LECTURES, BOOK SIGNINGS AND MANY SPECIAL EVENTS ENHANCE THE LONDON INTERNATIONAL FINE ART FAIR at OLYMPIA

An insightful lecture series, book signings and myriad special events highlight the London International Fine Art Fair (LIFAF) at Olympia this June. This dynamic programme along with the largest summer slate of prestigious British and international dealers in London make LIFAF the most broad-ranging fine art and antiques event in the city. The fair opens to the public 4 June for a ten day run.

The LIFAF lecture series - unique to Olympia this June - brings together renowned experts on a variety of stimulating subjects. Featured talks include: Antiques and the Contemporary World, a discussion by Eliska Sapera, exhibition director of the British Institute of Interior Design (4 June, 2:30 pm); Stowe House: The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of an Architectural Masterpiece, delivered by Dr. Jonathan Foyle, Chief Executive of the World Monuments Fund Britain (7 June, 2:30 pm); and Sir Timothy Clifford's lecture titled Forty Years of Rape and Pillage: Buying Art for the Nation (9 June, 2:30 pm). Sir Timothy is the chairman of the fair and the former director of the National Galleries of Scotland. Each lecture is included with admission to LIFAF (full speaker biographies).

Special ticketed events further enhance the fair. A lecture over lunch is delivered by the distinguished history writer Lord John Julius Norwich (8 June, 1 pm). Lord Norwich will discuss his latest publication, The Great Cities in History, and his favourite city, Venice. Tickets are available at http://www.lifaf.com or by calling +44 (0) 871 230 5592. An evening debate presented by Sotheby's Institute of Art examines The State of the Art Market: A Return to Quality and Value (8 June, 5:30 pm). Among the speakers is Sotheby's own Dr. Iain Robertson, head of art business studies. This event will be ticketed at £15. Those wishing to book a place should contact Gillian McIlwaine directly at g.mcilwaine@sothebysinstitute.com or +44 (0) 207 462 2490.

Book Signings at Potterton Books will give visitors opportunities to meet expert authors, purchase specialist publications and add specially signed copies to their personal libraries. Signings include Judith Miller with Millers Antiques Handbook and Price Guide 2010 (5 June, 1pm); John Minshaw with John Minshaw Designs (7 June, 1pm); Mary Miers with The English Country House (8 June, 1pm); Henrietta Spencer Churchill with Classic English Interiors (8 June, 3pm); Adam Bowett with Early Georgian Furniture & English Furniture 1660-1714 (9 June, 1pm); Selina Baring MacLennan with Gaston la Touche (10 June, 1pm); and Charles Hajdamach with 20th Century British Glass & British Glass 1800-1914 (11 June, 1pm)(LIFAF Programme).

LIFAF exhibitors are adding their own unique programming to the fair. Bennett Fine Art hosts the Luna Poetry Competition, in conjunction with its exhibit Luna by Ann Lea Merritt. The painting was inspired by Percy Bysshe Shelley's noted poem, The Moon. Awards will be given at LIFAF for youth and adult winners who've submitted the best original poetry relating to the Moon.

LIFAF welcomes a rarely seen special exhibition in 2010, "Modern British Masters: Pictures from the Bryan Ferry Collection," an exceptional group of fifteen rarely seen works is representative of musician Bryan Ferry's passion for early twentieth-century British paintings which he has collected over thirty years. Returning to LIFAF Olympia after its successful debut last year is the Country Life - LAPADA Object of the Year competition, which brings together about 20 top objects for display and sale at the fair, with awards for the top three such objects given out during LIFAF.

This prestigious fair brings a large array of quality, expertise and accessibility and offers cultural entertainment as well as opportunities for acquisition. This year LIFAF will support Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres. Landscape architect Dr. Christine Facer will transform the newly designed fair space with the collectors' crescent, enlarged and airy dining and entertaining spaces with a unique Maggie's Tree of Hope: "A specimen flowering tree spreads its canopy like a metaphorical umbrella that is a Maggie's Centre," said Facer.

The calendar is packed with complementary events throughout London during LIFAF, including the nearby Victoria and Albert Museum's planned opening of phase two of its beautifully revitalised Ceramics Galleries (phase one opened last autumn). The renovation work on the noted galleries - originally opened in 1909 - began in 2005. Fair partner Bond Street holds its Culture & Heritage Week from 7-13 June, with special courtesy cars offered to shuttle fairgoers between the luxury shopping destination and Olympia.

With a 37 year history, LIFAF is London's largest and most established fair of its kind. Bringing together more than 150 prestigious British and international dealers with over 30,000 private buyers, curators, interior designers and devotees from around the world, the grand, historic venue of Olympia will be transformed into an arena for commerce for dealers, collectors and lovers of antiques, paintings of all periods, sculpture, furniture, modern design, jewellery, silver, textiles, books and objets d'art.

A 200 page full colour LIFAF catalogue priced £25 will be available for purchase through http://www.lifaf.com

PRESS

CONTACTS:

UK PRESS:
AANAL CHANDARIA / DAMIAN CHANDLER AT BRUNSWICK ARTS:
+ 44 (0) 20 7936 1271 / 1273
EMAIL: LIFAF@BRUNSWICKGROUP.COM