Site Festival Open Studios : 11th-12th June and 18th-19th June 2022
Open Studios celebrates the incredible diversity of creative talent that exists here in the valleys, supports artists making a living from their work and builds meaningful connections in the artistic community.
A warm welcome to Open Studios 2022
Years ago I had a studio at the top of my cottage, down an impossible Stroud lane on the way to nowhere and everywhere. In those days there was an Open Studios Bus Tour, and minibuses of art lovers would suddenly arrive in the house. The art was everywhere so I’d just open the door and say ‘help yourself’.
For us artists, Open Studios forces us to have a bit of a reckoning and a tidy up - not too much though. Maybe find work we’d forgotten about, maybe do a little curating and definitely have some terrific conversations. I’m not opening mine this year so I can go and have a snoop at everyone else’s. It’s impossible to know how many artists there are here - Stroud has its own magnetic force, something to do with the wonky landscape makes it entirely special, unlike anywhere else, and full of the most excellent people. Follow your nose, see as much as you can and wear a comfortable pair of trainers."
Nick Grellier, artist.
Viewing the Directory
You can find the online version of the directory on the Site Festival website, or the PDF version here. Find a paper copy at SVA or from many venues across the South West.
Mair Hughes photographed by Kazz Hollick
OPEN
We set up Open Studios in 1997 when we first moved into John Street Studios. For us it was really important that SVA was not just about the building but about the community of artists who lived out in the five valleys, working away in their spare rooms, sheds and kitchen worktops as well as the more formal studio spaces.
The word OPEN not only reflects the open studio door welcoming curious visitors to discover the wonderful world of the artists studio but also it reflects SVA’s OPENNESS to all artists of all backgrounds, ages, disciplines and experience. Open Studios is not selected and we welcome conversations with artists who may be held back in their practice.
Site Festival Open Studios celebrates the incredible diversity of creative talent that exists here in the valleys, supports artists making a living from their work and builds meaningful connections in the artistic community.