6,000 Chairs

Crystal Palace Park, London

28-30 August 2004

6,000 Chairs was a three-day participatory event of live art performance, film and video, sound works and installations featuring over 30 international and locally based artists.

The event took place over the August bank holiday weekend in Crystal Palace Park, incorporating the park's architectural and garden features as a background for artistic interventions with the intention of making it easier for people unfamiliar with galleries and theatres to come across and participate in high-quality artistic activities.

There was also a community element incorporated into the event with daily workshops and free deckchairs to take away on the final day of the festival.

The initiative for this event came from an idea by CP Artist Carlos Cortes and was developed in collaboration with art consultant Ben Eastrop and supported by Bromley Mytime, Arts Management team.

Six CP Artists exhibited in the festival, with three of the members taking part in the steering group, which helped to shape the final event. This proved to be an enjoyable project for those involved. It was also a good opportunity to work with more established artists as well as widening contacts and to further develop skills, not only as makers but also as fundraisers and entrepreneurs.

This project was sponsored by the Arts Council of England and Bromley Council.