June 17th-19th sees the launch of the first LOOP Arts Fair in Leeds. For one weekend a selection of the UK’s most exciting and original contemporary illustrators, graphic designers and applied artists will be relocating to Leeds, transforming Marshalls Mill, made available by Igloo Regeneration and the Holbeck Urban Village into working studios, print shops, publishing houses and workshops.

Curated by Jay Cover of design collective Nous Vous, LOOP Arts Fair is the first applied arts weekender of its kind in the north of England. Holbeck Urban Village has gained a reputation as a desirable area for creative companies and an area renowned for innovation from an age when the area served as a powerhouse of the industrial revolution in Leeds. Jay cover picks up this theme: ‘applied arts act as a catalyst for social evolution, responding to ever changing social, environmental and economic concerns. The artists are dynamic innovators.’

LOOP Arts Fair is a celebration of current UK graphic arts and illustration talent. The UK is recognised as producing some of the most innovative and dynamic graphic artists and designers in the world; with artists such as Nous Vous, Jez Burrows, Analogue Books, Matt Hodson and Drew Millward regularly working on national and international projects ranging from exhibitions to magazine illustrations, online journals to poster designs, workshops to book stores.

Split into three strands, WORK, TALK and PLAY, LOOP Arts Fair will see open studios, workshops and exhibitions from artists including Matt Hodson, Qubik, Nous Vous, Analogue Books, TOY, Jez Burrows, Lizzy Stewart and more. More than an exhibition, this is a rare chance to see inside the artists studios, meet the artists, see work being made. There will also be the chance to buy limited edition prints at the LOOP Arts store, as well as being invited to join in live workshops designed specifically for guests to the event.

TALK at LOOP sees a full conference programme on Friday 17^th with artists and studios including Drew Millward, Jon Boam, Matt Hodson, Lizzy Stewart and TOY.  As well as talks, discussions and roundtables by artists and studios across the weekend, TALK is a chance to delve deeper into some of the themes and issues in current graphic arts and design.

LOOP will also host a programme of daytime and evening entertainment. PLAY will be a series of fun and lively events, including music, live art and interactive activities. The LOOP opening party on Friday 17th June will feature live drawing from Best Joined Up collective. On Sunday 19th June, Kibbo-Kift close the weekend with an evening of spoken word and live music performance. Over the weekend, Leeds’ favourite Out of the Woods café will be in residence serving delicious food and drink.

LOOP Arts Fair is running from Friday 17th – Sunday 19^th June, day tickets from £7 and weekend passes £20. For more information and to get tickets, visit www.looparts.co.uk

LOOP Arts Fair has been developed in partnership with Jay Cover of Nous Vous, Neil Owen of Test Space, Laura Wellington of Duke Studios, Anita Morris Associates and supported by Igloo Regeneration and Holbeck Urban Village.