Gosh, well that makes the point about mainly using social media to post about the business.
Since May:
Purbeck Art Weeks 2025
Unfortunately not a big success sales wise especially at Rollington Barn so I have decided that there won’t be a 10th consecutive year taking part and I am stepping away for 2026 as all of my finances must go into keeping the shop running. It will be interesting to see what difference this makes across May and June and May cause a reassessment of this decision for subsequent years.
Swanage Carnival Week 2025
The second year as a named activity in the programme saw 227 participants in Art for Fun in 5 shop days across carnival week and a new single day record with 80 drawing and in a 7 hour shop day only 5minutes saw no one drawing, there were 8 people queueing at the shop for 10 am!!
A second pair of carnival shorts produced and a postcard space sign sold alongside the carnival caravan, this didn’t really take off, but was a nice idea.
School summer holidays
With a week, left sales for August are down by 50% on 2024 which is something to monitor carefully. The Introduction to Art range has continued to be popular alongside cards and postcards. Print sales have been disappointing. The sale crate has seen several pieces go.
The economic reality for many is that phrases are not a priority..
Art for Fun
Well with a week to go the shop’s 4th year has seen 1200+ take part again, although August numbers post Carnival week have been hit by a series of hot spells which mean the beach is the daily focus for families unsurprisingly.
The donation charge has not been an obstacle with several families saying that they were glad that I am now charging as previous,g they felt guilty using my art materials. I now have a fund to pay for the art materials and after schools return I will be restocking on a much depleted marker set to use.
Guest Artists
After my first guest being abroad and unable to exhibit I shared some of my sketches from 2015/16 when I started my art journey and also made a number of my sketchbooks available for viewing. This is an aspect I will continue to have.
Guests have been ;
Mirek Lucan from Bournemouth of Lucan Art with a range of his postcards series.
Jo Martin from Swanage with embroidery and sea glass.
September will see an extra artist added after their first Purbeck Art Weeks participation in 2025. This might be a link to maintain going forwards possibly, but artists I know.
July and August slots for 2026 are already booked which is encouraging that others still want to exhibit in my space.
Video project
Some filming was done with Jacob, a former and founder of Art for Fun really who I have known since the age of 11 when he np ought a sample fridge magnet if my art in my first Purbeck Art Weeks in 2017.
Pier Journal
A magazine published by creatives and celebrating the creative community in BCP and beyond – getting involved with coordinating possibly distribution in the Heart of Swanage plus commissioned to write a piece for he Autumn / Winter edition and an upcoming inb photograph visit.
Dorset Coast Forum
The panels will be back up for a third season from mid September. I have also produced some other ideas for another art linked project and will be participating in their Coastal Champion promotion from Sept – November (subject to confirmation) and other outside classroom links as part of an ongoing relationship.
The heart of Swanage
Having stepped back previous,y when demands led to me becoming very anxious I am looking to be more involved again. A supporter has helped us develop the planting in the section the shop is in and this has gained positive feedback from visitors. We were named in an article in the Daily Telegraph about some of the businesses in Swanage including Drift.
A sort of review of what has been achieved in 18 months and which businesses are still interested in being involved but also the need for others to step up as myself, art in and Helen have not got the capacity to do it all.
Another aspect I hope to be linking with Pier Journal about.
(See above).
Lots still happening then, just not blogging regularly – who knows how many will read this… but an update was needed.
Andy