EC&O Venues Earls Court And Olympia

Events at both Earls Court and Olympia are continuing to show outstanding growth in visitor attendance despite the downturn.

At Earls Court, record numbers of museum professionals visited this year’s Museums & Heritage Show in May, with a 29% increase in visitor numbers and exhibitors reporting their best show ever. 

Event director Anna Preedy said: “We have had fantastic feedback from exhibitors and visitors alike, all suggesting that this year’s event delivered an excellent networking and business opportunity for the whole cultural community.”  Plans for next year’s show, which takes place 12 – 13May, include growth of the event with particular focus on the international market.

Similarly the Olympia International Art and Antiques Fair celebrated an outstanding 10% rise in visitors this year. 34,867 visitors, including the likes of Dustin Hoffman, the Hiltons, Piers Morgan and Tamara Beckwith, attended the show between 4 – 14 June.

The Fair’s Patron, Sir Timothy Clifford said: “In spite of the fact that we are in a difficult period, we had visitors from all over the world and attendance figures were excellent, it’s gratifying to note that we were up 10% compared to last year. And many of the dealers were delighted with their sales.”

Among the purchases at this year’s fair were Adrian Alan’s Linke bed which sold to a private buyer for a six figure sum and an emerald and diamond necklace sold by Greens of Cheltenham also for six figures.

The show’s organiser, Clarion Events, is now forging ahead with plans for the Winter Fine Art and Antiques Fair which takes place at Olympia between 16-22 November 2009.

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Notes to editors:

For further information please contact:

Claire Kenton, Communications Manager, EC&O Venues

claire.kenton@eco.co.uk / 020 7370 8838

www.eco.co.uk