CMYK Hay – Illustration & Print Fair 2019

The very first CMYK Hay, Print and Illustration Festival took place in Hay on Wye on the last weekend in February and it was such a success that we are already planning to do it again.

Set up as a collaboration between the HCA Illustration department and the Globe, Hay on Wye, the festival was intended to bring Illustrators, Print-makers and their audience together by offering affordable original artworks, a wide range of practitioners, a number of key guest speakers. It also formed part of our aim to give students learning experiences that take them out from their studio and involve them thoroughly in professional, external, industry events.

HCA students from various courses took the nervous first steps to putting their work out there, and if the sales numbers are reflected in assessment feedback then there should be no problems come exam board time (this statement is not legally binding).

The set up went smoothly with HCA students taking on key roles in transporting, setting up and organising the work, not usually an easy job when so many people are involved, but they coped admirably, with no reports of casualties or destroyed friendships.

Exhibitors came from places too numerous to list but did include our own students, students of Birmingham City University, Worcester university, alumni from recent and not so recent years and a number of professional illustrators making some pocket money between their normally stressful commissions.

Over 500 visitors made it on the day and judging by the response on social media the 500 plus thought it was time well spent.