Forget baths salts and socks, this Christmas, and think more china wishbones and paint-by numbers wallpaper... and point your trolley in the direction of the a-mart in Bradford on Avon. At the end of last month the Ale and Porter Arts gallery, in Bradford on Avon, underwent a bit of a make-over emerging as a-mart the art supermarket.
 | | a-Mart |
Taking over the entire 3,000 square foot gallery space the a-mart boasts shopping trolleys, cash register, jingle and shelves stocked with some of the freshest creative produce packaged and delivered by over 80 artists from all over the country. The transformation from art gallery to supermarket, funded by the Arts Council, includes specially constructed shelving units and illuminated point-of-sale displays all of which promises the experience of a high-street supermarket shopping trip. According to Fiona Haser, Director of Ale and Porter, a-mart offers real art at affordable prices:
 | | a-Mart |
“A genuine work of art at a-mart will be as easy to buy as a pint of milk or a loaf of bread. ”By exploiting the familiar visual props of daily shopping, customers will benefit from exactly the same kind of Buy One Get One Free enticements and low cost offers they are used to when they stock up on groceries.” With basket in hand shoppers can browse the a-mart assisted by the artists themselves in the guise of till operators, personal shopping advisors, store detectives and even an in-house retail therapists. And if you can't be persuaded to sign up for a ‘disloyalty’ card than maybe you can be enticed to fill your basket with attractive boxes of broken toys, porcelain wish bones, paint by numbers wallpaper and tins of Peas on Earth… The a-mart is open at Ale and Porter Arts, 25 Silver Street, Bradford on Avon until Saturday, January 22nd 2005. Opening hours are from Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm, closed Dec 25-28. Admission is free. For more information call 01225-868919. | 
