Announcing the Oxfordshire Artweeks Christmas Season

Hundreds of artists and designer-makers are preparing for the Oxfordshire Artweeks Christmas Season (from 12th November until 12th December), both welcoming visitors to venues across the county and on-line, with an on-line Winter exhibition, a Christmas Season Virtual Art Trail and an Instagram stories Art and Craft fair (Thursday 25th Nov 7-9pm). Jewellers, potters, painters, photographers, glass and textile artists, metal sculptors, stone carvers, and more will be presenting unique handmade gifts for under the Christmas tree.

“By shopping locally, and buying direct from artists and makers, you’re choosing unique gifts and because they’re locally-made there’s no need to worry about supply chain issues!” says Esther Lafferty, Festival Director. “There are lots of small covid-secure venues to choose from, and if anyone is wary of getting out and about too much, we are spreading the Oxfordshire Artweeks festive flavour on-line too!”

From 12th November, alongside dozens of venues and Christmas events at which you can find Artweeks artists for real, Artweeks are also hosting (at www.artweeks.org) an on-line winter show with more than 200 pieces on show from earrings for a Christmas stocking to tables for a festive feast; a virtual Christmas Art Trail with video and picture galleries from dozens of artists and makers; and an Instagram ‘Stories’ Art and Craft Fairs on Thursday 25th November. “Visitors need simply settle into a favourite seat with tipple of their choice and head to www.instagram/OxfordshireArtweeks to get first pick of the treasures on offer,” explains Esther. “If viewers see something they like, they simply get in touch with the maker directly to organise a purchase. People can also view all the pieces in our highlights after the event. We hope there’ll be something that suits everyone’s pocket and stocking too!”

ENDS

Notes to Editors
Physical venues will include:

Art @Christmas in Summertown
Abingdon Craft Fair (various Artweek artists)
Ayres House Studios, Wallingford
Charlotte Storrs’ Greenhouse Gallery, Culham
Elaine Allender’s Christmas Open Studio, Iffley Village
Fired Up Studios Open event, King’s Sutton
Holy Cross Church, Shipton upon Cherwell
Kingfisher Studios, Crawley Mill, Witney
Oxfordshire Craft Guild at Oxfordshire Museum
South Oxford Community Centre
Sue Side and David Williams’ Winter event, Cumnor
Waterperry Gardens market (various Artweeks artists)
Watlington Town Christmas market
West Ox Arts Galley, Bampton

From 12th November
See the Oxfordshire Artweeks on-line Winter Show at https://www.artweeks.org/latestshow
Take the Christmas Season Virtual Art Trail at www.artweeks.org/festival/theme/2021/christmas-art-trail
For more information and to plan your visits, visit www.artweeks.org
Images above by Nic Vickery, Guen Palmer and Robyn Hardyman

Oxfordshire Artweeks www.artweeks.org is a community organisation that presents Oxfordshire’s largest visual arts festival annually, a three-week celebration in May each year of the county’s artistic and creative talent, and the UK’s oldest and biggest Open Studios event during which as many as 2000 artists open the doors to their homes, studios and other interesting venues welcome the public to see their creations and watch them work. Each May approximately 100,000 people visit around 500 exhibitions and events across the county.

Further press information & a wide choice of photographs call Esther Lafferty 01367 242498 or 07715 640228; esther@artweeks.org