Goldsmiths' Fair goes digital in reaction to pandemic

The Goldsmiths’ Company, who run the event – an essential stop on the international fine jewellery and contemporary silver calendar – is moving the Fair 2020 and its programme of talks, events and exhibitions online, to support business recovery for sole traders and microbusinesses making and creating in the UK today. 

Harriet Scott, Head of Events at the Goldsmiths’ Company who curates and manages the Fair, said:

“This is a unique and exciting opportunity to accelerate our plans to expand the Fair online and make it more accessible to more people. Over 9,000 visitors came through the doors of Goldsmiths’ Hall in London to attend the live event last year, and we hope that we will attract many more visitors in 2020 to the online Fair from across the UK and internationally. We are pleased that the digital platform has the full support of all our exhibitors.”

“Goldsmiths’ Fair has always been a platform for supporting craftspeople and we will continue to do this online in 2020. Our exhibitors are a selection of the best fine jewellers and contemporary silversmiths creating and making in the UK today. We will be supporting our maker community through their own digital journey and helping to future-proof their businesses during a period when the industry needs our backing more than ever. Creativity will always be one of the most powerful and inspirational responses to a crisis and this will be reflected in the unique, contemporary handcrafted jewellery and silver that will be available exclusively to visitors to the online Fair this September.”  

At the heart of the annual showcase is support for the Fair’s community of UK-based fine jewellers and contemporary silversmiths who all handmake and work predominantly in precious metals. 

Richard Fox, Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company, added,

“At the Goldsmiths’ Company we are committed to supporting our craft and trade for the long term, as we have done for the last seven centuries through some of the worst crises in our history. Goldsmiths’ Fair is one of the most significant platforms that we provide to our maker community to support business recovery in 2020 – promoting some of the most talented established and emerging craftspeople in the UK today.”

“All our exhibitors use exceptional handmaking skills to create their pieces, working primarily in precious metals and applying techniques that have been passed down and developed over hundreds of years. It’s a truly wonderful industry, one of the most vibrant and successful in the world. And I hope we will welcome many more people, as well as our loyal past customers, through our ‘virtual doors’ this year to experience the magic of the Fair, meet our fantastic makers, and purchase unique and beautiful pieces of contemporary silver and jewellery.”

Exhibitors for 2020 have been announced, and you can find out more about them on the Goldsmiths’ Fair website: goldsmithsfair.co.uk 

Further details about the online Fair will be shared over the summer, with the event due to open its virtual doors from 24 September – 6 October 2020. To receive regular updates about this year’s online event, sign-up for the Goldsmiths’ Fair newsletter bit.ly

Shine 2020, the annual new talent showcase in jewellery and silversmithing, is also going digital this year. Presented by the Goldsmiths’ Centre, this event celebrates up and coming UK brands and designer makers from 18 September to 22 December 2020. Ten emerging makers, hand-picked for their talent and skill, will share their collections at an online private view on 17 September. A programme of talks and events will follow, enabling discerning shoppers to purchase original and high-quality collections through the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s e-shop.