Under the Victorian canopy of Green Park Station, one man’s dream has become a fixture in Bath’s creative calendar. Founder Malachi Bogdanov tells Hannah Poon how the Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair all began.
Bath has always been a city for makers. There’s a gallery or studio down nearly every side street, and the city hums with talented artists. Celebrating this creative spirit, the Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair showcases a diverse mix of work, from emerging talent to established names.
It was this spirit that led award-winning director, writer and producer Malachi Bogdanov (Mal), 57, to create the Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair (BCAF) in 2021, a place where creatives could show their work without breaking the bank, paying only a small fee for their pitch.
What began with just 27 artists has since grown to support more than 500. Held each month in Green Park Station, the fair brings artists from across the region and beyond together under one roof, and visitors can chat to the person who made the piece they’re eyeing up.
On Sunday 8 November, BCAF will be celebrating its 50th exhibition, and Mal looks back on how it all began.
“I’ve always loved art, and when I moved to Bath from Italy eight years ago, I noticed there was a gap in the market. I wanted to create an affordable option to give a platform for artists in the heart of Bath,”
Mal says.
Armed with some basic marketing, Mal assembled a line-up of local artists, and the first fair was an instant success.
“After the first one, I was inundated with requests to exhibit, and it snowballed from there. It was very popular from the beginning, and the footfall was amazing. I took great solace from the fact that it was so popular and more people wanted to book.”
We’re opening doors and making art accessible for all. For artists and the public. You don’t have to go into a gallery.
Malachi Bogdanov
At its heart, the fair is a celebration of artistic vision, where seasoned professionals and budding newcomers stand side by side. Painters, sculptors, photographers and digital artists all share the space, so there is something to catch every eye.
Over the years, Mal and his team have built a true community, one that prides itself on being open to everyone.
Working with Bath Spa University’s Emerge studio, Mal offers discounted stall prices to students, giving them a foot in the door and the chance to present their work to potential buyers.
Beyond the sales, it feels like a real gathering place for artists from Bath and beyond. That sense of community makes it much more than a market.
Michael Sutherland
“It’s a real community here, and we do what we can to support emerging artists. We’ll have an 18-year-old pitched next to someone in their 60s who’s been in the business their entire career. It’s great for hands-on mentoring, and we celebrate everyone’s success,” Mal says.
For Mal, one of the proudest moments actually came from a young exhibitor who sold her first piece for £1,800 at just 18 years old.
He says, “She was really nervous. She was going on to study at Glasgow School of Art, and she was super talented. She sold her painting and everyone just stood and applauded her. It really was the best moment”.
But the road to the 50th exhibition has not always been smooth.
Following Storm Eunice in February 2022, over 20 heavy glass panes came loose and fell from the Victorian-era canopy. And in April the following year, a major fire broke out at the historic venue. Some local businesses were completely destroyed.
It was devastating for everyone in the Green Park Station family. Mal says it was one of his biggest challenges, but he was determined that the show would go on.
“We had to adapt and run it in a different way. I didn’t want to let people down, so with the big square unavailable, we moved all the artists down the walkway. The uptake was there and we ploughed on,” he explains.
Despite all that, BCAF has gone from strength to strength and reaching its 50th fair is a true testament to the artistic talent in our city. Today, the fair attracts individuals from all over the country, with many travelling hours just to be there.
Part of its success is just how accessible it is: artists can set up a pitch at an affordable rate, and shoppers can browse as they stroll by.
The fair presents a unique opportunity to discover one-of-a-kind artwork that can become cherished additions to any collection.
Children are welcome too, with interactive workshops and activities that make it a family-friendly affair and nurture creativity in the next generation. “I never thought we’d get to this point. It’s a huge milestone to reach our 50th exhibition. We’re now trying to expand, which is great,” Mal beams.
“We’re opening doors and making art accessible for all. For artists and the public. You don’t have to go into a gallery. You could just walk past and possibly buy.”
Meet the artists
Behind every piece on display is a maker with a story. Since 2021, BCAF has given more than 500 artists a place to share their work, and we caught up with a few of them to find out what the fair means to them.
The fair provides a unique gathering place for creative souls to share their artistic passions with others.
Stephen Davis
Tina Moorland
“I’ve been attending BCAF for a number of years now, and it is always a highlight of my calendar. I find myself looking forward to catching up with old friends and being inspired by other artists.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to meet up with both artists and customers. An artist’s life can be quite isolated socially, and these events offer us the chance to talk to people about our work and what motivates us.
“But above all, I absolutely love the sense of community and fun. A wonderful array of beautiful artwork showcased in the historic backdrop of Green Park Station – what’s not to love?”
Michael Sutherland
“BCAF has been transformational for me and is a cornerstone of my business as a full-time artist. Having a regular monthly fair that’s friendly, welcoming and full of people keen to buy art makes a real difference – it helps me keep doing what I love.
“My Bath prints have found a particularly enthusiastic audience here. I love showing the city in a different light through colour, and it’s hugely rewarding when someone connects with a familiar view and chooses to take it home.
“Beyond the sales, it feels like a real gathering place for artists from Bath and beyond. That sense of community makes it much more than a market.”
Stephen Davis
“I spend a lot of my time (very happily) in the solitary pursuit and experience of sublime moments in nature that inspire me and give me hope. I want to share these moments with others through my photography.
“Bath, and consequently BCAF, draws visitors from across the world. Where else might I have met someone who shared with me that they owned a temperate rainforest, and a talented German seamstress who has made her own skilfully embroidered Viking costumes out of linen, within half an hour of each other?
“The fair provides a unique gathering place for creative souls to share their artistic passions with others. I greatly enjoy the camaraderie experienced between the participating artists. It is an inspiring and joyful event.”
BCAF 50th fair: Sunday 8 November, 10am to 4pm, Green Park Station. Free admission. bcaf.co.uk