Ideas Expo calls out for arts and crafts exhibitors

A call has been sent out to all interested arts and crafts artists to submit their works and stand a chance to get exhibition space at this year’s Ideas Expo which will be held from the 5th to the 7th of June. The Expo is synonymous with promoting creativity in the fields of Marketing, advertising and design as well as related industries. According to the organizers, more effort is being put in place to ensure that more artists who are not necessarily in the advertising and marketing sphere also get a chance to showcase their innovative products.

 
Despite its success, last year’s exhibition sector failed to attract more people to create the expected hype and according to Calvin Bosilong, one of the organizers of the Expo, “we want to do things differently this time around. This year, the Expo has rejected the traditional boundaries of how exhibitions are normally made. The plan we have is to group all different sectors in the creative space to mirror what is rising from the local tarmac in terms of creativity and trends.” The Expo targets the active middle class who may be looking for craft and artwork for their collections or interior pieces at affordable prices.

 
Bosilong added that they are looking for exhibitors with modern art as they, “hope to attract illustrators, developers, programmers, fashion designers, jewelry designers, shoe makers, photographers; basically innovators. To ensure that these targets are met, we have gone out and actually identified what is local and high end in terms of quality to be part of the display of what we call an innovation village,” he said.

 
Some of the confirmed exhibitors that will be showcasing their works are Tyre Seat who make furniture out of recycled tyres, Urban Soul formally known as Mafia Soul, Phoetri Khona Clothing label, Vernac bag makers, R!ot; an activist illustrator from Zimbabwe as well as Kudzanai Kudi Chitate, also an illustrator.

 
“This will be the first time that we will be a part of Ideas Expo so we are really excited. This is a chance for us to showcase what we have talent as well as mingle with other creatives in the industry. Our product used to be just an idea and now it is a reality. When we were approached to come exhibit we could not say no because the Expo resonates with what we stand for,” commented Kago Monageng, the creative behind Tyre Seat.