158-159_161_SOTN Art & Design.qxp_NEW LSB 2008 GRID 20/09/2018 13:19 Page 158
STATE OF THE NATION: ART & DESIGN
Inspiring designs Art and design has always been a key sector for Brand Licensing Europe, but this year – with the show all on one level – it will be treated to even more emphasis than usual. LSB chats to some of the exhibitors and BLE brand director Anna Knight to find out what’s in store.
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rand Licensing Europe has always been a show that’s not only unique in terms of its sheer global reach and the amazing business opportunities it affords both exhibitors and visitors alike – it’s also a place where the numbers stack up. Year on year it continues to break records as savvy Above: Artist and photographer brand owners, licensing Wood already has an agents and manufacturers Linda impressive list of licensing product deals in place. alike walk through the doors of London’s Olympia looking to spark the next big licensing deal. Art and design is a hugely important sector not only to the licensing industry in general but also BLE, with 20% of all visitors in 2017 indicating their interest in the Art, Design & Image zone –
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LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2018
Above: This year’s BLE will see the art and design area move from the gallery to the National Hall, bringing it into the heart of the show.
alongside more than 40% who expressed an interest in properties that could be licensed into gift or homewares, and shared a strong connection with the art and design field. Of three distinct ‘show zones’ at BLE, Art, Design & Image sits alongside Character & Entertainment and Brands & Lifestyle, and was moved to the National Hall ground floor in order so the trio of areas could be better integrated. “The Art, Design & Image zone is very important to BLE as a show,” says brand director, Anna Knight. “It’s a growing sector with sales increasing year on year and now accounts for one per cent of the licensing market. Retail sales of art licensing have rocketed by 40 per cent and is now worth $2.5 billion globally and £201 million in the UK. “In addition to having the Art, Design & Image and Brands & Lifestyle zones on the ground floor, we’ve opened the Product Showcase to art, design and image exhibitors and created a unique category for them in the License This competition. “We also have an art and design session in our conference this year and big plans for the zone when we move to ExCeL in 2019.” Last year BLE welcomed 24 exhibitors in total in the Art, Design & Image zone, including 11 new