I have done quite a few art fairs other the years, every show has there own preferred way of hanging your artwork so read their guidelines in advance and so that you have everything you need and have tried and tested it.
Here is me setting up for Manchester Art Fair, which is held in Manchester Central every Autumn.
Top Tips
Make a plan - making decisions takes up so much time, so if you can plan your stand layout before you get there it really helps. You don’t have to stick to it but it’s a great starting point. I measure out my stand on the living room floor and place all my pieces where I want them, making sure there is room for any furniture and browsers. I like to really fill my stand, it suits my style of art, but other artists much prefer a more clean minimalist look, you choose what is right for you. Planning really helps when you are setting up a stand on your own which I always do, its hard to step back and see if a piece looks right when you are up a ladder, and on to point 2.
Take a ladder - It helps so much and even though some fairs have them around to borrow, you know you won’t have to wait for one if you have your own. This does depend on high you intend to hang your work of course, I go pretty high up the wall to fit many pieces in.
The right tools - I hung my first show with a hand screw driver, now I take a bradawl (to make the initial hole) and an electric screwdriver, its so much easier. Most shows that have a hard board display system prefer you to use screws over nails, as banging nails in can shake the stands and effect artists work hanging on the back of your stand. I don’t measure or use spirit levels but many artists do. Some show require you to hang pictures without screws as they don’t have the hard boards, wires and chains can be used to hang and they should give examples of how to do this.
Get there early - I am usually one of the first to arrive, I’d much rather have time to sit down and eat some lunch than be still screwing things in as the first private view guests arrive. Pack your car the night before so you don’t have anything to do in the morning, its hard work lugging all your art around and setting up so the less you can do on the day the better. If the show is far away consider getting a hotel the night before so you aren’t knackered from the long drive and setting up. If you’ve not done one before it takes longer than you think so give yourself that extra time.
Get some ideas - Go to some shows and get some ideas of how you might like to display your art, I have seen some artists put up shelves and then just lean their frames on them so they can switch and change them around easily. Enjoy!
Here is my Manchester Art Fair stand completed…