The Antiques Young Guns movement, founded last year by George Johnson, Mark Hill and Gail McLeod to promote and inspire young people in the industry who are aged 39 and under, has gathered pace since it was launched and now has a website through which members can sell stock and find advice.
A new feature for 2014 is a mentoring scheme, working with 12 well-known, experienced members of the antiques trade who are aged 40 and over, to be known as the Antiques Heavy Artillery. According to their field of expertise, the mentors will be matched with the winning Young Gun and the 11 shortlisted candidates to work with them over a 12-month period, passing on some of their expertise and experience by spending at least three days of their time with their young protégés.
A number of sponsors will be providing benefits and prizes for the winner and runners-up.
Full details of the mentors and the confirmed date for the awards party will be announced at The Bath Decorative Antiques Fair on Thursday, March 6, during the fair's 25th birthday celebrations party when the awards will be also officially launched.
Judges for this year's awards include Tim Medhurst of Reeman Dansie Auctioneers, winner of the inaugural awards in 2013, alongside founders George Johnson, Mark Hill and Gail McLeod, Anna Brady of Antiques Trade Gazette, Judith Miller of Miller's Antique Guides, Sarah Percy-Davis CEO of LAPADA and Pippa Roberts of The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair.
More details will be published in a future issue.
