Swindon Open Studios 20th Year. 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of Swindon Open Studios (SOS). And it’s the BIGGEST EVER in its history. 130 artists and craftspeople in 56 venues across Swindon and the surrounding areas are participating.
This FREE community-based art event during the last two weekends in September, gives access to a wide range of:
- Oil paintings
- Acrylics and watercolours
- Ceramics
- Stained glass
- Jewellery
- Mosaics and digital art and even life-size film props.
In the beginning
When Swindon Open Studios first began, a few artists invited family and friends but by 2004, fifty-three artists took part.
Since then, SOS has more than doubled. It’s grown into a thriving and supportive arts community. One that banishes the myth that Swindon is a cultural desert! Swindon’s event is proudly inclusive. It celebrates creativity by welcoming amateur artists alongside full-time professionals.
Benefits all round
Everyone benefits. Visitors see many beautiful creations and artists get to meet their audience, gaining valuable feedback. The muck and mess behind the scenes is all part of the creative process and visitors might even find inspiration to take up a new hobby. The back catalogue of work shows how themes develop and creatives share the stories behind particular works.
Some venues offer Have a go sessions such as pottery classes or how to cut stained glass. (Please check online to see if you need to book and pay for in advance).
According to Sheryll Fox of the committee, ‘Swindon Open Studios is for everyone. It’s really accessible, plus you get to meet the artists and see where the magic happens.’
There’s an incredible variety of arts and crafts on display in the twenty venues in central Swindon. They include Artsite with twenty-one artists and PodPad with nineteen artists. While New College offers an end-of-year show for students of their work in art & design, media make-up and photography.
Joining Bare Glazed Pottery, Eastcott Studios and MAMS gallery are Sue Barnes, Victoria Carter and David Bent. Then there’s Lisa Lowe, Tim Carroll, Steve Sewell, Andi Theokle, Ken White and Sholeh Jafari. Also you can visit Alex Crump, Helen Savin, Carmen B Norris, Tracey Baker-Stewart, Sheena Dickens and Deepti Arora.
Planning your visit
To plan your visits, check website map for details.
Several homes, studios and exhibition spaces offer light refreshments and garden spaces to enjoy which makes it a great day out.
Check the website swindonopenstudios.org for details of location, disabled access and a full catalogue of all 130 participating individuals and art groups.
For updates, follow #swindonopenstudios.
Don’t forget to save the dates now: Saturday/Sunday 21st/22nd and 28th/29th September.
From mid-August, brochures will be available across Swindon in Libraries, community centres, pubs and clubs.
Such a brilliant idea, this is just what the Carriage Works needs to bring people into this historic area of Swindon. The recent refurbishment of sections of this range of Armstrong Workshops dating from the 1870s is truly remarkable and shows what can be achieved with new materials blended with the old and enhanced by careful planning and designs, this together with the environmental improvements has brought new life to the area that includes the classic Victorian Railway Village.
Jack – thanks for engaging. You’re so right! I couldn’t agree more. It’s a fabulous use of the space.