Swindon’s Scintillating Summer of Art. The art scene in Swindon goes from strength to strength each year. And 2025 looks like being even better. Regular art followers will already know about Swindon Open Studios. This is where artists across Swindon open their studio doors and invite the public to see what goes on behind the scenes in September. This year they’ve broken out of their studios, spare rooms and sheds a little earlier. All to take part in Swindon Arts Fringe (SWAF) with a curated exhibition entitled ‘I SOS.’
Artists, both past and present, have been invited to display a piece of work they’ve exhibited over the past 20+ years to celebrate the history of SOS. Showcasing 31 artists, the exhibition tells the fascinating story of this popular community art event over the years.
On display will be a variety of work. It’ll range from artists taking part in their first Open Studios exhibition this September, to a mosaic sculpture by Lynette Thomas. It featured on the cover of a brochure for an open studios event over 20 years ago.
Mixed media artist Sue Ash is a regular participant of SOS. When asked why she was taking part, she said, ‘As a visitor, I love SOS as it allows me to discover a wide spectrum of artists working across many different media. As a participant, I love the community it has created, filled with mutual respect and support.’
Poetry Swindon
Poetry Swindon have teamed up with Swindon Open Studios to run a writing competition with a £50 prize voucher. The theme is to write about Art in Swindon. Sophie Boyce, who runs Poetry Swindon, said, ‘Entry to the competition is free. And we’re hoping to attract a wide range of writers by having prose, poetry and under 15s sections. Poetry Swindon is a friendly group, which meets on the first Wednesday of the month at Lower Shaw Farm.’
Some of the entries will go on display in the exhibition. There’ll be an announcement of the winner at an event at the Bakers Cafe at 2pm on Saturday, 28th June 2025. You’ll find full details of the competition on the Poetry Swindon website.
You’ll find the I SOS exhibition in The Carriage Works.
11 The Carriage Works London Street, SN1 5DG, from 11 am to 5:30 pm daily from Monday, 16th to Sunday, 29th of June 2025, inclusive.
There are four other exhibitions at the venue, covering a variety of topics from Fungi to Broken Britain. It’s free to enter and offers an insight into some of the inspiring visual arts that one can see in and around Swindon this summer.
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