The Hockley Arts Market

curiosity.haus - the collective behind The Hockley Arts Market

Apples and Pears and Crafty Wares: The Hockley Arts Market, is a great new arts market that runs alongside Sneinton Market on the fourth Saturday of every month. Started by curiosity.haus, a collective of Textile graduates from Nottingham Trebt University, the market acts as a platfrom for independent creatives to showcase and sell their wares.

How did ‘Apples and Pears and Crafty Wares: The Hockley Arts Market’ start up?
It was the love-child of curiosity.haus.  We started our collective after many nights discussing ‘business plans’ in the Bodega and Broadway.  We came up with the idea to organise a market as a kick-start for us to start making our crafty wares, as a platform for independent creatives to showcase and sell their work, and an excuse to see a great arts event happening on our doorstep.

What kind of things will we be for sale at the Hockley Arts Market?
There is a wide variety of ‘Art and Crafts’ from Textiles to jewellery, illustration to vintage clothing and some food treats too.  On Saturday 28th November we are having our Christmas market, so it will be perfect for Christmas pressies.  (…and there will be mulled wine!)
We will have an eclectic mix of stall holders from established artists and designers to local students and graduates, selling t-shirts, cushions, wooden pendants, cards, bags, canvases and if people come down before 1pm they can also get their weekly fruit and veg.

Are there any opportunities for people to get involved in this or future markets?
Yeah!  New applications are always welcome; we have grown the market from ten stalls in May, to twenty stallholders for the November event.  Anyone interested should email curiosityhaus@hotmail.com with images and info about their work.

What role would you say markets play in the local community?
I reckon markets are the best chance for people to step away from the homogeny of the high street to buy directly from, and support independent traders.   In any city, in any country you visit, a market is such a great taste of the culture original to that place.  
Even in rotten weather, the atmosphere at our previous markets has been amazing, and really seems to attract variety of people, it’s cool that we are getting a really mixed community audience of craft connoisseurs, artists, students, market regulars and random passers by, all giving really positive feedback about seeing the event happening in Sneinton market.

Poster for the Hockley Arts Christmas Market on Saturday 28 December '09

The area where Sneinton Market takes place has long been an area ear-marked for re-development. Much to the anger of local residents, many businesses that used to be based there are no longer. Why is this area important to Sneinton?
Apart from the architectural history of Victoria baths, I think it is important to make the most of the buildings already provided in the area.  It would be such a shame to deprive independent businesses of the chance for cheap rent and a thriving indie-quarter.  It’s such a shame to see this area and Hockley at the moment, with every other shop unit standing empty.  Nottingham should be encouraging local business, groups or artists to be able to make use of these spaces.
The good news is, Sneinton Market square is currently being looked at and redevelopment is coming pretty soon, there will be a special market event in the square to raise awareness of the project on Saturday 19th December, in which we will be holding a few stalls with some ‘Apples and Pears and Crafty Wares’ regulars.

Do you have any favourite markets, either in Notts, the UK, or further afield that you have taken inspiration from or you are just particularly fond of?
The idea of creating a market like this in Sneinton, came from a love of wondering aimlessly around London markets, particularly Spitalfields, where you get so many creative individuals together in one place.  We really wanted to create that vibe in Nottingham.  
Some other great markets we can aspire to include St. Georges Market in Belfast; I have never seen anything like the street auctions in Antwerp.  Arkonaplatz flea market in Berlin and Porta Portese flea market in Rome are amazing and the endless sprawl of markets along the river Tevere, all definitely worth checking out!

Are there any other ‘arts and crafts’ type events happening in Notts that you can recommend?
Yes, Nottingham is busting with arts events, most importantly ‘Apples and Pears and Crafty Wares: The Hockley CHRISTMAS Art Market’ from 10am-3pm on Saturday 28th November! Some other good events to look out for are; Illustrati at Nottingham City Artists on the 5th December;  Baazar at Sneinton Market 19th December; and Surface Gallery are also having a craft fair on the 28th November, really close by to ‘Apples and Pears…’ at Sneinton Market.  ArtNot is a great event listing with all the arts events going on in Nottingham that can be picked up around the city too.

If you had a super power what would it be?
What do you mean if?

Any final words for the LeftLion readers?
Yeah, check out our blog for more information or email us...Vive la rad revolution!

Apples and Pears and Crafty Wares: The Hockley Arts Market is held every fourth Saturday of the month at Sneinton Market.

Apples and Pears and Crafty Wares: The Hockley Arts Market website 

curiosity.haus website

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