Buying artwork and pictures
13/04/16 17:35 Filed in: Art
Dos and Don'ts of Buying Artwork
Image: The Back Garden by Maureen Greenwood.
Along with the knowledge of books, music and movies, knowledge of art also signifies cultural sophistication. Collecting contemporary artwork is an enjoyable process for art lovers. An increasing number of people now want a piece of art to embellish their homes and offices. Buying artwork is not as simple as it might seem to some. Let us take a look at some Dos and Don’ts of buying artwork:
Research thoroughly before buying
You do not need to be an art expert before buying but some prior research is necessary. Search on the Internet about different galleries. Buying art online may also be a good option, buying art online is a lot more popular and many galleries offer 14-day returns. However, be wary of the fakes. Read about the artist and the gallery and check for good reviews.
Do not rush
Sometimes, you may think that you have found the perfect piece of art. But being hasty is not a good idea. Think about it for some time. Does it blend well with your home? Will it have the same effect on you five years later? Answering questions like these will help you a lot before buying art.
Buy art that means something to you
Just like music, art is also about feelings and emotions. It is about human connections. Buy something that speaks to you and makes you feel things differently. Learn the story behind it. It may make you feel happy, sad, nostalgic or surprised every time you see it. The same piece of art can strike a chord with you, and possibly mean nothing to another person. Choose what you like best.
Do not try to follow others when buying art
One mistake that many people make when buying art is that they try to follow the pack. Your friend may have bought a famous painting from a well-known French artist. It does not necessarily mean that you buy that same piece of art. Art is unique. Create your own taste. Do not get influenced by peer pressure.
Choose art that you can cherish for a long time
You are most likely to keep the piece of art you bought for a long time. Therefore, choose something that you can appreciate whenever you look at it. It should be engaging and active; something that inspires deep emotions.
Do not buy art that hides into the background
Art needs to be attended and looked at. If it hides in the background, there is no point in keeping it. Make sure that everything fits in perfectly. Both your artwork and your furniture deserve separate attention.
Do not forget to ask for an authentication certificate
Finally, do not make a purchase from an unreliable source. Make sure that you have some proof about the authenticity of the piece you are buying. This will protect you from fakes.
For more tips and advice about buying artwork online visit: www.art2arts.co.uk
Brooklands Museum
13/04/16 17:01 Filed in: Local
Re-Engineering of Brooklands gets budget boost
Brooklands Museum took a major step forward in its ground-breaking Re-Engineering Brooklands redevelopment programme with the announcement in last week’s Budget of a £1million grant from the Government. The award coincides with the start of construction work at the Museum to enable the re-interpretation of key parts of Brooklands’ aviation and motorsport history.
The Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival project is an £8million programme of work which will see the Grade-2-listed Aircraft Hangar restored and re-opened as the Brooklands Aircraft Factory. The new exhibition will display aircraft and objects dating back to the birth of British aviation, enabling visitors to see the individual stages of aircraft design and manufacture and try these skills out for themselves. Alongside the Hangar, a new Flight Shed will be built to display working historic aircraft and provide environmentally controlled storage for Brooklands’ unique archive and a new restoration workshop.
As part of its restoration the Bellman Hangar will be moved from its current position on the Finishing Straight of the original 1907 Race Track to an adjacent site, allowing that part of the track to be restored to its pre-World War Two condition. For the first time since 1939, the key elements of the world’s first purpose-built motor-racing circuit, the Finishing Straight, banked Track, Clubhouse and Paddock will be seen together, as the legendary pre-War racing drivers would have seen them.
Key parts of the project are to inspire young people in the STEM subjects and also to provide an Aviation Heritage Skills course for the Museum’s volunteers to enable them to look after the Museum’s extensive collection of historic aircraft.
A successful fundraising campaign, including an award of nearly £5million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, had seen work start on the site last October, but rising construction costs as well as the clearing of land which had been contaminated during the site’s aircraft manufacturing history had left a funding gap which needed filling to ensure the project could go ahead. Following a meeting with Brooklands’ local MP the Rt Hon Philip Hammond, the Museum applied to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for support from the LIBOR Fund, which was granted in the Budget.
Mr Hammond said: “I have always taken a close interest in the development of Brooklands Museum and, when Director Allan Winn told me about the potential delays in progressing the Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival Project because of the increase in building costs, I was glad to be able to offer to approach the Chancellor of the Exchequer to explore whether the Project could be supported with LIBOR funding.
“So I am delighted that the Chancellor has recognised the exceptional importance of the Museum by providing £1 million in funding to bridge the gap and allow this fantastic Project to go ahead.”
Allan Winn, Director and CEO of Brooklands Museum, said: “This support from the Chancellor of the Exchequer is crucial to enabling the delivery of our ambitious plans for the site and to help us tell the extraordinary story of Brooklands’ role in British aviation history. We are very grateful to the Chancellor for his support and to Philip Hammond MP for his role in helping us secure it”.
The Brooklands Aircraft Factory, the new Flight Shed and the restored section of Race Track are scheduled to open in summer 2017.
Brooklands Museum
BROOKLANDS - the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit, constructed at Weybridge, Surrey in 1907 - was more than a great sporting arena. Brooklands was the birthplace of British motorsport and aviation, home of Concorde and the site of many engineering and technological achievements throughout eight decades of the 20th century.
The Museum displays a wide range of Brooklands-related motoring and aviation exhibits ranging from giant racing cars, motorcycles and bicycles to an unparalleled collection of Hawker and Vickers/ BAC-built aircraft, including the Second World War Wellington Bomber, Viking, Varsity, Viscount, Vanguard, VC10, BAC One-Eleven and the only Concorde with public access in South East England. With displays in original buildings, motoring and aviation events and an extensive learning programme for schools and colleges, the past is brought to life again for over 185,000 visitors a year.
The Museum is open 360 days a year from 10am to 4pm (10am – 5pm in summer) and the admission prices are Adults £11, Seniors £10, Children (5-16 yrs) £6, Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) £30 with supplements payable for the half hour Concorde Experience and 4D Theatre rides.
Visit www.brooklandsmuseum.com for more information.
Two special fundraising shows for Hinchley Wood School
13/04/16 16:09 Filed in: What's On
'How lion became king of Tinga Tinga land'
Local community brings west end theme - 11am and 1pm, April 16th
A brightly coloured, energetic and fun children's show due to play London's West End in May comes to the local community of Hinchley Wood this week.
How Lion Became King Of Tinga Tinga Land is set for two special performances on Saturday April 16th at 11am and 1pm at Hinchley Wood School (Claygate Lane, Hinchley Wood, Esher, KT10 0AQ).
With current theatre charges making a family trip to the theatre cost over £50 for a children's show, St Christopher’s Community Hub are bringing the theatre to the local community at a price everyone can afford.
Tickets are priced £4-£10 and are available now from
St Christopher’s Church Office - 0208 398 9095.
The two performances are being staged as special fundraisers for Hinchley Wood School.
How Lion Became King Of Tinga Tinga Land is one of the best children’s shows around for three to seven year olds. It’s engaging and absorbing and encourages the children to sing along.
That it is so good should come as little surprise, though, because its writer and director is Iain Lauchlan, the creator of Tweenies. One of children’s TV’s most seasoned presenters, directors, writers and producers, Iain also created Fun Song Factory and presented Finger Mouse as well as the hugely popular Tweenies.
The story of How Lion Became King Of Tinga Tinga Land is straightforward enough. Banjoko the Toucan flies to Africa to warn all the animals of a danger that threatens their homeland. Deciding a king is needed to ward off this danger, a group of jungle animals vie for the job. When threatened by a pack of hungry hyenas, however, they realise there is only one animal brave enough to be king, Lutalo the lion.
The show is a complete visual treat and with enough action and audience participation to engage even the shyest child. Every animal has its own story and the musical arrangements that accompany the show provide an authentic foot-tapping African rhythm.
The accompanying award-winning book by Brian Hill and Matthew Howorth has illustrations by D.W Murray who worked on Cars and Lilo and Stitch for Disney.
Brooklands Museum
06/04/16 22:28 Filed in: What's On
The Brooklands Double Twelve Motorsport Festival 18-19 June 2016
Silver theme takes the stage as entries open for unique motoring event at Brooklands Museum.
Entries are now open for the 2016 Brooklands Double Twelve Motorsport Festival, organized by Brooklands Museum and the Vintage Sports-Car Club.
The well-established format of three separate competitive events (Speed Trials, Driving Tests and Concours d’Élégance) held over two days, with aggregate scores from any two going towards overall Double Twelve awards, continues. But the status of the Concours is raised this year with its own full awards and the inclusion of a special “Anything Silver” class in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the official opening of the Museum in 1991.
In true Brooklands tradition, the Double Twelve Motorsport Festival will be held on the weekend closest to the date the original track opened in 1907, which this year is 18th and 19th June.
The three stand-alone competitive events are:
• The Double Twelve Speed Trials (Sprint) on the Mercedes-Benz World Circuit on Saturday
• The Double Twelve Concours held at the Museum across both days
• The Double Twelve Driving Tests on both sites on Sunday
The structure of the competitions allows entrants to choose which elements best suit them and their vehicle across both days making full use of the historic terrain at Brooklands and the circuit at neighbouring venue Mercedes-Benz World. For the first time this year, all three competitions will have their own individual awards, in addition to the aggregate trophies – hitherto, the Concours results have only been recognized as an element of the aggregate awards.
The classes within each competition are structured to give all ages of car from veterans to 1970s classics, and all types from nimble sports cars and thoroughbred racers to stately tourers, an equal chance of picking up an award, making this a very inclusive weekend for competitors, and an enthralling one for spectators.
Saturday’s Speed Trials are essentially for Pre-war cars (but do include an Invited class for 1950s Sports Cars) and this year will form a round of the VSCC’s inaugural MSA-registered Speed Championship; the Driving Tests and Concours are open to vehicles up to the 1970s, and include classes for vehicles of a type that could have raced at Brooklands had the track re-opened after World War Two, such as Jaguar XK120s and AC Cobras.
The special “Anything Silver” class for the Concours, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the official opening of Brooklands Museum to the public in 1991, caters not only for cars with silver-painted or polished aluminium coachwork, but also those with “silver” in their model names, such as Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts. Other notable classes in the other competitions include one for that perennial favourite, the aeroplane-engined Edwardian car, in the Speed Trials, alongside those for standard and modified sports-cars of differing eras.
Each event will have its own class and overall winners, but to qualify for a Brooklands Double Twelve award, an entrant must compete in any two of the three events and the combined scores of these will decide their Double Twelve placing.
A full list of classes now appears on the Double Twelve pages of the Museum website and at the VSCC website at www.vscc.co.uk, along with entry forms to download. All the up-to-date Festival information can be found on the Double Twelve button at www.brooklandsmuseum.com. Entrants are offered the exclusive use of a hospitality area in the charming, period splendor of the Edwardian Clubhouse, the chance to drive on motoring ‘hallowed ground’ and when competing, will be in the capable hands of the VSCC and Brooklands Marshals.
In addition to the competitive events, there is a list of other attractions throughout the weekend. The Vintage Mobile Cinema will be in attendance, showing period Brooklands films and news reel footage during both days, the Test Hill Challenge will be running on both days, providing much merriment as it invites practically anything on wheels (or legs) to reach the summit of that most famous peak, with Sunday lunchtime seeing a cavalcade of vehicles on the Mercedes-Benz World circuit.
Many Car Clubs will be coming along to showcase their cars, and the Sinclair C5s will be back. The weekend will culminate in the prize-giving ceremony in the main Paddock on the Sunday. For spectators, a day ticket gives access to all areas on both sites, Paddock and grandstand views along with the Museum's exhibits, collections and facilities.
Spectator tickets will be at the normal Museum admission prices of £11 for adults, £10 for Seniors and Students, £6 for Children (aged 5-16) and £30 for a Family ticket admitting 2 adults and up to 3 children. The Concorde Experience is £5 for adults and £3 for children, and rides in the 4D Theatre, including the Napier-Railton Experience, are £4 for adults and £2 for children. Visit www.brooklandsmuseum.com for more information.
Entry forms are now available on the Brooklands Museum and VSCC websites or for further information about the competitive events and the Test Hill Challenge, please contact Steve Castle, Head of Track & Air Events at the Museum at stevecastle@brooklandsmuseum.com or call 01932 857381 ext 244 or the VSCC Competitions Department at comps@vscc.co.uk or call 01608 644777 Ext 4.