mart Properties, owners of the Chicago fair, who is delighted to see the biggest English representation to date at his event.
Edward Reily-Collins of Oxfordshire dealers Hallidays has been showing at Chicago since its launch and is very enthusiastic about the help to the British contingent. He told the Antiques Trade Gazette: “We have been involved in this fair since the beginning and whilst what you sell at the fair is obviously important, it is also the tremendous contacts you make. Some of our clients there have subsequently flown over to visit and buy from our showrooms here.”
Other LAPADA members going to Chicago include Billiard Room Antiques, Didier, Odyssey and The Silver Fund.
Dealers get grants to attend Chicago fair
British Art Market Federation lobbying has persuaded the Department of Trade and Industry to provide grants for 13 LAPADA members to exhibit at a Chicago antiques fair.
