National Fairground Archive

Fairground Art and Design

This section of the website describes fairground art and design, spanning the periods of classic carving in the Victorian era through to painting and lettering and contemporary airbrush styles in the 21st Century. By considering design as opposed to simply art we also include contributory factors to the fairground atmosphere such as metal-work, fabrication and lighting. The section includes essays and galleries on specific practices as well as discussion on driving factors such as technological change and the changing function of art in society. Our thanks go to Duncan Cameron (University of Glasgow) for help in structuring and writing this section.

• A new definition
• Introduction and development
  
  
• Key practice 1 - carved work
• Key practice 2 - painted work
• Key practice 3 - airbrush work
• Key practice 4 - modern design methods
  
  
• Art and Society
• Technology and thrill
• Fairground art re-appropriated as form in other practices
  
  
• UPDATE 2011