Leicester based Arts and Crafts store Gadsby’s are donating £250 worth of arts and crafts materials for a competition being held at Leicester’s first ever Artisan Festival.

The concept is for entrants to design an original piece of artwork depicting Leicester’s iconic market. A selection of the entries will be exhibited at the Artisan Festival and visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite, with the winner receiving £250 worth of Gadsby’s goodies.

Taking place at Leicester Market on Sunday 25th April, the Artisan Festival is set to host over 200 stalls, promoting and selling collectables, and arts and crafts. The free event, organised by Leicester City Council, is the first of a series of one day festivals taking place at the market throughout 2010.

Based on Market Place, just a stone’s through from the Market, Leicester-born company Gadsby’s have been trading for over 100 years. The city centre store was opened at the end of the First World War and the Art and Craft specialists now have branches in Leeds, Lincoln and Walsall. Each shop carries a huge range of art and craft materials.

Joseph Harkin, Market Development Manager, is delighted to have Gadsby’s backing and is looking forward to seeing what the entrants can come up with.

“I am extremely pleased a local company like Gadbsy’s, who are held in such high esteem, are willing to support the event and sponsor the competition. As for viewing the entries, it will be fascinating for me and Peter Gadsby to see how the people of Leicester interpret the market from an artistic point of view.”

For more information about the competition visit the competition page and click the link to download an application form. Anybody interested in entering should submit their finished artwork by 4pm on the closing date of Monday 19th April 2010.

As well as the competition there are other opportunities for visitors to take a closer look at some of the techniques used by local artists and craft specialists during the festival. A number of large and small scale practical demonstrations and workshops will be taking place throughout the day.

Lucy Philips, a working artist and Director of Leicester Print Workshop will be practising print making techniques. Another artist, Carol Barnes, who delivers wellbeing artwork workshops for the NHS and other local groups, will be running the ‘Become an Artisan for the Day’ workshop. This will allow beginners and wannabe artists to contribute towards a giant canvas promoting the therapeutic qualities of art.

A valuation service, providing visitors the opportunity to value their hidden treasures will be available. Inside the ‘Valuation Zone’ will be a number of different stall holders, specialising in their own different fields. Joe Hand from the Leicester Vintage Old Toy Shop in the Indoor Market will be there to value people’s classic toys and is excited by the new festival.

“The concept of the festival sounds great as there will be something for everyone. I am looking forward to taking an active part as I think it will be a very popular event and a real draw for the city centre.”

Other experts valuing visitors’ potential treasures include Stephen Bradley of Maynard and Bradley Bookshop, based in the Royal Arcade Leicester who will be looking at prints and books and Elliott Nixon, a clock conservator who has undertaken work for the National Trust and many leading Museums around the world, who will be assessing clocks and watches. Davis Malpas of Rutland Antiques is also attending and will focus on furniture and general antiques.

For further information about the Artisan Festival call the festival organisers on 0116 223 2371.