The GCA’s Centenary Exhibition of the last 100 years of cards is now available for members to borrow, to share with their staff and/or use for PR initiatives.
Launched at the GCA’s 100thAnniversary Conference and AGM in October, the display comprises two large fabric screens, with both sides featuring a rich history of greeting card designs from the last 100 years.
“When we decided to create the exhibition it was always the intention that it should have a life way beyond our centenary conference, hence the reason we elected for it to be so easily transportable and erected,” said Amanda Fergusson, ceo of the GCA.
The exhibition, curated by industry expert Geoff Sanderson with support from Helen Snell of Orchard Design House incorporates card designs collected from submissions from GCA members, either from their personal or company archives as well as from museums and auctions.
The first screen features cards from years 1919-1969 on one side and years 1970-2019 on the reverse. The second screen has a wide selection of designs from 2019, demonstrating the broad range of innovation and design within the world-leading British greeting card industry.
The exhibition will start its ‘tour’ in a few weeks when UK Greetings will use it at its sales conference and new product launch that will be attended by many of its own team as well as retail customers.
In addition to the exhibition screens, UKG will also be showing actual special versions of cards from its parent company, American Greetings’ archive, many of which feature in the exhibition.
“While we are very excited about our new launches, the exhibition puts into context the heritage of the industry and demonstrates how good design has always been of paramount importance,” commented Ceri Stirland, customer and channel director of UKG.
Anyone wishing to borrow the exhibition should contact the GCA’s Amanda Fergusson or Sharna Walters on gca@max-publishing.co.uk.
There is a small administrative cost (including insurance and initial delivery within the mainland UK) of £75 to borrow the exhibition. Each screen of the exhibition is supported by a metal frame, which packs down, like a tent, into a sturdy canvas carry case (which, when packed, measures 80cm x 32cm x 22cm). There are comprehensive instructions for erecting the Exhibition; each screen extends to 460cm x 227cm.
The heritage of the GCA was celebrated in a different way yesterday (December 4) at the annual Past Presidents Annual Luncheon. Held at the Oriental Club, London (with Julian Royle as its host member), the event brought together past presidents of the GCA and its forerunner, the GCCA as well as current members of the Council.
Commenting, Amanda told PG Buzz: “The Past Presidents event is a great reminder for all of us that the strength of our industry today is due in no small part to the fact that we are united through the GCA – and have been for 100 years. We owe so much to the presidents and council members of the last ten decades for protecting and promoting our industry, be it through relationships with Royal Mail to avoid square cards being penalised on postal costs or as now as we progress on the environmental front.”
Top: One of the panels of the GCA 100 Years of Cards exhibition.
