100 years of Cards – The GCA’s 100th Anniversary Exhibition

Nov 30, 2019 | History

The GCA’s Centenary Exhibition of 100 years of greeting cards is available for members to borrow, to share with their staff and/or use for PR initiatives. Do you have a sales meeting planned, customer event or are you inviting the local media in to see your business? All are occasions when this exhibition could be useful.

Background to the exhibition

Launched at the GCA’s 100th Anniversary Conference and AGM in October 2019 the display consists of two large fabric screens, illustrated both sides with a rich history of the last 100 years of greeting cards, see 100 years of cards blog for images of cards through the last 100 years. 

To celebrate their Centenary the GCA commissioned an exhibition to celebrate greeting cards, reflecting on the innovation and development in design, and also the social history depicted in cards. These cards were collected together by GCA members, either from their own company archives, or indeed treasured cards kept in their lofts. The Exhibition was curated by Geoff Sanderson, of Celebration Nation, with support from Helen Snell of Orchard Design House, both GCA members. 

Exhibition details

The exhibition consists of two fabric screens, on a folding frame, that can be easily transported. The first screen has cards from years 1919-1969 on one side and years 1970-2019 on the reverse. The second screen has a wide selection of gorgeous designs from 2019, demonstrating the broad range of innovation and design within our world-leading British greeting card industry, at a time when the British are spending £1.7bn a year on greeting cards.  

These two gorgeous screens are each supported by a metal frame, which packs down, a bit like a tent, into a sturdy canvas carry case. Packed up the case is 80 x 32 x 22cm. 

There are comprehensive instructions for erecting the Exhibition; each screen extends to 460 x 227 cm. There is an administrative cost, which includes insurance and initial delivery within the mainland UK, of £75 to borrow the Exhibition. 

If you would like to borrow the Exhibition just contact the GCA

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