10 THE ART OBSERVER May 2008 The Wendy Levy Gallery, Upper Space and Comme Ça Art are just some of the local galleries who will be exhibiting at a high quality new art fair in Manchester later this year. The event, which will be known as the Buy Art Fair,  is set to showcase some of the coun- try’s best national and regional galleries at Urbis from 9th - 12th October. Organiser, Moorfield Media, has teamed up with Urbis to create an exhibition that will become a welcome addition to the serious art buyers’ calendar of events. The Buy Art Fair has been designed to meet the growing demand for art ownership in the region and will offer visitors an opportunity to snap up original pieces of art regardless of budget. The Buy Art Fair will also include a programme of artist talks, buying art and investment seminars and children’s activities. Vaughan Allen, Chief Executive at Urbis, said: “The market for original art is thriving in the North West and recent market reports show that art appreciation is clearly on the increase and original art is rapidly gaining wide recognition as a credible option for investment. “The Buy Art Fair will provide a platform to educate people interested in art on starting their own collection and showcase new talent, something very close to the heart of Urbis. Who knows, we could have the next Damien Hirst selling work at the Buy Art Fair and visitors with a keen eye could snap up the investment of a lifetime?”   Clare Tams, Event Manager, said: “There are many regular art buyers in the North West who travel to the bigger London events because there isn’t currently a show of equivalent standard in the region. Buy Art Fair will appeal to anyone who has an appreciation of art, whether you’re an experienced art collector, a corporate art buyer or someone who has never actually owned an original piece of art. According to latest research*, 4.9 million people in England have purchased original visual art. A further 5.9 million people aspire to buy original art. The market is worth an estimated £354.5 million. Tickets for the Buy Art Fair are now on sale at www.buyartfair.co.uk.  Adult tickets are £5 in advance and £7 on the door with concessions for students and senior citizens. Children under 14 are free. Opening times are Thursday 5pm - 9pm (advance preview) Friday   from 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday 10am - 5pm. The Buy Art Fair is giving away five pairs of free tickets, worth £20, to the preview, taking place on Thursday 9th October from 5pm - 9pm. To enter, simply visit www.buyartfair.co.uk/artobserver  and complete the entry form by 30th June 2008. Visit www.buyartfair.co.uk  to keep updated on the latest news and exhibitors. *Taken from the Tastebuds report, carried out by Morris Hargreaves McIntyre on behalf of the Arts Council Win Tickets to Buy Art Fair Preview