Surrey Artists Open Studios
What is an Open Studios event?
Open Studios events take place in the UK and abroad. They have been established to help promote artists and their art practice. These events encourage artists to open up their studios to the public, whether in a group or as an individual,
in a town or city or in a remote area of the countryside, taking place in a region, a city or just one building. Each event attracts tourists, art lovers, buyers and other artists. Often open studios join forces with other types of venue and activity to form a larger event or festival.
The artists offer workshops, demonstrations of their art practice, work to commission and work for sale. Open Studios cover a broad spectrum of visual arts, including painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, mixed media, design, film and photography. Some Open Studios events display a key body of work; others are very varied offering all visual arts. Some offer radical artwork whilst others offer more traditional or commercial styles. These events have proved very popular for visitors, providing a great way to meet artists and gain an insight into their working practice. For artists it is a valuable opportunity to raise their profiles and develop new skills in promoting their art.
Why are Open Studios events important?
They expose artists to a wider audience, offer economic benefits to the local economy, offer community and environmental development to an area and help in self-promotion for the artist.
Open Studio Events offer opportunities to all.
For other open studio events across the country visit the Open Studios Network.
Surrey Artists Open Studios
With a small budget and a steering group of arts officers and practising artists, Surrey Arts set up the first open studios event in Surrey.
The initial Aims -
- To raise the profile of visual arts and crafts practitioners in the County.
- To establish a new event that creates opportunities for Surrey’s professional practitioners
- To develop new audiences for the visual arts and crafts.
- To establish a central information service on Surrey Artists for use by individuals, organisations and local authorities.
- To create opportunities in commissioning new work.
- To support artists in the boroughs and districts where opportunities are limited in comparison to others.
Nine years on this event has grown from strength to strength, gaining national recognition, and its coordinator and dedicated steering group continue to deliver a bigger and better event than the previous year.
Surrey Artists Open Studios is the biggest arts event that supports the visual arts in Surrey.
Contact us
This event is run by the Surrey Artists Open Studios Coordinator, contact Caroline Jackman for information or press enquires.
