Becoming an Open Studios Artist

The philosophy of the trail has been to give the public an insight into the creation of art through the opening of studio doors. For many people this is the major attraction - seeing the environment in which work is created, the tools and something of the process. If the artist is showing away from his place of work in a hall, hut or marquee then we need to offer a little of the flavour of the working environment either through some aspect of work being undertaken, a selection of tools or equipment or some working drawings or sketchbooks. We would like to maintain this 'accessibility' for the public and thus provide a rich and varied audience for the artist.
1. Registration
An online Registration Form will be available from 20th October and the closing deadline is 29th November 2010.

2. Who can take part?
The Chichester Open Studios Art Trail is open to all artists and makers in the Chichester area of West Sussex.

3. What type of work can I exhibit?
Only your own original work or fine art prints may be exhibited on the Trail.

4. Premises
While it is preferred that artists open their own studio, workplace or home for the Trail, it is evident that not all artists have a venue suitable to invite hundreds of visitors. In this situation artists may join together in a studio or may hire out a suitable room, hut, garage, marquee or hall within the Trail area. Established Art spaces cannot be part of the Trail. Artists wishing to share can be put in touch with each other through the website. If anyone has or knows of suitable venues that could be used please contact us.

5. Cost
The fees for joining this year are:
Individual artist £60.00
Artist sharing a venue £40.00 each

PLEASE NOTE: An additional £15.00 administration fee will be charged to process late registrations or alterations to registration details after the deadline. Registration fees are non refundable. We cannot refund this fee for any reason - it covers the administrative cost of processing your registration and contributes towards costs of organising the event.

6. Publicity
Publicity is organised by the Officers of the Trail and under no circumstances should individuals promote themselves or publish advertising in the press or by any other means.

7. What do you get for the fee?
Participating artists in the Chichester Open Studios Art Trail will enjoy:
1. Inclusion in 12,000 professionally printed Trail brochures.
2. A supply of leaflets and posters to publicise the event.
3. Your own page on the Trail website with up to three images of your work, your biography or statement and contact details.
4. Public liability insurance.

8. What we expect from you
You will need to prepare and submit images for the web and the brochure as well as text for your web page up to 200 words.
You will be expected to open for the whole of the period specified.
While your presence at the venue is pretty important, it would be acceptable for you to ask someone to cover for you while you take some time off to visit other artists in the locality.
You will be expected to make every effort to distribute posters and publicity in your area as well as using email contacts with a supplied email flyer.
You will be responsible for signposting your venue from the nearest main road, balloons and posters will be supplied.
We would recommend that you have a visitors book or at least a sheet for people to enter contact details for emailing next year.
We would also like you to keep a record of all visitors so that we can begin to put together some statistics on the event.