This is the first major decision to be taken by Clarion’s recently appointed management board of 10 exhibitors, who have been given responsibility for making executive decisions regarding the strategic development of the summer Olympia.
In recent years Clarion’s declared aim of changing the direction of their summer fair into a sleek, stylish, design-led international fair rather than the large, varied marketplace it once was, has led to some crisis of identity.
In 2005 it was The Summer Fine Art & Antiques Fair. Last year there was a deal of confusion when it became simply The Summer Fair, a fact which was addressed when this year it was renamed The Summer Fair Olympia followed by a sub-title Fine Art & Antiques.
While the move away from a straightforward antiques fair to a smart lifestyle event was the ambition of the management, it is telling that the dealers themselves when asked went straight back to unequivocally calling the fair what it is, the Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair.
This time the name should stay.
By David Moss
Antiques return as Clarion rename Olympia Summer fair
CLARION Arts, owners and organisers of the Olympia fairs, have announced a change of name for their June flagship fair – the third change of name in two years. It will run next year from June 5 to 15 as Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair.
