Fifteen years ago, Ryan Stanier started cold-calling estate agents across London asking if he could borrow their empty shops for free.

Most ignored him. One handed him the keys.

That tiny pop-up became ArtBeat, then The Other Art Fair, one of the world’s biggest artist-led fair movements, spanning London, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Sydney, Chicago, Melbourne, and beyond.

But after more than a decade working closely with artists, Ryan kept hearing the same thing:

Art fairs were becoming too expensive.

Booth fees, shipping, framing, travel, marketing, logistics artists were taking enormous financial risks just to be visible.

So, he decided to rebuild the model.

In this episode, Ryan Stanier founder of The Other Art Fair and Fair Play opens up about the changing art world and the realities artists face behind visibility, pricing, and creative survival.

We cover:

• The empty London storefront that started everything
• Why the art world believed artists “weren’t good at business”
• The biggest mistakes artists make at fairs
• Why artists struggle to talk about pricing
• The heartbreaking thing Ryan still sees at exhibitions
• Why Fair Play removed booth fees completely
• The emotional connection between artists and collectors
• Why visibility in the art world still feels inaccessible
• How social media changed the art industry
• The artist Ryan still keeps on his wall years later

Whether you’re an emerging artist, a collector, or someone trying to understand how the art world really works behind the scenes, this episode is a rare look at the systems shaping creative careers today.

Pull up a chair. this conversation might change how you think about the art world.

For Episode 3 of Season 6, Charuka Arora, founder of Arts to Hearts Project, had a deeply meaningful conversation with none other than Ryan Stanier the founder behind The Other Art Fair and Fair Play.

For years, Ryan has been working towards one powerful idea: making the art world feel more accessible, supportive, and human for artists. From starting with small pop-up exhibitions in empty London spaces to building one of the world’s biggest artist-led fair movements, his journey has completely reshaped how artists connect with audiences globally.

In this episode, Ryan opens up about the realities behind building artist-first platforms, the frustrations within the traditional art world, the pressure artists constantly navigate, and why he believes the systems around artists still need to change.

From building The Other Art Fair to launching Fair Play, this conversation explores creativity, visibility, burnout, risk-taking, art fairs, and the emotional realities of building a life in the arts.

It’s thoughtful, personal, honest, and filled with conversations artists rarely get to hear out loud.

And honestly… this might change the way you think about art fairs forever.

Season 6 Episode 3 drops tomorrow. Stay tuned.

In this solo episode of the Arts to Hearts Podcast, Charuka Arora, Founder of the Arts to Hearts Project pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to make an Arts to Hearts book.

From the six-month timeline behind every release, to running open calls, jury processes, and curating both emerging and established artists, Charuka walks through the full publishing journey. She also gets honest about the mess: the factory mix-up that turned a soft-cover magazine into a hard-cover sample, the 4-step proofing process her small team relies on to catch errors, and the 300+ artist interviews they handle every single month.

If you've ever wondered what goes into building a contemporary art publication from scratch including the parts no one shows you this one's for you.

What does it really take to turn an Instagram blog into internationally loved art books, magazines, and a creative platform artist around the world connect with?

In Season 6, Episode 2 of the Arts to Hearts Podcast, founder Charuka Arora takes us behind every Arts to Hearts book, including the one that completely went wrong.

From creative risks and unexpected mistakes to the pressure of building meaningful projects from scratch, this episode dives into the messy, emotional, and unseen side of running a platform dedicated to supporting women in the arts.

We’re talking behind-the-scenes realities, working with artists worldwide, publishing art books people genuinely treasure, and the lessons nobody sees behind the final beautiful product.

If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens behind creative projects like these, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Season 6 Episode 2 drops tomorrow, May 26. Don’t forget to tune in for the full behind-the-scenes episode.

In 1999, a man walked into Battersea Park with an idea the art world thought was embarrassing: put price tags on art. The galleries hated it. The critics rolled their eyes. He did it anyway.

Twenty-five years later, that idea is called Affordable Art Fair 19 fairs across 16 cities, nearly 4 million visitors, over $780 million worth of art sold, and an entire generation of artists who got their first sale through it.

In this episode, Will Ramsay, founder of Affordable Art Fair and Ramsay Fairs sits down with Charuka for one of the most practical conversations we've ever had about the business of being an artist.

We cover:

• The banker friend whose embarrassment sparked an empire
• The four types of art buyers walking past your booth (and which one most artists ignore)
• Why selling art online doesn't really work and what does
• How to price your work across international markets
• The $5K–$10K mistake most first-time exhibitors make
• How to approach a gallery without feeling desperate
• Red dots, empty walls, and the small tricks that create energy on a stand
• The Indian artist (Riya Mahajan) hiding in Will's garden right now

Whether you've never sold a piece of art or you're already exhibiting internationally, this conversation gives you a framework you can actually use.

Pull up a notebook. This one's a masterclass.

On this week's Arts to Hearts Podcast, we sit down with Philemona Williamson, a painter whose work has explored adolescence, gender, and identity for decades. Her paintings carry layers of symbolism and narrative that have developed over a long career of making art that matters to her.

In this conversation, Philemona talks about how motherhood, her child's transition, and her experiences with miscarriage have all found their way into her paintings. She discusses what it means to be open about these experiences in her work and why that vulnerability has made what she creates feel more real and necessary.

Through her story, we see how the things we live through directly shape what we make. Philemona shows us that staying true to yourself, even when life gets complicated or painful, can lead to work that resonates because it comes from a place of truth. This interview offers a look at how an artist doesn't separate her life from her canvas, and how the hardest moments can become the most important ones to paint.

Philemona Williamson shares thoughtful perspectives on how life and art feed into each other, and why authenticity matters more than perfection. Listen to the full episode to hear her full story.

On this episode of the Arts to Hearts Podcast, host Charuka Arora, founder of the Arts to Hearts Project, talks with Sara Glupker, a Michigan-based fine artist whose work is inspired by nature, florals, colour, and the Midwestern landscape.

Sara shares her experience of creating and running art workshops, including moments when turnout was low and plans didn't work out the way she expected. She speaks honestly about how she kept going by staying focused on the work rather than on numbers or quick results.

The conversation also explores how artists can shape workshops using everyday life experiences, interests beyond art, and practical skills. Sara explains how bringing these elements together can help workshops feel more inviting and meaningful for both the artist and the audience.

This episode is a thoughtful and honest conversation about hosting art workshops, staying consistent, and building creative spaces where people can come together to make art.

In this episode of the Arts To Hearts Podcast, Ocki Magill, founder of Blue Shop Cottage in London, talks about her journey from advertising and fashion to building a gallery that supports emerging artists. She shares practical advice on presenting your work, building community, and staying adaptable in a changing art world. Ocki explains how small steps, genuine connections, and a clear online presence can help artists move forward in their careers. This conversation is filled with helpful insights for anyone trying to find their place in the art world.

In this episode, Kim Hamburg talks with Charuka about how she found her way into making collages later in life. She shares how her kitchen became her studio, how she learned to let go of guilt, and how starting fresh in her fifties opened up a whole new chapter. Kim talks about learning technology, stepping into social media, raising kids, and giving herself the freedom to try something new. Their conversation is warm, honest, and encouraging for anyone who wants to begin again, no matter their age or background.

In this solo Thanksgiving episode, Charuka talks about gratitude, the lessons this year brought, and her wish to stop shrinking when life asks for more courage. She opens up about loss, change, and the people who helped her through it. A gentle and real conversation to close out the year.

On this week's Arts to Hearts Podcast, young curator Natasha opens up about her journey in the ever-changing world of contemporary art curation. She talks about how the role of curators has evolved from traditional methods to more collaborative partnerships with artists. Natasha compares the art scenes in America and Paris and highlights how online galleries are changing the game for art access. She stresses the importance of forming real connections and crafting inclusive art experiences that speak to a wide range of people. Come along as we explore the challenges she encounters and her dreams for a more accessible and culturally vibrant art world.