Entertainment Swindon

Time is running out! The deadline is midnight on Monday 31^st March for anyone wishing to register for the 2025 Swindon Open Studios (SOS) Community Art event this September. People who WORK within 15 miles of Swindon’s town centre are welcome to apply for one of 18 spaces left for artists who do not have a dedicated studio or workshop here. They can join one of several Pop-Up exhibitions around Swindon.

This 21^st Open Studios event is FREE to the public and takes place the last two weekends of September. The main ethos is for artists to open their studios, workshops and creative spaces so visitors can understand where the creative magic happens and ask about techniques and processes, as well as see an artist’s life’s work. It’s particularly fascinating to see how an artist’s interests, chosen themes and colour palettes evolve over time – think Pablo Picasso’s “Blue” period!

However, sometimes it is simply not practical for an artist to have visitors going into their private, creative space. Maybe it is not very big, parking may be difficult or perhaps they have a pet that doesn’t like strangers.

Chair of the voluntary Committee Anna Enright says “Offering small pop-up exhibitions with just a handful of artists removes barriers to entry so we’re totally inclusive. Visitors get to see a wider range of wonderful creations that would otherwise be hidden. It’s often affordable original art which is absolutely unique and so much more special because its produced locally.”

Some very high-calibre work is on display. For example, photographer and digital artist Michelle Whitmore has won two international awards with the Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers in the Portrait and Illustrative Print sections. Michelle liaises with the artists and says “A very successful campaign has attracted several first-time exhibitors, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to our friendly community of professional, hobby and amateur artists. So far, we’ve had 66 entries so it might be the biggest ever SOS event and art trail yet for visitors to enjoy exploring!”

See https://www.swindonopenstudios.org/for-artists for useful guides on how to register. Seven pop up venues still have spaces available including Artsite, Great Moorleaze Farm, Richard Jefferies Museum, STEAM, Stratton Juniors FC, Swindon Museum & Art Gallery, and The Wyvern Theatre. To book one of these spaces, be quick though: four other venues are already full! To apply you will need a hi-resolution square image of recent work and a means of paying online.