The weekend's Crawl falls into two areas: Art Fairs or Theatre. You can do one or the other... or put on some comfortable shoes and your most inscrutable "yes, I am urbane and sophisticated" face and pack in as much of both as you can.
The Frieze Art Fair is in town again, and the annual eagerly anticipated art fair has contributions from over 150 of the finest contemporary art galleries in the world. Unknown newcomers and big-hitting big names sit side by side while collectors and art fans can be seen wandering elbow to elbow around the exhibits, pondering what will be the Next Big Thing. Frieze Art Fair is a showcase for all the work that's already out there, but there are also specially commissioned projects, a series of talks, workshops for families and guided tours adding and expanding on the experience. A sculpture park in the Regent's Park English Garden just outside the Frieze Art Fair is a chance for ticket holders and non-ticket holders to see the goods. Frieze Art Fair, 12 to 15 October, Regent's Park. For more information and to book tickets, go to the Frieze website here.
Origin is the Craft Council's art fair which has been running since 3 October and due to end this Sunday. More than 300 leading designer-makers are exhibiting in the Somerset House courtyard, filling the space with handmade goodies before it they put the ice rink in there for winter. All exhibits are for viewing and purchasing, so bring a credit card or very rich friend and a big, padded bag. Origin, until Sunday 15 October, Somerset House. For more information and to book tickets, go to the Craft Council website here.
The Islington Contemporary Art and Design Fair is running throughout October at the Candid Galleries, focusing on a different medium each week. This week, from tomorrow night until Sunday, the spotlight is on photography, illustration, graphics and printmaking. This is an opportunity to view and buy work by contemporary UK artists and perhaps check out the way things are done in case you fancy booking a slot for your own work the following week or for next year's fair: exhibition space has been going for as little as £120.00 this year. The Islington Contemporary Art and Design Fair, 13 to 15 October, 20 to 22 October and 27 to 29 October, Candid Galleries (closest tube is Angel). For more information, go to the Candid Arts Trust website here.
With the centre covered by Origin and Frieze and the north covered by the Islington art fair, east London has the Scope Art Fair in the Truman Breweries. It has nothing to do with Scope, the disability charity. This is the third time back for the fair that aims to "challenge passive viewing and turn viewers into users" and the international scale of the exhibition is enough to make any budding art collector get a little moist. The proximity of the White Cube gallery, Whitechapel Gallery, Hoxton Square and Shoreditch generally sets the tone of what to expect in this art fair, so you have been warned. Scope Art Fair, 12 to 15 October, Truman Breweries. For more information and for tickets, go to the Scope website here.
