AHEAD of the long awaited return of Worcestershire Open Studios – a county-wide creative showcase of art in all its forms – organisers are highlighting the driving forces behind some participating artists.
Worcestershire Open Studios is returning for its 10th anniversary with August Art Week – a showcase of 167 artists and makers across the county who will open their creative spaces for visitors completely free.
The art week, scheduled for August 16 to 25, will feature a diverse ranges of artists and makers with painters, printers, sculptors, ceramists, jewellers, calligraphers and lots of other disciplines represented.
Over 100 venues will open their doors so visitors can see the processes of some of the county’s most creative residents. This year, organisers are highlighting some running themes across many of the studios and creatives taking part.
Themes include artists showcasing how art can be good for health, how its never too late to bring out your creative side, how art can support local charities and organisations, and how inspirations for creatives’ work can transcend borders and climates among many more inspirations and innovations.
“What could be better than exploring the county whilst discovering local artists and makers, and getting behind the scenes of how and why art is made?,” said Gemma Griffiths, part of the volunteer organising team.
In 2023, it’s most recent year, the event attracted some 12,500 visitors across 97 venues. This year a rebrand to ‘Worcestershire Open Studios Art Week’ hopes to distinguish the event from the organisation’s other year-round activities.
Outside of it’s art week, the organisation operates its Worcestershire Artists & Makers’ directory – a platform for creatives to showcase their work. Acting as an ‘enormous’ gallery of work, the platform also helps members promote their work, workshops, exhibits, events, courses and more.
The event’s website features detailed profiles of participating artists with details on the creatives, their works and spaces and everything visitors need to know to plan visits to studios across the county.
Artists and makers are taking part right across the district including in all of Worcestershire’s major destinations – Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Redditch, Malvern, Evesham, Worcester, and Kidderminster – as well as plenty of its smaller parishes and villages.
This year’s event is separated into five different regions – West/North West Worcestershire, North East Worcestershire, Worcester Central, Malvern Hills District and South East Worcestershire.
A digital map and guide is available for attendees. Visit www.worcestershireopenstudios.org for more information.
