About us

Established in 2006, we are primarily a freelance Arts Development Company, working across many areas of the arts, managing and delivering projects, events, and consultancy. Led by Steve Boffy and co director Rebecca Boffy, we work with many associates to deliver work of the highest standard, always seeking to maintain the excellent reputation gained since the company began. In 2010 we launched a new sister company called Boffy Arts Markets. As the name suggests this new company exists to manage our growing portfolio of Arts and Crafts Markets across the Midlands.
Key interests and philosophies                  Services                  Current and recent partners
 
As a company we have number of key interests and philosophies that have and continue to shape our work and the projects we undertake. These include:

  • A strong interest and understanding of arts development, we are most excited by projects and initiatives that allow us to create new opportunities, models of working or contexts for the arts.
  • We are passionate about the importance of the arts in people’s lives and the positive effect they can have on individuals, communities and society as a whole.
  • We have a particular interest in participatory arts which have been a significant part of our lives for many years.
  • We believe that the arts should be inclusive and that all art can and should be accessible.
  • We strive to deliver our work to the highest standards.
  • We enjoy creating opportunities that benefit others such as our artist market network, and always endeavour to instil a sense of fun and community in such ventures.
  • We believe it is important to share some of our success and support a range of arts and artists via sponsorship or provision of help services and advice free of charge. Last year this represented an investment equivalent to 5% of our annual turnover.

 
Our company provide a range of professional arts and event services for many different clients. These include:

  • Strategic arts consultancy for local authorities and other large organisations
  • Event management consultancy
  • Tactical event management (specialising in arts festivals)
  • Project development
  • Commissioning public art
  • Arts development services
  • Fundraising
  • Development of  retail opportunities for artists
  • Training
  • Mentoring
  • Logistic and technical management
  • Partnership development
  • Project management and production
  • Arts projects and residencies
  • Arts education projects

 
Current and recent clients and organisations worked with include: NHS, University of Worcester, Herefordshire County Council, Upton Jazz Festival, Oxfordshire Rural Touring Partnership, Hereford Cathedral, British Waterways, English Heritage, Malvern Hills District Council, Meadow Arts, Big About Music (Northants music action zone), Three Counties Agricultural Society, Oxford City Council, Wyre Forest District Council, and Dancefest.
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Boffy Arts Markets
Since setting up in 2006 we have been running Artist markets, starting small with just one or two in our first year. Since then this part of the company has blossomed and we now run over 50 days of markets each year in towns and cities across the Midlands covering: Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Birmingham, Oxfordshire and Staffordshire.
The concept behind our markets is simple with three key objectives:

  • High Quality – Designed and handmade.
  • Local – Creating opportunities for local artists and makers.
  • Original – Art and Craft made and sold by the artists and makers who made it. 

We believe this formula is important and that the markets address a lack of opportunities for local artists and makers to sell work in an environment that recognises the nature and value of their work. Whilst the method of achieving this is simple and somewhat back to basics (market stalls in streets), our events are all delivered with integrity as we present designers, makers and artists from across the region selling their beautiful, original and affordable products.
We are extremely proud to associate with so many high quality artists and now have over 200 on our database covering a vast range of art and craft disciplines. New developments in 2011 will see Boffy Arts Markets take over the management of the highly regarded Moseley Arts Market in Birmingham as well as extend the network of markets in Oxfordshire.
Moseley Arts Market (an initiative of Moseley Community Development Trust) is a good example of how as a company we are able to work with partner organisations and local authorities. Indeed, many of our markets are delivered in association with our partners such as: Visit Worcester, Malvern District Council, Herefordshire Council, Oxfordshire Arts Partnership and Three Counties Agricultural Society. We believe by working with such partners, the markets can contribute to local strategies (tourism, town centre development, creative industries, cultural attractions etc) in exchange, partners work with us to ensure the markets are given maximum profile, best locations and remain affordable.
We are always happy to hear from new artists who wish to join us in this successful venture. If your work can be described as High Quality, Original, and you live in any of the areas we operate in why not drop us a line and find out more. To join our markets we will need to see images of your work. Please note that the best way to do this is by email or send us a web link. If we think your work fulfils our criteria we will then send you a list of markets and invite you to join us. For enquiries about Boffy Arts Markets email Rebecca at boffyoffice@aol.com.
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Biography - Steve Boffy
With over 20 years working in the professional arts sector, Steve has a wide breadth of experience across many disciplines, artistic and managerial. This has included: working as a professional artist, running a community arts organisation, gallery management and curatorial work. He has lectured, worked in a busy arts centre, successfully run three small commercial arts companies, and held local authority arts and events officer posts (including 10 years as senior County Arts Officer and corporate events manager for Worcestershire County Council). Whilst at Worcestershire, Steve was accredited with establishing a County Arts Service, developing a range of grant schemes, creating Worcestershire Arts Marketing, initiating the highly successful rural touring scheme SHINDIG, and managing Skills on Show, an annual arts festival that attracted up to 20,000 visitors each year. As corporate events manager, Steve also managed many non arts events on behalf of the authority covering subject matter as diverse as Foot and Mouth Recovery, Cultural Diversity, Disability Awareness, Economic Development, Rural Provision and Services for Young People.
Since leaving Worcestershire County Council and setting up Boffy Arts Events People, Steve has continued to add to his CV with a string of exciting projects and contracts.  These include managing ‘Forbidden’, a major Dance and Heritage project set in a medieval castle and a new role as Consultant Arts Advisor for University of Worcester which was initially funded by The Elmley Foundation and is now in its fourth year.
In addition to his paid work Steve has spent many years on the boards of various voluntary sector arts organisations and currently holds a Directorship: Worcester Live (encompassing The Swan Theatre, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester Festival, and Shakespeare at the Commandery) and is a Trustee of Worcester Porcelain Museum.
Boffy Arts Markets are proud to be members of Creat Malvern Association of Traders GMAT and Heart of England Fine Foods HEFF.
 
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