NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Charles, 9th Earl Spencer, brother of Diana, Princess of Wales and godson of Her Majesty the Queen, will headline the keynote presentation at the 28th annual Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville. The event will take place in the heart of downtown Nashville at the Music City Center, 201 Fifth Ave. S., Feb. 2–4, 2018.
Each year, the Antiques and Garden Show hosts more than 150 fine antiques and horticultural dealers as well as 15,000 show attendees from across the country, making it the largest show of its kind in the United States. Proceeds from the show will benefit Cheekwood and the charities supported by the Economic Club of Nashville (ECON).
Earl Spencer, who formerly served as one of the Queen’s Pages of Honour, has written six books, has worked as a reporter for NBC’s “Today Show” and is the owner of Althorp Estate, his family’s ancestral seat in Northamptonshire, England, which is the final resting place of Diana, Princess of Wales. Althorp contains one of Europe’s finest private collections of paintings, furniture and ceramics assembled by 19 generations of the family for more than five centuries. Earl Spencer will present what this year’s show’s theme – A Sense of Place – means to him.
“A Sense of Place is a good theme, and resonates with me in that Althorp is very much a testimony to 19 generations of one family’s sense of taste and sense of family continuity,” Earl Spencer said. “I am honored to be a part of this lovely event and share details of my efforts to conserve the treasure that is Althorp.”
Earl Spencer will be speaking on Friday, Feb. 2, at 11 a.m. and will hold a book signing following his keynote presentation for his highly anticipated new book, “To Catch a King,” scheduled for release this fall.
Additional notable speakers at the show include:
- Richard Keith Langham, seasoned decorator and author of upcoming book “About Decorating”
- Stacey Bewkes, founder and writer of popular design blog Quintessence
- Susanna Salk, designer, stylist and stager as well as an author of many best-selling design books, most recently, “At Home with Dogs and Their Designers: Sharing a Stylish Life”
- Timothy Corrigan, internationally renowned interior designer and author of “An Invitation to Chateau du Grand-Lucé”
- Lewis Miller, distinguished Master floral designer and author of “Styling Nature: A Masterful Approach to Floral Arrangement”
- Gil Schafer III, New York City-based architect and author of “The Great American House” and “A Place to Call Home”
- Rita Konig, international interior designer and talented columnist for British House and Garden
- Clinton Smith, Veranda editor in chief and author of “Inspired By Color”
General chairmen Kim Holbrook and Robin Puryear say the lineup of speakers was selected due to their diverse design backgrounds and expertise.
“With experience in interior and floral design, traditional architecture, styling and writing, this year’s speakers have such a fabulous combination of unique design knowledge and styles,” Holbrook said. “We invite guests to come enjoy themselves among the array of antiques and beautiful botanical displays while learning from some of the U.S. and Europe’s top designers.”
This year, the show will celebrate Gil Schafer III of G. P. Schafer Architect, PLLC, as honorary chairman for the second year in a row. “In addition to his honorary chairman duties, Gil will be speaking with Rita Konig on ‘The Art of Collaboration: An Architect and Interior Decorator in Conversation,’” Puryear said. “We are excited to have him incorporated into the show again this year, after years of having him serve on our national advisory board.”
Tickets are now available online at antiquesandgardenshow.com. For the latest show updates, speaker schedule and information on show exhibitors, follow the Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville on Facebook, Twitter (@antiquesgarden) and Instagram (@antiquesandgardenshow).
About the Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville
In its 28th year, the Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville is an annual charitable event whose purpose is to raise funds for Cheekwood and the Economic Club of Nashville (ECON) charities. Each year, the show exhibits the highest-quality antiques, landscaped gardens and horticultural items from exhibitors across the country as well as offering a related educational outreach program. The show has raised nearly $7 million for its beneficiaries since its inception in 1990. Learn more at antiquesandgardenshow.com.
