Really magazines, clothes, music and DVDs are all forms of art. It may not be obvious to us but we are constantly seeing art around us all day. What I'd like to find out is about the stereotypical art we all know. About 'oil on canvas' and that type of art.
Young people don't have much money, they don't own houses where they can put stuff up, and their tastes (though I would DISPUTE this!!!) don't have a developed sense of artistic-ness…. So, should they bother buying art? I asked a few different authorities on this very subject. Ian Vines is the exhibitions officer at Hanley’s Potteries Museum, who produced this year's Open Exhibition at the museum where numerous pieces are for sale under £200.
Ruth Allen is as painter from Stone, who also runs community arts schemes. Charles Hanson is an independent arts auctioneer in Burton. David Stubbs is also a photographer and finally Mark Wood, from Leek, is a photographer who has a prize winning piece in this years 'Open'.
Can young people buy art or is it too expensive? IAN: “If you look around, some work is not that expensive. You can buy work quite cheaply. A lot of work is under a hundred pounds.” RUTH: “Artists need to price their work up in order to make a living, so this being the case, it is probably too expensive.” CHARLES: “Yes, young people can buy art. Whether fine art from a local auction room or a contemporary picture it need not necessarily break the bank. Such objects must be enjoyed for what they are but such art works can be bought by anyone.” DAVID: “The sort of art that young people decorate their bedrooms with I imagine is the pop media stuff. Anything more serious and I'm not sure that they would want to buy it in the first place.” MARK: “Artists need an income obviously so their prices tend to reflect that, therefore in my opinion... they can’t afford it.” (Mark's photos can cost over £1000 each) What is the best reason for buying art? IAN: “Because you like it - you are the one who is going to enjoy it. To buy it for investment doesn’t always work in retrospect.” RUTH: “That would be down to personal choice.” CHARLES: “Buy because you like the object or the painting. All items are works of art, though antiques and old paintings and contemporary prints can prove good investments over time.” DAVID: “If a young person was interested at all in buying art surely it would be for appearance or whatever happened to be 'cool' at the time.” MARK: “You should buy something that moves you.” Young people don’t have much room so can’t buy a lot of art, do you agree? IAN: “A lot of the works are fairly modest in size, the size of a poster you may place up instead. You could always rotate your collection.” RUTH: “No not at all, they can buy art for their future home.” CHARLES: “Limited space is a detriment to putting together a nice art collection, though there is no reason why a good painting, antique mirror or fine Georgian mahogany dressing table or chest of drawers could not take pride of place in a bedroom. Such items can really set a room off and prove a good investment.” DAVID: “Before the 'space' issue comes into the equation would they really be interested? If they were, then no matter what space they had they would find a way to display something that appealed to them.” MARK: “They tend to put up posters and classic film posters so I guess that’s art.” Why should young people be buying art? Instead of going to a gallery? IAN: “I think you would by something because it is what you want to own. You have to enjoy art. There are different reasons for buying art. It might be a scene of somewhere you like. It may suit your colour scheme at home.” RUTH: “To make it your own, something you can look at everyday in your own chosen environment.” CHARLES: “It is worth collecting art since you can personally and proudly possess a unique object of great historical interest and value. It can prove a good investment and enhance decor in a home.” DAVID: “You can't take a museum piece home with you. Even a cheap print of something is better than having to visit a museum to see something that you like.” MARK: “Go to the gallery I say. I only produce art I don’t buy it so why should you.” If you were 17 where would you buy art? IAN: “I would look in an open exhibition such as this. The good thing about this gallery is that the artists set the prices.” RUTH: “I’d be buying work from other young artists that would be within a cheaper price range.” CHARLES: “If I were seventeen I would be buying good old English silver and some standard Georgian (18th century) English furniture items. Such items in my professional opinion are terribly undervalued and will be reappraised soon! Importantly though you must buy what you like and condition for investment purposes must be good. DAVID: “I was 17 a long time ago and I was probably interested in Andy Warhol stuff at the time. As a current seventeen year old I think I would be buying what happened to be 'cool' at the moment.” MARK: “I’d be buying music and posters because everyone else does.” The Open 05 runs from 9th July 2005 until 2nd October 2005. It houses work by artists from over the four counties of Staffordshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire and most of the pieces in the gallery are for sale. Prices range from £30 all the way up to £7,500. | 
