Call for artists to participate in Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios 2013

Applications open for Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios 2013.

Norfolk & Norwich Festival has announced the dates for Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios 2013, the annual 16-day celebration of the county’s vibrant visual arts community – and the invitation to artists to apply to participate is open now until the closing date of 14 December 2012.

Each year hundreds of artists across the region invite the public into their private studios to reveal where and how they work.

Run by Norfolk & Norwich Festival in collaboration with local artists, Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios is completely open access and one of the most successful schemes of its kind in the UK.

The scheme gives the public a chance to meet artists in an informal setting, to see, buy and commission artwork and discuss the techniques and processes used to create the work. It allows artists from all over the region the chance to connect with their audience, and in many cases the public can watch as they work in their studio setting. This could be anywhere from a dedicated studio to a living room or a church, a boat, a barn, a shed, a gallery or a garden. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the public to see artists at work and buy art at affordable prices. Some artists host demonstrations, workshops, talks and other additional events giving visitors the opportunity to try new techniques and learn about art for themselves.

In 2012 430 artists, working in art forms ranging from painting, drawing and sculpture to textiles, jewellery, glass and wood, took part in the scheme. There were 13 Art Trails around the county in the 2012 scheme, over 80 separate events and 19 schools opened their doors to show the public a future generation of budding artists. Around 29,200 people visited studios across the region and spending an estimated £364,300 on works of art. Research by the scheme’s organisers showed this year that an incredible 7 out of 10 visitors ate out in a local restaurant or café as part of their open studio visits, demonstrating how the scheme helps make a significant contribution to the local Norfolk economy.

‘I love Open Studios. It has become my main ‘shop window’ and at the same time a good way of meeting other local artists. There are people who have visited for years coming back who have become friends and there are those who have found me for the first time. And yes amongst everything else I also sell a few paintings.’ Avril Blanshard, Artist

 Artist and freelance curator Krys Leach added ‘Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios is the most democratic and accessible way of seeing Art. Norfolk has more art in its midst than its few galleries can accommodate. It also gives us, the artists, the pleasure of meeting people who really appreciate the effort we’ve put in. And sometimes even of forming friendships with them…’.

‘Norfolk has an incredibly vibrant arts community with a fantastic wealth of talented artists working in a diverse range of art forms. Open Studios is Norfolk’s chance to shout about it and to give people a chance to get out across the county to meet artists and see some incredible work’ said William Galinsky, Norfolk & Norwich Festival Artistic Director.

For Open Studios 2013 artists are again encouraged to group together to create the popular Art Trails. In previous years a growing number of participants have collaborated to create maps, guiding visitors around the studios of artists in a particular area of the county.

Open Studios 2013 will take place from Saturday 25 May to Sunday 9 June 2013 and applications are now open until the closing date of Friday 14 December.

Artists wanting to take part can download an application pack from www.nnfestival.org.uk.

The cost for inclusion in the scheme is £100 for individual artists and £280 for groups of artists and includes a listing in the Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios brochure with a print run of 35,000, a listing on the Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios website, posters, postcards and the opportunity to take part in the high profile Central Taster Exhibition at The Forum, Norwich in April 2013.

For more information, artists can email [email protected] or call the Festival office on 01603 877750.

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