Around 18 to 20 independent artists will sell original work in Boscombe's Royal Arcade on Saturday 21 November, 10am to 4pm, with live demonstrations.

A new art fair will fill Boscombe’s Royal Arcade with independent artists on Saturday 21 November, from 10am to 4pm.

Art in the Arcade is the first edition of a one-day fair put together by Millie Lake, who curates events under the name Curated by Millie. She told us around 18 to 20 artists will show and sell original work on the day, meet visitors and take part in live demonstrations.

The fair has two aims, in her words: “celebrating independent artists and making art more accessible”, and bringing “more people into Royal Arcade and support the growing community of independent businesses there.”

What will be on show

The organiser’s event page lists the disciplines it asked for: painting, illustration, printmaking, photography, ceramics, sculpture, mixed media, textiles and other contemporary craft. Artists could also offer limited edition prints alongside original pieces, and the page says the mix has been chosen to cover a range of styles and price points so visitors “have the opportunity to discover a wide range of creative practices.”

It is not a first-come, first-served market. “I’m selecting a balanced mix of artists and artistic disciplines to create an inspiring experience for visitors and a supportive environment for exhibitors,” the page says. Applications closed on 17 October and artists are due to hear by Sunday 25 October whether they have a pitch, so the line-up has not been published yet.

The domed glass roof and central planted tree in the Royal Arcade, Boscombe, with shopfronts on two levels
The domed glass roof at the centre of the Royal Arcade, Boscombe. Photo: supplied by Curated by Millie

Why the arcade

The idea is to take art out of the gallery and put it where people already walk. The event page describes the arcade as “one of Boscombe’s most beautiful historic spaces” and says the fair “invites visitors to discover contemporary art somewhere unexpected, surrounded by independent shops, local businesses and the distinctive character of the Royal Arcade.”

It also pitches the day at people who would not normally go near a gallery: “first-time buyers, local residents or visitors exploring Boscombe.”

Live demonstrations will run through the day for artists who choose to take part, so visitors can watch work being made and talk to the people making it. Millie Lake says on the page that she wants the fair to become a recurring event “that celebrates independent artists and creativity in alternative spaces.”

Hand-drawn poster for Art in the Arcade showing the Royal Arcade's glass roof in red and lilac, with the date Saturday 21 Nov 2026, 10am to 4pm, Royal Arcade, Boscombe
The Art in the Arcade poster, drawn as the arcade's glass roof, from the call for artists. Photo: supplied by Curated by Millie

What it means for you

  • When: Saturday 21 November 2026, 10am to 4pm, according to the event poster.
  • Where: the Royal Arcade, Boscombe, BH1 4BT, the postcode given on the fair’s listing for artists.
  • Paying: you buy directly from the artists, and each one is asked to bring their own card reader.
  • Entry: the organiser has not published an entry price; check the event page before you go.
  • Updates and artist announcements: on Curated by Millie’s Instagram.

For more going on in the town this autumn, see our What’s On guide for this month.